
Baked Turkey and Quark Cakes with Sesame Crust, Rustic Edamame Mash, and Cumin-Roasted Carrots
An original high-protein recipe featuring juicy baked turkey and quark cakes with a light sesame crust, served with a rustic edamame mash and cumin-roasted carrots. It balances creamy texture, toasted notes, and a clean savory flavor profile.
Ingredients
- 500 g lean ground turkey (for the pastelitos)
- 180 g quark (divided)
- 1 unit egg (for ligar)
- 40 g ground oats (or harina of avena)
- 30 g grated Parmesan cheese (for the pastelitos)
- 18 g sesame seeds (for the crust)
- 80 g red onion (finely chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (chopped or grated)
- 12 g fresh parsley (chopped)
- 4 g ground cumin (divided)
- 3 g sweet paprika
- 1 tsp lemon zest (divided)
- 8 g salt (divided or to taste)
- 2 g black pepper (or to taste)
- 300 g shelled edamame (descongelado si es congelado)
- 120 g plain Greek yogurt (for the puree)
- 30 ml olive oil (divided)
- 400 g carrots (peladas and cut en bastones)
- 15 ml lemon juice (for the puree and acabado final)
- 60 ml water (for ajustar the puree si hace falta)
Nutrition facts
per serving
Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.
Allergens
Instructions
- 1
1. Preheat the oven to 220°C / 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it with some of the olive oil.
- 2
2. In a large bowl, mix the ground turkey, 120 g (1/2 cup) of the quark, the egg, ground oats, Parmesan, red onion, 1 garlic clove, half of the parsley, 1 teaspoon of the cumin, the sweet paprika, half of the lemon zest, 1 teaspoon salt, and the black pepper.
- 3
3. Divide the mixture into 8 portions and shape into round, slightly flat cakes. Place the sesame seeds on a plate and press both sides of each cake into the sesame to create a light crust. Arrange them on one half of the baking sheet.
- 4
4. In a separate bowl, toss the carrots with 1 tablespoon olive oil, the remaining cumin, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of pepper. Spread them on the other half of the baking sheet in a single layer.
- 5
5. Bake the cakes and carrots for 24 to 28 minutes at 220°C / 425°F, turning the carrots halfway through, until the cakes are fully cooked and the carrots are tender and browned at the edges.
- 6
6. Meanwhile, cook the edamame in boiling water for 4 to 5 minutes. Drain well and transfer to a food processor or blender cup.
- 7
7. Add the Greek yogurt, the remaining 60 g (1/4 cup) quark, the remaining garlic clove, 1 tablespoon olive oil, lemon juice, the rest of the lemon zest, the remaining parsley, and 1/4 teaspoon salt to the edamame. Pulse briefly to make a rustic mash. If it is too thick, add the water little by little until creamy but still textured.
- 8
8. Taste the mash and adjust with more salt or pepper if desired. If you want to serve it warm, heat it for 1 to 2 minutes in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring so it does not boil.
- 9
9. Spoon a base of rustic edamame mash onto each plate, add 2 turkey cakes on top or alongside, and finish with the roasted carrots. Spoon over any juices from the tray for extra flavor.
Chef tips
For more even cakes, lightly dampen your hands before shaping. Do not overwork the turkey mixture to keep the texture juicy.
Substitutions
You can replace quark with thick whipped cottage cheese or strained fresh cheese. Edamame can be swapped for peas for a milder version, though protein will be slightly lower. If you need a gluten-free version, use certified gluten-free oats.
What I used to make it
Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.
Illustrative imageNinja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
Illustrative imageCosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
Illustrative imageTempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
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