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Learn step by step instructions for how to make veggie cakes of all kinds. From the original veggie cake recipe to a superfood veggie cake recipe, you will find detailed instructions and helpful tips for making your own veggie cakes from scratch.
Veggie cakes are a tasty way to get more vegetables into your diet, especially if you have picky eaters. They are small enough for little hands and they make a great addition to your work lunches during the week.
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Veggie Cakes
To make our vegetable cakes, the first thing to do is prep the veggies. A food processor makes quick work of it and I highly recommend using one if you are making a batch. This is an easy vegetarian recipe you can make for dinner, or it can be served as a side dish.
These veggie patties are kid-friendly and also picky eater approved. The carrots and corn provide a touch of sweetness to these cakes. The vegetables can be swapped out for something different to suit personal preferences.
Watch the video for step by step instructions from start to finish -> How to Make Veggie Cakes Video
How to make veggie cakes
I like to start with anything that requires extra time, like zucchini. As you can see in the photo below, I grated the zucchini for the vegetable fritters. It needs to drain before it can be used.
To do this, set a fine mesh colander inside of a bowl to catch the water. To help the process go quicker, set a small plate on top and weigh it down with a large can or something equally heavy to press the liquid out.
The most important helpful tip I can offer to anyone making veggie cakes for the first time is this: drain the vegetables really well. Don’t skimp on this step, you’ll regret it later.
Veggies like zucchini and spinach have quite a bit of liquid in them and if you don’t squeeze out as much moisture as possible, the veggie cakes will be mushy. Green vegetable cakes are delicious and made from nutrient-dense veggies, they just need to be squeezed dry first.
No one wants mushy vegetables. We want vegetable patties that have a crispy outside and tender inside.
Once you’ve drained and squeezed out the watery vegetables, it’s time to combine them with the rest of the veggies you have prepared. Then it gets mixed with egg, flour, cheese (if using), breadcrumb and seasonings. At this point, they are ready to cook.
Cooking vegetable patties
If you prefer to bake them instead of cooking them on the stovetop, you can bake them at 350°F for about 20 minutes until they are crispy and the vegetables have cooked through. A light dusting of breadcrumb on the outside will help them crisp up in the oven.
If you want to make them in the air fryer, check out this recipe for butternut squash fritters.
Veggie Cake Recipes
There are a handful of recipes on the blog for these little cakes made out of veggies.Here are a few more recipes to try. Make them your own! Try it as written, or try a few different add-ins or spices.
- Zucchini fritters
- Corn fritters
- Sweet potato cakes
- Vegan veggie cakes
- Baked broccoli cakes
- Superfood veggie cakes
- Sweet potato and beet fritters
- Fried okra cakes
- Three sisters squash fritters
Vegetarian Recipes
For anyone looking for Easy Vegetarian Recipes, you will find the top 25 vegetarian recipes from this blog in that post. Veggie cakes are a great option for a meatless meal.
You can customize them to your own personal tastes and the combinations are limitless. Make a new version every week and it would take you forever to run out of options.
Consider adding in beans, chickpeas, quinoa or herbs like scallions, parsley and dill to change the flavor and texture.
Vegetables for Breakfast
This is where I think most of us have a hard time working vegetables into our diet. We can grab a salad for lunch, sauté some greens for dinner, but getting in some extra nutrient dense food at breakfast isn’t always easy.
Top these vegetable cakes with an egg and you’re getting plenty of vitamins and protein to start your day and keep you full until lunchtime.
Helpful Tools for Making Veggie Cakes
- 2 ounce scoop – makes uniform vegetable patties, so they all cook at the same time
- Commercial sheet pans – heavy duty pans that won’t warp.
- Cast iron pan – best for cooking veggie fritters.
Still looking for more? You can find additional recipes in my veggie cake e-book!
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Veggie Cakes
Cheryl Bennett
Fluffy veggie cakes are a perfect side or Meatless Monday meal.
4.46 from 330 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save
Prep Time 1 hour hr
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
Course Veggie cake recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 30 cakes
Calories 109 kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups broccoli grated
- 3 large zucchini grated and drained
- 6 medium carrots peeled and grated
- 1 onion diced and sautéed (optional)
- 1 cup corn kernels
- 4 large eggs
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp granulated garlic
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs I used panko
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1 tsp. Cajun seasoning optional, if you like a little kick
- oil for pan
Instructions
Prep the zucchini
Grate zucchini, sprinkle with 1 tsp salt, toss to combine.
Place a fine mesh strainer on top of / inside a large bowl. Add salted zucchini to strainer. Place a heavy bowl or plate on top of the zucchini to weigh it down. Liquid will drain from zucchini into bowl underneath.
Let it sit for AT LEAST 30 minutes, up to 1 hour. After it has drained, wrap it in a clean kitchen towel or a piece of cheesecloth and SQUEEZE! Even more water will come out, we want it as dry as possible!
Set the drained zucchini aside.
Make the Cakes
In a large bowl, mix flour, baking powder, pepper, granulated garlic or Cajun seasoning, if using, breadcrumb and cheese together. Add all the vegetables and toss to combine, making sure to break up the zucchini and coat everything with flour mixture.
Crack eggs into a small bowl, give a little whisk and pour over veggie mixture. Mix to THOROUGHLY combine.
Heat a sauté pan (skillet) over medium-high heat, add a drizzle of oil (a teaspoon or two) and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan.
Using a scoop (or a large spoon), drop mixture into the hot pan and flatten out with your fingers to form a patty.
Cook for 4 – 5 minutes on each side, turning down the heat if they begin to brown too quickly.
Remove from pan to a cooling rack placed inside a sheet pan, or a paper towel lined baking sheet.
Repeat until mixture is gone.
Video
Notes
Zucchini is very watery and needs to be drained well, otherwise your cakes will end up a soggy mess. It loses most of it's volume once it's drained (think spinach). You start out with a full pot and it cooks down to nothing.
To freeze: place squares of parchment paper between the cakes and wrap tightly in plastic wrap or slide into a zip-top freezer bag.
A cast iron skillet works the BEST, but any skillet will do!
Nutrition
Serving: 2gCalories: 109kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 5gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 52mgSodium: 537mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3g
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