Shhh! These family-friendly little patties are stuffed with secret goodness – my kids don’t even realise they’re eating zucchini, cauli, brown rice or chickpeas, because they’re blitzed, seasoned, then fried to crispy perfection. A cross between a patty & a felafel, these crumbed cuties are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside.As you’ll read, this is a very flexible recipe, perfect for using up whatever vegetables & herbs you have on the go. The neat-balls make a lovely addition to a Buddha bowl, grazing platter, lunchbox or serve them for dinner with a crispy salad. My kids love having a cutlery-free dinner, including hummus, carrot/celery/cucumber sticks & a bowl of olives.
1 x 400g tin of beans – I’ve tried adzuki & chickpea
1 small onion, sliced
1 clove garlic, sliced
2 loosely packed cups of vegetables * see note below
1 cup cooked brown rice
2 tsp salt
optional handful of fresh herbs like coriander or basil
optional hit of chilli – I use a squirt of sriracha sauce
½ cup gluten-free breadcrumbs or rice crumbs
oil for frying
* feel free to use whatever vegetables you have at hand – I use combinations of grated carrot, zucchini, chopped broccoli & cauliflower. A handful of raw spinach works well. I’ve had equal success with raw & precooked veges/leftovers. Use whatever needs eating from the fridge!
Fry the onions & garlic in a little oil until softened. Set aside while you prepare the other ingredients.
Drain & rinse the beans. Prepare the vegetables (see note above) & load them into a food processor, along with the rice, beans, cooked onion & garlic, salt & optional herbs/chilli. This fills up my food processor! Blitz until a thick, damp, squidgy ‘paste’ forms. Scrape down the sides if need be.
Put the breadcrumbs into a bowl or plate & use your hands to roll the vege mixture into balls – roughly a tablespoon per ball. Roll each ball in the crumbs & flatten gently into patty shapes, like a felafel.
Fry the patties in oil over a medium heat until crisped & golden brown on both sides.
Serve warm with any dipping sauces of choice or enjoy on their own.
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