I grew up eating very healthy. So naturally, the second I started earning money as a teen babysitter I bought Swedish fish, fried bread dough, Ben & Jerrys, wine coolers and acid washed jeans. I loved the greasy food served at our state fair. My broccoli tots kinda marry my teen palate and my adult one—green veggie obssessed adult whose inner teen is a lover of grease. These low carb, gluten free, broccoli tots are a great way to sneak in a green veg for kids and veggie haters. I love them on their own as snack or served along with eggs in the morning or a big salad later on in the day!
These tots are just 3 ingredients and some spices!
Ingredients and Tools
1 head or 1 bag of pre-chopped broccoli
1 cup of shredded mozzarella
1 Egg
1/2 Teaspoon of each: powdered garlic, powdered onion, smoked paprika and sea salt
Olive oil for sauteeing
Knife and cutting board OR food processor
Measuring cup and measuring spoons
Mixing bowl
Frying pan
Parchment paper and baking sheet pan
*** My friends that don’t eat cheese have reported that the Whole Foods brand plant based shredded Mozzarella is the best for melting.
***My friends that don’t eat eggs have shared that the egg replacer brands such as Ener-G, Just and Neategg work great in baking. And several more shared they use the homemade Flax egg replacement for baking. 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed meal and 3 tablespoons of water, stir well, let it gel in the fridge for 15 minutes, stir again, add to your recipe. This flax egg is a 1:1 ratio of flax egg to real egg.
Instructions
-Pre heat oven to 400
-Cut your broccoli into little tiny, ity-bity pieces. If you are using a full head of broccoli discard most of the stem and use the florets. If you have a food processor let the machine do the chopping for you!
-Saute your broccoli on medium high heat with olive oil. Stirring frequently until it has begun to lightly char.
-While the broccoli cooks grab a mixing bowl and add your shredded mozzarella and your seasonings.
-In a separate bowl beat one egg.
-When the broccoli is done add it to the cheese/seasonings mixture and now add the egg and mix all ingredients together well.
-Using a tablespoon scoop out your tot mixture onto your parchment lined baking sheet.
-Using your hand or spatula very gently flatten the tots-just enough to flatten the curve left by the tablespoon.
-Pop the tots into the oven and set a timer for 20 minutes. At 20 minutes flip your tots. Now set another timer for 15 minutes to cook the other side of your tots. Granted cooking times vary slightly from oven to oven.
-When done, let them cool just a touch then slice in half and enjoy! Store in an airtight container in the fridge-if they last that long-most folks gobble em all up immediately!
Chop the broccoli florets super tiny or let a food processor do it for you.
I stir fry my chopped broccoli in olive oil until a few portions have started to char as seen in this photo.
Be sure to mix the ingredients well.
Use a tablespoon to make perfectly formed tots then pop each one onto your parchment lined baking sheet.
These are the tots before I gently flatten them.
These are the tots after they have been gently flattened and ready to be put into the oven.
Don’t forget to set that timer to remind you to flip your tots.
Enjoy!
