Bowl of crispy bhajis
WRITTEN BY
SERVES:
3-4 as a shared snack
Prep Time:
10
Cook Time:
10

Introducing our food waste fighting Broccoli Stem Bhaji — a deliciously crispy recipe that transforms those overlooked broccoli stems into a flavourful snack!

Bhaji, originating from Indian cuisine, are essentially savory fritters commonly made from vegetables, herbs, or lentils bound together with a batter typically made from chickpea flour (besan) and spices. They're a popular street food and snack in India and are enjoyed for their texture and flavorful taste.

By using grated broccoli stems along with a mix of spices and chickpea flour, these bhajis are not only delicious, but also a sustainable choice to make the most out of your Wonky brocolli. Serve them up hot with your favorite dipping sauce for a more-ish snack or appetizer sure to impress.

Still stuck for rockin' broc recipes? Try one of our other use-em-up broccoli loaded recipes:

Crumbed Broccoli Stalks

Broccoli and Potato Croquettes

Cheesey Broccoli Loaded Baked Potatoes

INGREDIENTS:

  • Leftover broccoli stalk and stems
  • 1 large carrot
  • 100g chickpea flour
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp cumin
  • ½ tsp coriander
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • 1 green chili
  • 75ml water
  • Salt & Pepper
  • 300ml vegetable oil for cooking

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Cut off the very bottom of the broccoli stalk as this is the toughest part. Then grate the remaining broccoli stalk and finely chop any stems/leaves. Grate the carrot.
  2. Dice the chili and remove the seeds.
  3. Place the grated carrot and broccoli into a bowl. Add cumin, coriander, turmeric, green chili, chickpea flour and baking powder. Season with salt and pepper. Use your hands to toss the mixture together. Pour in the water and mix well to combine. The mixture should easily stick together.
  4. Pour oil into a deep pot and heat over medium heat. To check if the oil is ready add a small amount of mixture to the pot, if it floats then the oil is hot and ready.
  5. Working in batches, carefully spoon small amounts of the mixture into the pot (you could wear an oven mitt to protect from any spitting oil!). Cook the bhajis for 3-4 minutes, turning them once or twice in the oil.
  6. Once golden and crispy, remove bhajis from the pot and place onto a plate lined with kitchen paper to absorb the excess oil.
  7. Once all the bhajis are cooked, transfer to a serving bowl. Serve immediately with mint yogurt, aioli, or tamarind sauce.

TIP: No need to throw out your frying oil! Just wait for it to cool completely, then strain through a fine sieve to extract any leftover bhaji clumps. Pour strained oil into a jar or glass bottle to use again for more cooking adventures that week.

wonkybox

Broccoli Stalk and Carrot Bhajis

Make broccoli stems the star of the show with this Broccoli Stem Bhaji! These crispy fritters are a flavorful twist on Indian cuisine.
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