Description

These Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls are a delicious and nutritious snack or appetizer featuring soft cooked broccoli combined with cheese, eggs, and panko breadcrumbs, then oven-baked until golden and crispy on the outside. Served with a zesty lemon yoghurt sauce, they offer a perfect balance of creamy, tangy, and savory flavors, making them a crowd-pleasing vegetarian treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Broccoli Cheese Balls

2 cups (packed) roughly chopped soft cooked broccoli (well drained) (~400g/13 oz raw broccoli)
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
2 eggs
¾ cup shredded cheese (Cheddar, Colby, or Tasty cheese)
2 shallots/scallions, finely sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ tsp salt
Black pepper, to taste
Olive oil spray

Lemon Yoghurt Sauce

2/3 cup plain yoghurt
Zest of 1/2 lemon
1 tbsp lemon juice
½ garlic clove, minced
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil (adjust to taste, depends on fat % of yoghurt used)
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 200°C (390°F) ensuring it is set to the correct temperature for even baking.
Prepare Baking Tray: Line a baking tray with baking or parchment paper to prevent sticking and facilitate easy cleanup.
Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cooked broccoli, panko breadcrumbs, eggs, shredded cheese, sliced shallots, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Mash the broccoli as you mix, similar to the texture of cooked minced meat, until all ingredients are well incorporated.
Form Balls: Scoop a heaped tablespoon of the mixture and press firmly to compact it. Flick the mixture into your hand and roll it into a ball shape. Place each ball on the prepared baking tray. Repeat until all mixture is used, making approximately 15 to 18 balls.
Bake: Lightly spray the broccoli cheese balls with olive oil spray to help the exterior crisp up. Bake in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes, or until the balls are golden and slightly crisp on the surface.
Prepare Sauce: While the balls bake, mix together the yoghurt, lemon zest, lemon juice, minced garlic, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside for at least 20 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.
Serve: Remove the broccoli cheese balls from the oven and serve warm with the lemon yoghurt sauce. They also pair well with ketchup if preferred.

Notes

Ensure the cooked broccoli is well drained to prevent the mixture from being too wet.
For best results, use a soft cooked broccoli to achieve the right texture in the cheese balls.
Adjust lemon juice and zest in the sauce according to your taste preferences.
These can be served as an appetizer, snack, or a side dish.
Cheese type can be varied: Cheddar, Colby, or a similar flavorful cheese works best.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: broccoli cheese balls, baked broccoli balls, vegetarian appetizer, cheese snack, lemon yoghurt sauce, healthy snack