Broccoli Poppers

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Step 1

Start by heating your oven to 400°F (200°C) and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. Take half of the broccoli florets and pulse them in a food processor about 20 times until they resemble little grains of rice. Do the same with the rest of the broccoli.

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Step 2

Next, pour about half an inch of water into a large, shallow pan, add a teaspoon of salt, and bring it to a boil. Turn the heat down to low, add the broccoli rice, cover, and let it simmer gently for around 5 minutes until it’s tender. Drain the broccoli and give it about 10 minutes to cool.

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Step 3

Once it’s cool enough to handle, transfer the broccoli rice onto a clean kitchen towel. Wrap it up and twist to squeeze out as much moisture as you can — the drier, the better for forming the tots.

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Step 4

In a big bowl, combine the cheddar, breadcrumbs, chopped onion, egg, parsley, garlic, cumin, and black pepper. Mix in the broccoli rice until everything sticks together well when you press it into a ball.

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Step 5

Use a small scoop or spoon out about 1½ tablespoons of the mixture at a time. Roll each portion into a ball, then gently press it into a tot shape with lightly oiled hands. Arrange them on your prepared baking sheet as you go.

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Step 6

Drizzle a little olive oil over the tots and sprinkle the remaining teaspoon of salt on top. Pop them in the oven and bake for about 24 minutes, turning them halfway through so they get golden and crispy all over. Enjoy!