Savory Bacon Ranch Broccoli Bites

Ingredients

• A bag of broccoli florets weighing 12 ounces
• 2 teaspoons of sea salt, split into portions
• ¾ cup of finely shredded Cheddar cheese
• ½ cup of panko bread crumbs
• ⅓ cup of minced onion
• 1 egg
• 3 slices of finely chopped cooked bacon
• 2 tablespoons of ranch dressing mix
• 2 tablespoons of freshly chopped parsley
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil, to suit your taste

Step 1

Start by preheating the oven to a toasty 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and get a baking sheet ready with a lovely parchment paper lining.

Step 2

Begin the creative process by placing half of the vibrant broccoli florets into a food processor and giving it a whirl about 20 times until it resembles tiny grains of rice. Repeat this step with the rest of the broccoli florets for a consistent texture.

Step 3

In a large, shallow saucepan, add about 1/2 inch of water and sprinkle in a teaspoon of salt. Let it reach a boil before reducing the heat to low and gently introducing the broccoli rice. Cover the pan and let it simmer until the broccoli is tender, which usually takes around 5 minutes. Once done, drain the broccoli rice and allow it to cool for approximately 10 minutes.

Step 4

Now, transfer the broccoli rice onto the center of a clean absorbent dish towel. Wrap it up and give it a good squeeze and twist to eliminate excess moisture effectively.

Step 5

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flavorful ingredients such as Cheddar cheese, breadcrumbs, onion, egg, bacon, ranch dressing mix, and parsley. Blend them well and then add the broccoli rice, ensuring the mixture sticks together when shaped into a ball.

Step 6

Using a small ice cream scoop, portion out about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the mixture. Shape it into a ball and then gently press it into a tot shape using your oiled hands. Place each tot on the prepared baking sheet and continue until all the mixture is used up.

Step 7

Before popping them in the oven, drizzle a bit of olive oil over the broccoli tots and sprinkle the remaining teaspoon of salt on top for that extra burst of flavor.

Step 8

Bake the tots in the preheated oven, remembering to turn them halfway using tongs to achieve that beautiful golden brown color, which usually takes around 24 minutes.