Hidden Veggies Kids Love (fritters!)

There’s one way to get kids to eat stuff that’s good for them: make it resemble a burger and fry it. Here are 3 great fritter recipes that you will love and use on repeat. They're packed full of hidden veggies and a great way to use up leftovers in the fridge.

Zucchini and Feta Fritter Recipe:

You'll need:

• 3 cups zucchini, coarsely grated
• 1 large onion, diced into tiny bits
• 2 cups flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• 2/3 cup feta, crumbled
• 1/2 cup plain flour
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• salt and pepper
• sunflower oil, for frying

How to make them:

1. Put the grated zucchini in a colander in your sink. Sprinkle zucchini with salt and let the liquid drain for 20 minutes. Squeeze the remaining liquid from the zucchini and place in a bowl.
2. Pop in the onion, parsley, feta, flour and eggs, and mix together.
3. Add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Heat oil on a medium-high heat in a frying pan.
5. Drop a spoonful of the mixture into the oil and cook for 2 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
6. Place on paper towel to get rid of excess oil. Repeat until you’ve finished your fritter mix.

//

Quinoa and Carrot Fritter Recipe:

You'll need:

• 1 cup quinoa, cooked
• 1/4 cup plain flour
• 1 1/2 cups grated carrot
• 1 cup grated parmesan
• 2 spring onions, finely chopped
• 1 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• 1 egg
• salt and pepper
• sunflower oil, for frying

How to make them:

1. Cook the quinoa as per directions on the packet and let cool.

2. Mix the rest of your ingredients together in a bowl.

3. Once the quinoa is cool, pop into your fritter mix and combine.

4. Heat oil on a medium-high heat in a frying pan.

5. Pop a couple of heaped tablespoons of the fritter mix in the oil—add as many as you can comfortably fit in the pan.

6. Fry on either side for 2 minutes or until golden brown.

7. Place on paper towel to get rid of excess oil. Repeat until you’ve finished your fritter mix.

Tip:

These are ace with chilli, but the kids could have them with yoghurt or hummus.

///

Cheesy Broccoli Fritters:

You'll need:

• 3 cups broccoli, chopped
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup plain flour
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 tsp salt
• sunflower oil, for frying

How to make them:

1. Chop broccoli into 5cm chunks. You can use the stems too—just get rid of the tough stuff from the outside.
2. In a saucepan, bring water to the boil, then reduce heat and pop broccoli in. Put the lid on and simmer for about 5 minutes. You don’t want the broccoli to be soggy—keep it crunchy.
3. In a large bowl, place the egg, flour, cheese and salt. Mix into a paste. Once broccoli has cooled, pop into the bowl with the cheesy mix.
4. Mash with potato masher. Don’t over-mash—just until everything can stick together in a fritter-like formation.
5. Heat oil on a medium-high heat in a frying pan.
6. Pop a couple of heaped tablespoons of the fritter mix in the oil—add as many as you can comfortably fit in the pan.
7. Fry on either side for 2–3 minutes or until golden brown.
8. Place on paper towel to get rid of excess oil. Repeat until you’ve finished your fritter mix.

///

Looking for more recipes? Check out Lunch Lady's favourite berry treats or get dinner sorted with these black bean bowls with warm tortilla chips.