Broccoli fritters

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I never liked deep-frying. It always seemed like a huge production. So much oil. Such a mess. Having to clean the stove after it was over. I avoided it for years.

But then there was that day a few years ago when I made onion pakora according to instructions from Rashmi of YumKid. Such sizzle! So crispy! And I remembered: Fried food is downright delicious.

These broccoli fritters are worth the spent oil and the mess. Use leftover cooked broccoli or take a shortcut with frozen chopped broccoli. Either way, you'll be glad you did.

By the way, these broccoli fritters would be perfect for Hanukkah, also known as The Festival of Fried Food. I served them with Not Ketchup, but a lemony aioli would work too.

Note: If you really don't want to deep-fry, use a skillet and form the batter into pancakes, using about 2 Tablespoons of oil in the skillet and 1 Tablespoon of batter for each pancake. 

Broccoli fritters

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose baking mix (I use Bisquick)
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• A few dashes hot sauce (I use Tabasco)
• 2 10-ounce boxes frozen broccoli, thawed and chopped (or use 2 1/2 cups fresh broccoli, steamed, cooled and chopped)
• 3 green onions, chopped
• Oil, for deep-frying (I use grapeseed or canola oil)
• Not Ketchup, for dipping

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, mix together the baking mix, egg, milk, garlic salt, pepper and hot sauce; the batter will be thick. Fold in the broccoli and green onions.
2. Heat the oil in a deep medium-sized saucepan until the surface shimmers. Using a small spring-loaded ice cream scoop or two spoons, drop about 1 teaspoon of batter into the oil for each fritter. Fry until golden brown; drain on a rack set over a sheet pan or on a plate lined with paper towels.
3. Serve warm with your favorite flavor of Not Ketchup for dipping.

30 minutes | 8 servings

Easy holiday entertaining with Green Giant {VIDEO}

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Need ideas for easy holiday entertaining? I hope you'll enjoy watching this video, in which I share two quick and simple recipes using Green Giant frozen vegetables.

Green Giant's recipe for Cheesy Broccoli Puffs With Sriracha Sauce is a great appetizer to bring to a holiday potluck or to pass around while your guests are sipping on wine or champagne. You can make the puffs with crumbled bacon as the recipe suggests, or leave the bacon out for vegetarians.

My Cheesy Broccoli Potato Soup is another tasty starter for a holiday party. I love giving my guests something warm to sip as they walk in the door, especially at this time of year.

The video also contains some great advice and easy entertaining tips from my friends (and one from my mother), all experienced hosts and hostesses.

Enjoy the video! (But ignore the weird expression on my face in YouTube's screen capture above. I don't really look like that, do I?)

Note: Green Giant compensated me to produce the Hangout video above and share my Cheesy Broccoli Potato Soup recipe. Definitely one of the most fun projects I've done lately.

Cheesy broccoli potato soup with Green Giant

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When I have a party, I love to hand people little cups of hot, creamy soup as they walk in the door. It gives them something warm to hold onto, gets their appetites going without filling them up, and puts a little something in their bellies to cushion the wine and cocktails to come.

When Green Giant asked me to create a recipe using Green Giant frozen vegetables for our Google Plus Hangout on easy holiday entertaining, I knew this Cheesy Broccoli Potato Soup was the perfect thing.

I always keep frozen vegetables on hand - they're great for last-minute soups, hot dips, or side dishes should unexpected visitors show up for dinner. (And yes, that does happen fairly often in our house.)

I made this Cheesy Broccoli Potato Soup with Green Giant Broccoli & Cheese Sauce Steamers, but you could also use their Cauliflower & Cheese Sauce Steamers, or plain frozen broccoli or cauliflower. You can serve it in small glasses or coffee cups at a party, or just put it in bowls as a first course for a dinner party.

For more easy holiday entertaining tips from Green Giant (and me!), watch our video Hangout.

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Cheesy broccoli potato soup

by Erika Kerekes December-18-2013

A simple, creamy vegetable soup that's perfect for holiday entertaining. Frozen Green Giant Broccoli & Cheese Sauce makes this soup a snap to prepare.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup yellow onion, chopped
• 1 clove fresh garlic, minced
• 1 12-ounce bag Green Giant Broccoli & Cheese Sauce Steamers
• 1 quart chicken stock
• 1 small potato, diced (about 1/2 cup - peel if desired, but it's not necessary)
• salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
• For garnish: shredded cheese, crushed tortilla chips, crumbled crackers, popcorn, or plain yogurt

Instructions

In a medium-sized saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and saute about 2 minutes, until the onion is starting to soften. Add the garlic and saute another 30 seconds.Add the frozen broccoli (with cheese sauce), chicken stock, and potato to the pot. Bring to a boil, turn down the heat, and simmer uncovered about 20 minutes, or until the potato is very tender. Use a handheld stick blender to puree the soup in the pot (or transfer the soup carefully to a countertop blender). Serve hot garnished with the shredded cheese, tortilla chips, crackers, popcorn, or yogurt.

Details

Prep time: 5 mins Cook time: 25 mins Total time: 30 mins Yield: 6 servings as a first course, or 12 "shooters"

Broccoli fritters

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I try not to get my kids hooked on fried vegetables, but some days I figure fried vegetables are better than no vegetables.

My husband's book club met at our house and left us with half a tray of roasted broccoli. I chopped it up, added some eggs and flour, and fried away. Hot Dog Boy downed a dozen. Mission accomplished.

How do you use leftover vegetables? I'd love to hear your ideas!

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Broccoli fritters

by Erika Kerekes July-10-2013

Leftover cooked broccoli morphs neatly into crispy broccoli fritters.

Ingredients

• 4 cups roasted or steamed broccoli, finely chopped
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 lemon (juice and zest)
• 1/4 cup parmesan or Romano cheese, grated
• 1/8 teaspoon salt (may need less if the broccoli is already salted)
• grapeseed or canola oil, for frying

Instructions

In a large bowl, mix together the broccoli, eggs, flour, lemon juice, lemon zest, cheese, and salt.Heat about 2 Tablespoons of oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmering, start frying the fritters, using about 2 Tablespoons of the broccoli mixture for each fritter and flattening the patties gently with a spatula. Pan-fry until golden brown on both sides, then put the finished fritters on a sheet pan lined with paper towels to let some of the oil wick away.Continue cooking the broccoli fritters, adding more oil to the pan as necessary, until all the broccoli mixture has been used.Serve the broccoli fritters hot.

Details

Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 20 mins Total time: 30 mins Yield: approximately 2 dozen 4-inch fritters