Baked Eggless Broccoli Bites

Sitting at a dinner table in my friend's house, I observed her 5-year old daughter with interest as she meticulously plucked out the veggies from her curry. "It's so hard to get veggies in her system", my friend despairingly whispered to me. And ordered her daughter in a mom voice "Eat your veggies, or aunty won't talk to you". "No, she will", the kid cheekily answered and turned her big eyes at me. "I like you", she coyly said making me smile. She continued earnestly, "I like ice cream too, but I don't like veggies". Now who can argue with such cute logic :)

Getting a kid (or a grown-up too) to eat healthy food is a problem that has plagued humankind since Eve's first-born. These scrumptious, delectable, guilt-free, crispy Baked Broccoli Bites may just be the perfect answer to this problem - it lays to rest the myth that healthy food can't be yummilicious. Taking inspiration from the popular deep-fried broccoli bites served in Bennigan’s Restaurants, I added my own twist to create these Broccoli Bites and made them as appetizing & healthy as possible (you can opt out of adding Chilli flakes when making them for kids). I also made these bites eggless to cater to people who don't eat eggs due to religious or dietary restrictions. These Baked Broccoli Bites contain the perfect savory zest that makes it a lip-smacking, delicious appetizer that is loved by kids & adults alike, and baking them helps to retains the nutritional value of broccoli & eliminates that greasiness of deep-frying.

Baked Broccoli Bites are really easy to make, so they are perfect for rustling up at the last-minute to cater to unannounced guests. Or serve them up in kids' lunchboxes, or as party appetizers, or as a side dish during dinner. You can also serve them with salads & soups that makes a complete meal in itself. Besides their great taste, the nutrients in broccoli control high blood pressure, prevent heart disease & cancer, and improve bone health and prevent osteoporosis. So go ahead & bake this dish... it's time to have a love affair with broccoli :)

BAKED  BROCCOLI  BITES  RECIPE

Makes : 12 Pcs

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups chopped Broccoli; chopped into small pieces

1/2 cup All Purpose Flour

3/4 cup chopped Onion

1 tbsp minced fresh Garlic

1/2 tsp Baking powder

1 tbsp Cajun Seasoning

1 tsp Salt or to taste

1/2 tsp Red Chilli Flakes or to taste

1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper

6 tbsp Bread Crumbs

1/2 cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese

1 tbsp Oil

1/2 cup Milk (low fat 2%)

How to make Baked Broccoli Fritters

1. Steam the broccoli in a microwave for 3 minutes. Strain. Set aside.
2. Heat oil in a non-stick pan on medium heat. Saute the garlic for 30 seconds. Add onion & saute till translucent. Remove from heat & allow to cool.
3. In a large bowl, sift flour, baking powder, and salt together. Add red chilli flakes, black pepper, cajun seasoning and mix them thoroughly. Combine them with milk until smooth. Add broccoli, cheese, onion-garlic mixture & bread crumbs and toss to coat well.
4. Pre-heat oven to 375 degree F. Lightly grease a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. 
5. Wet your palms. Shape the broccoli mixture into round patties and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove the baking sheet, flip & bake for another 10-15 minutes until golden brown.
6. Serve  with your favorite sauce or with soups & salads.

TIPS

You can substitute almond meal or almond flour instead of bread crumbs.