Have some garden greens laying in your fridge? Load up this amazing plate with all your leftovers to create a savory breakfast!
Hands up for savory breakfasts and keep them up if you feel like a rockstar when restyled leftovers are part of the mix! This dish is all about using up those garden greens you have that might be on their last leg (beet greens, kale, chard, spinach, mustard greens, and so on) and turning them into savory breakfast cakes with fresh herbs and creamy goat cheese. It’s the perfect platform for an egg cooked your way–my default is sunny side up these days–and a little roasted red pepper vinaigrette to tie it all together. I used a mix of beet greens and kale–the beet greens gave my savory cakes a nice pinkish hue–along with dill, parsley and chives for my herbs and folded in leftover quinoa. Like veggie burgers, savory cakes are equally delicious with or without grains like couscous, farro, or barley or cooked seeds like quinoa or amaranth, but if you have some already cooked, this is a great way to use up leftovers. 
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
These savory goat cheese cakes are packed with garden greens and fresh herbs, perfect for a hearty breakfast. Topped with a sunny side up egg and a drizzle of roasted red pepper vinaigrette, they make a delicious and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Savory Garden Greens Goat Cheese Cakes:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil or bacon fat (divided)
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1 large bunch garden greens of choice (chopped, about 10 cups loosely packed)
- 1/2 cup herbs of choice (chopped)
- 2 eggs (whisked)
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1 cup leftover quinoa or couscous (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/3 cup goat cheese (crumbled or cut into pea-sized pieces)
Roasted Red Pepper Vinaigrette:
- 2 roasted red peppers
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoon honey
- 1/4 cup olive oil
Instructions
Savory Garden Greens Goat Cheese Cakes:
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil or bacon fat in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion, and cook until translucent, stirring occasionally, about 4-5 minutes. Season with salt then stir in the garlic and fennel seeds and let cook for 1 minute. Stir in the chopped greens and let them cook down with the heat, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Remove the mixture from heat and stir in the chopped herbs. Let cool, then transfer the mixture to a food processor. Use the food processor to pulse the cooked greens and herbs until they are finely chopped, small enough to help the cakes stay together. Transfer to a bowl and fold in the egg, bread crumbs, quinoa or couscous (if using), smoked paprika, and lemon zest. Mix until well combined, then fold in the goat cheese throughout the mixture.
- Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil or bacon fat in a large skillet over medium heat. Patty out the cakes, about 1/2 cup each, and cook on the hot skillet. Turn after about 5 minutes and cook a remaining 7 minutes on the other side. Lower the heat if needed to keep them from burning.
Roasted Red Pepper Vinaigrette:
- Use a food processor or blender to blend together the red peppers, garlic, apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, honey, and salt. Stream in the olive oil while the vinaigrette is blending.
- Serve with the savory cakes, sunny side up eggs and fresh sprouts, herbs, or greens. Store any leftover vinaigrette in a sealed contain in the refrigerator and use within a week.
Notes
Use any garden greens you have on hand, such as beet greens or kale. These cakes are versatile and can be made with or without grains like quinoa. Serve with a sunny side up egg for a complete meal. Leftover cakes can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in a skillet.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3 grams
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 22 grams
- Carbohydrates: 20 grams
- Fiber: 4 grams
- Protein: 12 grams
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
Frequently Asked Questions
What greens can I use if I don’t have beet greens or kale?
You can substitute with other garden greens like chard, spinach, or mustard greens, as they will also work well in the savory cakes.
Is it necessary to add quinoa to the cakes, or can I omit it?
You can omit the quinoa if you prefer, but it adds a nice texture; you could also use other grains like couscous or farro instead.
How do I store leftovers of the Goat Cheese Cakes?
Store the leftover cakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; reheat them gently in a skillet or oven before serving.
