Description
Crispy cheesy fried broccoli bites deliver a crowd-pleasing appetizer with bold flavor combinations. These golden-brown morsels blend sharp cheddar, fresh broccoli, and a perfectly seasoned exterior that invites you to savor each delightful crunch.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups broccoli florets (fresh)
- 1 cup Colby cheese (shredded)
- 1 cup Cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 4 oz (113 g) Velveeta (cut into small cubes)
- 2 ¼ cups Panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 eggs (1 egg for mixture, 2 eggs for breading)
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- Vegetable or canola oil (for frying)
Instructions
- Preparation: Finely chop steamed broccoli and transfer to a mixing bowl, ensuring uniform texture and size.
- Mixture Creation: Blend Colby, Cheddar, and Velveeta cheeses with red pepper flakes, Panko breadcrumbs, and whisked egg, thoroughly incorporating all ingredients into the broccoli base.
- Shaping: Gently form the mixture into compact, uniform spheres using light hand pressure, maintaining consistent size for even cooking.
- Chilling: Refrigerate the formed bites for one hour to solidify structure and allow flavors to meld intensely.
- Breading Station: Organize three distinct coating zones – first with flour, second with beaten eggs, and third with remaining Panko breadcrumbs for maximum crispiness.
- Oil Preparation: Heat cooking oil in a deep skillet to 375°F, monitoring temperature precisely with a kitchen thermometer to ensure optimal frying conditions.
- Coating Process: Methodically coat each broccoli sphere by rolling through flour, egg wash, and breadcrumb stations, ensuring complete and even coverage for a perfect crisp exterior.
- Frying Technique: Carefully lower breaded bites into hot oil, maintaining adequate spacing to prevent overcrowding and achieve consistent golden-brown coloration.
- Finishing: Cook until exterior turns deep amber and crispy, rotating occasionally to ensure uniform browning and thorough cooking.
- Serving: Drain fried bites on paper towels to remove excess oil, then serve immediately while hot and crisp as an irresistible appetizer or snack.
Notes
- Chill for Cohesion: Refrigerating the mixture for an hour helps bind ingredients, preventing crumbling during frying and intensifying flavor development.
- Temperature Precision: Maintain oil at exactly 375°F for perfect golden-brown exterior without burning or undercooking the delicate cheese bites.
- Breading Technique: Create a three-stage coating process to ensure maximum crunch and even coverage, preventing soggy or uneven breading.
- Spacing Matters: Avoid overcrowding the skillet during frying to guarantee each bite achieves uniform crispiness and optimal texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg