Broccoli bites with cheese

Looking for something packed with veggies yet totally scrumptious? Look no further as I have the perfect recipe for you. With cheddar cheese combined with herbs and spices and broccoli trees (we have always called them this in our household in a bid to encourage the eating of this vegetable!), these small broccoli bites of goodness are incredibly moreish.

Broccoli is a fantastic source of Vitamins A, C and K, calcium and fibre. Combined with other things, it can help you to lower cholesterol levels as well as boosting the body’s immune system. The fibre it contains helps to promote good digestive health, and surprisingly, it can impact your mood in a positive way, too.

We use almond flour in this recipe rather than standard wheat flour as it contains healthy fats, protein and vitamin E. It also means that they are suitable for those allergic or intolerant to gluten.

While you could (we certainly could anyway!) eat these cheesy broccoli bites on their own, try dipping them into hummus or a yoghurt and mint dip.

In fact, why not have both of those dips along with a rich tomato sauce and serve in a pitta bread for a filling lunch? They are even a great addition at a buffet – and are often the first thing that people return to. For something so small, they really pack a punch.

Ingredients

• 150g chopped broccoli florets
• 90g grated cheddar cheese
• 50g almond flour
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp oregano
• 1 tbsp chopped parsley
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 2 eggs

Variations

For a nut-free alternative, use 45g of breadcrumbs (wholemeal is preferable) instead of the almond flour. For a vegan-friendly dish, substitute the cheddar cheese with a vegan alternative and use two flax eggs in place of the hen’s eggs.

Additional info

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Serves: 12 – 14 bites

Can they be frozen? Yes

Method

1. Preheat your oven to oven to 200°C (lower if fan)/400 °F and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
2. If using a flax egg, mix 2 tbsp flaxseed with 3 tbsp water. Allow the mixture to stand for around 10 minutes until it becomes a gel-like consistency.
3. Steam or boil the broccoli until it is tender (around 3-4 minutes).
4. While the broccoli is cooking, add the cheese, almond flour (or breadcrumbs), garlic powder, oregano, parsley and black pepper to a bowl. Mix thoroughly.
5. Drain the broccoli, then gently mash with a fork to break down the pieces.
6. Add the broccoli and eggs (or flax eggs) to the mixture and combine.
7. Take a tablespoon of the mixture and shape into small bites. You must squeeze it together, using your palms to shape them. Next, place them onto the baking tray with a couple of centimetres in between each to allow them to cook evenly.
8. Bake in the oven for between 18 and 20 minutes until they are a golden colour. Let them cool before serving.

If you would like to, you can also freeze these once you have formed the bites. When you want to use them, bake from frozen.

They can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or be frozen for up to 3 months.

This recipe is another one from the amazing Little Food Critic app. This is a good companion to have in your pocket as it has good ideas for family meals, as well as food for the toddler. The ideas are even those that will appeal to fussier eaters. The app was created by, Shikha Gil, so why not pop on over for more ideas for your family.

If you would like to print this out in a recipe card, take a look here:

Here are some more babies and toddler meal ideas on KiddyCharts. One of our favourites are these Tuna bites, which give you more snack fun. Check out other ideas here:

We hope you like this broccoli bites recipe, alongside the other content that we have for you here, if you do then do take a look at our newsletter:

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