Grandma’s baked broccoli meatballs

Name: Grandma’s baked broccoli meatballs
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 Broccoli; 1 Eggs; 1 bunch of Basil; 1 clove of Garlic; 100 g of Parmesan Cheese; q.b. of Bread Crumbs; q.b. of Table Salt

Grandma's baked broccoli meatballs are a delicious and light vegetarian main course! Easy to prepare, these croquettes are perfect for both adults and children.

Recipe Grandma’s baked broccoli meatballs

Difficulty Easy
Preparation 15 minutes
Cooking 45 minutes
Servings for Serves 4

Baked Broccoli Meatballs are a delicious vegetarian main dish inspired by American Broccoli Tots, perfect for light dinners or appetizers. This grandma’s cherished recipe features crispy green broccoli croquettes that capture the essence of traditional Italian home cooking.

These Light Vegetable Meatballs work well for calorie-conscious diets while being kid-approved for fussy eaters. The recipe uses simple ingredients like broccoli florets, Parmigiano Reggiano (a hard aged Italian cheese – substitute with Grana Padano or standard Parmesan if unavailable), and breadcrumbs.

For other vegetarian options from our family recipe collection, try Cauliflower Meatballs or Cheesy Broccoli Bites – all following grandma’s time-tested methods of making vegetables irresistible through perfect texture combinations.

Ingredients for Serves 4

1 Broccoli
1 Eggs
1 bunch of Basil
1 clove of Garlic
100 g of Parmesan Cheese Grated
q.b. of Bread Crumbs
q.b. of Table Salt

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Method

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To prepare Baked Broccoli Meatballs, start by cleaning the broccoli. Wash it thoroughly, remove the stem and separate the florets.
Steam the florets for about 5 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork.
Once ready, let them cool slightly, mash them with a fork and transfer to a large bowl.
Add the egg, grated Parmesan cheese, finely chopped basil, and very finely minced garlic clove. Mix well to combine all ingredients.
Gradually add breadcrumbs while mixing to incorporate them. Add only enough to obtain a mixture that’s firm but not too dry.
Using a spoon, take some of the mixture and form croquettes of roughly the same size.
Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for about 25-30 minutes, making sure to turn them halfway through cooking for even browning.
Remove from the oven, let them cool slightly, season with salt to taste, and serve your Baked Broccoli Meatballs!
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Variations and Alternatives

To make the Broccoli Balls more stringy and melty, you can substitute the Parmesan cheese with Scamorza (smoked Italian cheese), Fontina, or low-moisture Mozzarella. If you enjoy spicy food, you can add a pinch of chili powder to the mixture.

Tips

To achieve perfectly baked Broccoli Balls, we recommend forming them all in the same size for even cooking.

Storage

The baked Broccoli Balls can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one day.