Harry is a good eater and I know I’m lucky. He is great eating his vegetables now but up until a few months ago if I put a lone piece of broccoli on his plate he would throw it on the floor in disgust. Sneaking vegetables into a recipe like these veggie cheese balls, alongside serving them in their usual form meant I knew Harry was getting enough healthy goodness from his vegetables, even if he didn’t realise he was eating them! The fact that it meant I used up leftover veg and didn’t waste anything was an added bonus too!
I had some veggies to use up today so decided, as usual, to have a little play around in the kitchen. I ended up making these veggie cheese balls and Harry loved them! They are healthy, delicious and are sure to be a hit with the whole family!
This recipe made a batch of 15, enough to make Harry a tasty snack and some for the freezer too!
How to make veggie cheese balls
Ingredients
- A large handful of vegetables (Whatever you have lying around is fine! I used peas, broccoli and cauliflower)
- 100g grated cheddar cheese
- 1 slice of bread made into breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp plain flour
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp mixed herbs
- Black pepper to taste
- Cooking spray
Method
- Cook the vegetables. (Steamed or in boiling water.)
- Put the vegetables in a clean cloth and squeeze to get rid of the excess water.
- Add all of the ingredients to a food processor.
- Blitz until the ingredients are well mixed.
- Shape teaspoonfuls of the mixture into balls and place on a lightly greased baking tray. (I use fry light to grease the tray.)
- Bake in the oven at 180°c for 20 minutes.
- Enjoy! Harry liked his as an alternative to dough balls or garlic bread with spaghetti bolognese, or just on their own as a tasty snack!
what do you use for mixed herbs?
You can buy mixed dried herbs in most supermarkets. They come in the little jars like the other dried herbs x
If I were using packaged breadcrumbs, instead of a slice of bread, what quantity would I need?
Thank you
Ooh I’m not sure sorry as I haven’t used them before. I’d say bat a handful. Sorry I can’t be more specific x
Thank you!
Made these last night and my 8mo demolished two for lunch and have a stash in the freezer. Really easy and great healthy snack / lunch. Thanks!!
So glad your little one liked them! 🙂
Would you freeze before or after cooking? Many thanks
I freeze after cooking x
Mine ended up looking like veg biscuits, they didn’t roll I to balls. Were they too wet? If so what did I do worry?
Ooh I’m not sure, I’d assume they were too wet if they went flat during cooking :-/ I hope they work better next time! Did they taste nice as veg biscuits lol?
What can you use instead of egg?
I’m not 100% sure as I’ve never tried it without egg, I have read that a mixture of chia seeds soaked in water can act as an egg substitute but I’ve never tried it. There are loads of suggestions online though that could be worth a try x
Made these but they ended up going flat in the oven. What can I do to get them
to stay as balls while cooking?
Did you use a substitute for the egg? That could have affected the recipe. If the mixture is too wet then they will go flatter but I found giving each ball a little squeeze to get rid of extra moisture before cooking really helped
Once out of the freezer did you just pop in the microwave & warm up or?
Thank you
You can, or I think they’re nicer if they’re reheated in the oven x
Can I use mozzarella instead of cheddar?
Can’t see why not 🙂
What should the consistency be like once cooked mine are soft on the inside (still warm) is that right or should be like bread?
Hi, mine are still softish on the inside when cooked too 🙂
Is that 180C in a fan oven or normal?
in a fan oven x