Veggie nuggets
Turn some every day vegetables into these kid friendly veggie nuggets. They’re perfect for packed lunch boxes, picnics or just as a vegetarian alternative to chicken nuggets at dinner time.
Veggie nuggets are a great way of sneaking some vegetables into your kids. If your kids can be fussy eaters (like mine), then these are an easy and tasty way of getting them to try some veggies.
I generally like to give my kids vegetables on the side of their plate, without being ‘sneaky’. I think it’s important to get them to like vegetables as they come.
I do like to mix things up at dinner time however and these veggie nuggets are a great way of doing that. If your kids like chicken nuggets (like mine do), these are a great vegetarian alternative.
They’re perfect for dinner, but also make a great finger food for lunch time or even packed lunches or picnics.
Can you bake veggie nuggets?
Yes. We fried our nuggets because it was quicker and I like the crispy edges you get. You can make them healthier however by baking them in the oven and they’ll be just as delicious.
Can you use any vegetables?
Yes. You can add a variety of vegetables to these nuggets. We’ve used carrots, broccoli and cauliflower as I like the colour they add. You could try other vegetables if you and your children prefer. Perhaps let your kids choose a few of their favourite vegetables or use it as an opportunity to experiment with new ones.
Things like peas, sweetcorn, mashed potato/sweet potato, spinach, parsnip would all work well. If you use a vegetable with a higher water content, you might need to either squeeze some water out of them or add some extra breadcrumbs to your nugget mixture so it doesn’t become too soggy.
How can kids help to make these veggie nuggets?
These are really easy to make – your blender or hand held mixer will do most of the hard work for you.
Let your kids help prepare some of the vegetables. Children should be able to help do things like peeling carrots, taking the florets off broccoli etc.
Once you vegetables are all chopped, your kids will enjoy getting their hands messy forming the nuggets and coating them in breadcrumbs.
If you have a picky eater, it can be a good idea to get them to help prepare their meals. Often if they are involved in the preparation they are more likely to eat it and these veggie nuggets are a great opportunity to do just that.
Ingredients
½ a head of cauliflower
½ a head of broccoli
1 carrot
1 egg
50g plain/all purpose flour
150g breadcrumbs
How to make veggie nuggets
Prepare the vegetables
Get your kids to break the cauliflower and broccoli into pieces. This is great for kids as you can do it without a knife.
Pop them in a steamer and steam them for 5 minutes. If you don’t have a steamer just cook them in water until they are tender.
Peel and grate the carrot and chop it into pieces.
Get your kids to put all the vegetables into a hand blender or food processor. Blitz everything for 10 seconds or so until it is all chopped and well mixed.
This is one of my kids favourite jobs in the kitchen. So if your kids like a bit of noise this could be a great job for them to do as well.
Make the veggie nuggets
In 3 separate dishes get your kids to add the egg, flour and breadcrumbs. Set the dishes out on your worktop in that order with a baking tray or large plate at the end.
Next, help your kids to make small balls of the vegetable mixture. Press the mixture together so it doesn’t crumble apart and form it into a nugget shape.
Now, take each nugget and in turn dip it into the flour and dust of any excess. Then dip the nugget into the egg, again getting rid of any excess.
Finally, coat the nugget in the breadcrumbs and set it aside on the baking tray. Repeat with the rest of the nuggets.
Cook the veggie nuggets
Heat a little oil in a frying pan and cook the veggie nuggets on a medium heat for 5 minutes or until they are a nice golden brown colour.
Flip the nuggets over and cook them on the other side for another 5 minutes.
If your kids are old enough to be trusted near the heat, you can get them to help fry them.
If you want to bake the veggie nuggets rather than fry them, pop them on a baking tray and cook them in an oven preheated to 200C / 180C Fan / 390 F for 20-25 minutes, turning halfway through.
Serve them with some dipping sauce/tomato ketchup and enjoy.
Veggie nuggets
Ingredients
Method
- Break the cauliflower and broccoli into pieces. Pop them in a steamer and steam them for 5 minutes. If you don't have a steamer just cook them in water until they are tender.
- Peel and grate the carrot and chop it into pieces.
- Put all the vegetables into a hand blender or food processor. Blitz everything for 10 seconds or so until it is all chopped and well mixed.
- In 3 separate dishes add the egg, flour and breadcrumbs. Set the dishes out on your worktop in that order with a baking tray or large plate at the end.
- Next, make small balls of the vegetable mixture. Press the mixture together so it doesn't crumble apart and form it into a nugget shape.
- Now, take each nugget and in turn dip it into the flour and dust of any excess. Then dip the nugget into the egg, again getting rid of any excess.
- Finally, coat the nugget in the breadcrumbs and set it aside on the baking tray. Repeat with the rest of the nuggets.
- Heat a little oil in a frying pan and cook the veggie nuggets on a medium heat for 5 minutes or until they are a nice golden brown colour.
- Flip the nuggets over and cook them on the other side for another 5 minutes.
- If you want to bake the veggie nuggets rather than fry them, pop them on a baking tray and cook them in an oven preheated to 200C / 180C Fan / 390 F for 20-25 minutes, turning halfway through.
- Serve them with some dipping sauce/tomato ketchup and enjoy.
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