Broccoli Fritters

These Broccoli Fritters are a lovely addition to any appetizer spread and serve deliciously alongside main courses such as seared steaks or fried pork chops. Crispy on the outside, while tender and savory on the inside, with just a hint of spice, these are one of my favorite ways to fry veggies at home. Paired with a dollop of tzatziki or a sweet and spicy chili crisp sauce, what’s not to love?

Best of all, these fritters use only easy-to-find, simple ingredients such as broccoli, flour, and onion, along with some simple seasonings such as grating cheese, pepper, and garlic. Simply combine the ingredients into a batter, fry, and serve. It couldn’t be simpler.

Now, without further introduction, let’s fry some fritters.

What to Expect – Recipe Overview

If you’ve read this far, you likely are interested but also probably still have a few questions, such as what to expect in terms of taste and texture, or how hard this recipe is to make. For the answer to these questions and more, read on.

• Taste and Texture: The fritters feature a savory, slightly nutty taste, mixed with notes of garlic and parmesan, with just a touch of heat from the red and black pepper. In terms of texture, the fritters should cook up crisp on the outside, with a tender, fluffy interior.
• Difficulty Level: Moderately easy, but there’s definitely a process here. Crushing the chickpeas, and then mixing them with the other ingredients can be a bit of a chore, while copious amounts of chopping requires a bit of patience – though none of this is ‘hard’ or ‘complex.’ Frying the fritters, however, does require some timing. Three and a half minutes on one side, followed by two and a half on the other. I do suggest setting a timer to help with this.
• Preparation Process: The recipe starts with crushing chickpeas. This can be done either by hand or in a food processor. From there, we chop up some broccoli and mix it with the other ingredients listed below (eggs, bread crumbs, seasonings, etc..) From there, we mix until a rough batter comes together and then let it rest. Then it’s time to fry. The key to ensuring that the fritters fry up crisp and golden is ensuring the batter consistency is just right (moist, thick, and well combined), and then flattening the fritters slightly in the pan for even cooking.
• Pairings: I’d recommend pairing them alongside my sweet and spicy chili sauce. They also pair deliciously alongside something like a fresh tzatziki or an aioli. In terms of main courses, they pair nicely with things like fried or grilled chicken, fried pork chops, or grilled steaks. They also love fresh sides such as green salads or as a starter with sliced fresh veggies.

Ingredient Checklist – Everything You’ll Need

• 3 cups of broccoli florets – chopped
  • Tip: I do recommend using fresh broccoli for this particular recipe. However, if using frozen, be sure to allow it to thaw completely before chopping.
  • Substitution: Cauliflower or zucchini can both be used in place of the broccoli. However, be sure to drain the zucchini otherwise it will add too much moisture to the batter.
• ¼ cup of red onion – chopped
  • Tip: Be sure to chop the onion as finely as you can to ensure even distribution throughout the batter.
  • Substitution: Either green onions or shallots. Use these at a one-to-one ratio to replace the onion.
• 15.5 oz. can of chickpeas – drained
  • Tip: I crushed the chickpeas by hand using a pastry cutter. They don’t need to be smashed fine or smooth but do try to get all of the largest clumps out. That said, feel free to use the food processor. However, do leave the chickpeas somewhat coarse, as this will give the fritters a heartier texture.
  • Substitution: My go-to substitution would probably be white beans, at a one-to-one ratio.
• 3-4 cloves of garlic, chopped
  • Tip: As always, feel free to adjust the amount of garlic to suit your taste.
• ¼ cup of Parmesan or Romano cheese
  • Tip: I do recommend freshly grated for the best flavor.
  • Substitution: Your cheese of choice, feel free to get creative here. Feta or mozzarella would both be interesting choices.
• 1 cup milk
  • Tip: I cannot stress enough how important it is to use whole milk, or even cream, for this recipe. The added fat helps bind the fritters and adds both flavor and texture.
  • Substitution: Your full-fat plant-based milk of choice will work just fine. That said, you might want to include an additional egg white to make up for the loss in fat.
• 1 cup flour
  • Tip: Plain, all-purpose flour is all we’re looking for here.
  • Substitution: Your gluten-free flour of choice will likely work just fine.
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • Tip: I do recommend using Italian-style breadcrumbs for this recipe.
  • Substitution: Here again, your gluten-free breadcrumbs of choice will work just fine.
• 2 eggs
  • Tip: Eggs work to bind the batter. While you can break the eggs right into the batter, beating them first helps in mixing.
  • Substitution: If need be, your egg substitute of choice will of course work in this recipe.
• 1½ tsp. salt
  • Tip: Helps to bind and balance the flavors. As always, adjust the salt according to your preference.
• 1 tsp. black pepper
  • Tip: While freshly ground black pepper works for the best aromatics, pre-ground works just fine in this recipe.
• 1 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • Tip: Adjust the amount based on your heat preference. Of course, you can leave the red pepper out entirely if preferred.
  • Substitution: A dash of cayenne works fine, as will your favorite spicy chili flakes. If you’re feeling particularly fancy, chop up some fresh chilis and add them to the batter.
• Vegetable oil for frying
  • Tip: We’re only using the oil for frying, so we want a high-heat, flavor-neutral oil, such as vegetable or canola.
  • Substitution: This is one recipe where I would recommend ‘against’ using extra virgin olive oil, as it has a relatively low heat tolerance, and thus will negatively impact the fritters during frying.

Tips for Preparing the Broccoli Fritters

1. The Broccoli
   • Finely Chopped: You want to make sure that you chop the broccoli both evenly and finely, so as to ensure even distribution throughout the batter.
   • Frozen Broccoli: If you use frozen broccoli, you want to thaw it completely before using it.
2. The Chickpeas
   • Coarsely mash the chickpeas: Crush the chickpeas only until you’ve crushed all of the largest chunks, but remain coarse overall. We do ‘not’ want a chickpea paste or hummus. The coarseness adds texture to the fritters.
3. Seasoning to Taste
   • Adjust the seasoning: As mentioned in the ingredient checklist, adjust the seasonings to your preference. In particular, feel free to adjust the amount or type of cheese, the amount of red pepper, black pepper, salt, and garlic. Also, feel free to experiment with things like added herbs such as parsley or cilantro, or dicing in your favorite chilis.
4. Let the Batter Rest
   • Resting is Important: Do not skip this step. The batter sets as it rests, and this helps the fritters to keep their form during frying.
5. Frying with Care
   • Use medium heat: When frying, make sure the oil is hot but not smoking. Fry the fritters over medium heat to ensure they cook through without burning. If the oil is too hot, the outside will brown too quickly while the inside remains undercooked. If the oil is too cool, the fritters will absorb too much oil and become soggy (more on this below).
6. Don’t Overcrowd the Pan
   • Cook in batches: Overcrowding the pan lowers the oil’s temperature. A lower oil temperature leads to soggy fritters, as it allows the fritters to absorb more oil than they should. Yes, this recipe takes some time and patience.
7. Flatten the Fritters
   • Gently flatten the batter: After spooning the fritters into the pan, flatten them slightly with your spatula. This ensures even cooking and crisping on both sides.
8. Drain on Paper Towels
   • Remove excess oil: After frying, place the fritters on a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil and keep them crispy.

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And those are our Broccoli Fritters! If you enjoyed today’s recipe, or have any questions or suggestions, be sure to let us know in the comments below. We always love hearing from you!

Happy Cooking!

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