The broccoli balls are exquisite, very soft, and stringy, perfect for dinner or lunch. They are very easy to prepare and everyone will love them, even the little ones. In fact, these balls are extremely soft: I’ll explain how to make them so soft with a trick!
We can cook the broccoli balls in an air fryer, in the oven, or in a pan, and you’ll find all the cooking instructions below, so you can choose the one you prefer. You only need a few simple ingredients to make broccoli balls that we all have at home. They are so quick and easy to make that once you try them, you’ll always make them this way!
Check out this super tasty BROCCOLI recipe too:
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Cheap
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 14 balls
- Cooking methods: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Autumn, Winter, and Spring
Ingredients
- 1.1 lbs broccoli
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 3.5 oz provola (or another cheese)
- 1 tsp salt
- to taste pepper
- to taste extra virgin olive oil
- to taste fresh basil
- to taste breadcrumbs for coating
Tools
- Air Fryer
Steps
First, wash the broccoli, cut the florets, and remove the stems (or they can be reused for other recipes or to make a sauce to accompany the balls). Transfer the florets to a pot with cold water and turn on the heat; once boiling, cook them for about ten minutes.
Meanwhile, cut the provola into cubes.
Transfer the broccoli to a mixer and blend them. Pour them into a bowl and add the grated Parmesan, breadcrumbs, a pinch of pepper, salt, and an egg. Mix well until you get a soft, homogeneous mixture.
Take a spoonful of the mixture and start compacting it well with your hands; add a cube of provola in the center and close it tightly to form a ball. Repeat the process until you get about 14 balls. Once ready, roll them in breadcrumbs (to which you can add a pinch of salt and, if you like, some spices to taste).
COOKING IN AIR FRYER
Transfer the broccoli balls to the basket of the air fryer, add a spray of oil, and cook them at 374°F for 12 minutes; if necessary, turn them halfway through cooking.COOKING IN OVEN
Place the balls on a baking tray, add a drizzle of oil, and cook them in a preheated oven at 392°F for about 25-30 minutes, until they are nicely golden.COOKING IN PAN
Alternatively, you can cook them in a pan: pour a splash of oil (EVO or seed), once hot add the balls, and cook them for a few minutes on each side until golden.Serve as is or with fresh basil. Enjoy your meal!
Tips for You
✔ If you like more rustic balls, you can simply mash the broccoli with a fork.
✔ You can use your preferred cheese!
✔ It is necessary to cook the broccoli balls directly in the basket of the air fryer WITHOUT using trays or parchment paper: this way they will cook with air circulating 360 degrees from bottom to top, allowing for ideal air frying without obstacles.
✔ The spray oil I used for this recipe is available in some supermarkets and is a ready-to-use EVO spray. I recommend it because the spray is well-diffused and controlled, besides being really excellent. You can find some on Amazon by clicking here. Alternatively, you can purchase a refillable spray that you can fill with the oil you prefer. I’ll leave you a link to a great dispenser by clicking here.
✔ To protect the basket, I recommend using the BBQ mesh: the mesh is cut to size with scissors and placed on the basket; this way, during cooking, it protects the non-stick coating of the basket (which will remain like new) and allows the food to cook evenly, letting the air through 360 degrees. It is also reusable, dishwasher (or hand) washable, and lasts 3-4 months even using it every day. You can find it on Amazon by clicking here (set with 4 meshes).
✔ Alternatively, you can use perforated parchment paper, which allows air to pass through the holes. You can find it on Amazon by clicking here: link.
✔ For this recipe, I used the SEVERIN 5-liter air fryer, which you can see by clicking here: SEVERIN air fryer.
Don’t miss the latest recipe of the 👉 air fryer calzones: I’ll explain all the tricks for a PERFECT cooking!
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