|September 26, 2022

BROCCOLI TOTS AT HOME!

Crunchy and crispy on the outside. Juicy and soft on the inside. Broccoli tots are sure to be enjoyed by all ages.

Broccoli tots are a delicious yet healthy snack. They have fiber from the rice and broccoli, a little protein from the eggs, and cheese, and are made with easily available, recognizable ingredients so you can be absolutely certain that your toddler/kid is getting the good stuff without compromising on flavor and taste. And they’re an excellent way to use up leftover rice and broccoli should you have some lingering in the fridge.

Reasons to love Broccoli Tots

Broccoli exposure - To be frank, broccoli definitely won’t make it to most lists of the most accepted vegetable and therefore, repeated and regular exposure is crucial for wider acceptance of this vegetable. In that sense, broccoli tots may be a good starting step for kids to accept broccoli on its own. Additionally, the cheese adds fat and salt to help mask/reduce the bitter taste of broccoli that most kids hate. Adding a spicy, tasty dip when serving also helps reduce unwanted flavors and tastes.

Added protein - Not only is an almond meal a great gluten-free substitute for breadcrumbs, but it also provides extra fat and protein to keep little tummies fuller for longer.

Finger food - Because most kids love finger foods!

How to make crispy Broccoli Tots?

With a handful of very accessible and nutritious ingredients, you can bake Broccoli Tots that are soft and juicy on the inside and crunchy and crispy on the outside. Also, they’re delicious and easier to make than you might think. Broccoli Tots needs just 5 ingredients:

Broccoli - These form the bulk of the broccoli tots.
Eggs - Eggs are needed to bind the tots together. No alternative binders have been tested for this recipe.
Almond meal - This is a great alternative to breadcrumbs for a gluten-free option. Almond meal works great in these broccoli tots but if you want you can replace almond meal with the same weight of breadcrumbs (i.e., 1 cup).
Cheese - Cheese is added for flavor. Now, if you need a dairy-free option, you can try adding some lemon zest, freshly chopped herbs, or nutritional yeast, for flavor.
Garlic - Again, for flavor, though garlic can be skipped if don’t like them.