BROCCOLI TOTS

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  2. Toddler Recipes
  3. BROCCOLI TOTS

🥦 BATCH-PREP BROCCOLI TOTS 🥦

🛠️ THE KIT

  • 🥘 1 Medium pot (with steamer basket)

  • 🥣 1 Large mixing bowl

  • 🥧 1 Baking sheet

  • 📜 Parchment paper

  • 🧀 1 Box grater (or food processor)

  • 🧤 2 Oven mitts

🛒 THE INGREDIENTS

  • 🥦 Fresh Broccoli 2 cups (Florets and tender stems)

  • 🍚 Cooked Quinoa 1 cup (Alkaline-friendly protein base)

  • 🥤 The Binder: 2 tbsp Ground Flaxseed mixed with 5 tbsp Warm Water

  • 🥣 Chickpea Flour 1/2 cup (to help hold the shape)

  • 🧀 Nutritional Yeast 2 tablespoons (for a savory Halal "cheesy" flavor)

  • 🧄 Garlic Powder 1/2 teaspoon

  • 🏺 Olive Oil 1 tablespoon

👨‍🍳 THE METHOD

1. The Veggie Prep (0–10 Mins)

  1. 🥘 Steam: Steam the Broccoli for 6–8 Minutes until bright green and tender.

  2. 🔪 Mince: Once cool enough to touch, finely chop the broccoli into tiny "confetti" pieces. You can also pulse it 3-4 times in a food processor.

  3. 🥤 Gell: Mix the Flaxseed and Water in a small cup. Let sit for 5 minutes until it becomes a thick, egg-like gel.

2. The Tot Construction (10–20 Mins)

  1. 🔥 Preheat: Set your oven to 200°C (400°F). Line your tray with Parchment paper.

  2. 🥣 Mix: In your Large bowl, combine the chopped broccoli, Cooked Quinoa, Flax-gel, Chickpea Flour, Nutritional Yeast, and Garlic Powder.

  3. 🥄 Combine: Stir until the mixture is sticky. If it feels too wet to hold a shape, add 1 more tablespoon of chickpea flour.

  4. 🧱 Shape: Scoop 1 tablespoon of the mixture and squeeze it into a small cylinder or "tot" shape with your hands.

3. The Bake & Freeze (20–45 Mins)

  1. 🏺 Brush: Lightly brush the tops of the tots with Olive Oil.

  2. ⏲️ Bake: Bake for 12 Minutes, then gently flip each tot. Bake for another 10 Minutes until the edges are golden.

  3. 🛑 Cool: Let them cool completely on the tray. This is vital—the tots "set" as they cool and will be less likely to crumble.

  4. ❄️ Freeze: Place the cooled tray in the freezer for 1 hour, then move the frozen tots into a labeled bag for long-term storage (up to 3 months).

🛡️ PEDIATRIC SAFETY FIRST

  • 🥦 Digestion Note: Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable that can occasionally cause gas in toddlers. Pairing these tots with a little Ginger-infused pear sauce or Halal-certified yogurt can help soothe the digestive tract.

  • 🦷 Softness Check: If these become too "crunchy" in the air fryer during a later reheat, simply wrap them in a damp paper towel and microwave for 15 seconds to steam them back to a soft, gum-safe texture.

  • 🍚 Quinoa Safety: Ensure the quinoa was rinsed thoroughly before cooking to remove saponins, which can have a bitter taste and potentially irritate a toddler’s sensitive stomach.