Baked Zucchini Tots with Cheese and Chives Recipe
These baked zucchini tots are a simple, vegetable-packed snack perfect for lunch boxes and baby-led weaning. Crispy on the outside and tender inside, they offer a wholesome, cheesy flavor with hints of chives and onion powder, making them a nutritious and delicious treat for kids and adults alike.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 20 tots
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: New Zealand
Ingredients
Vegetables
- 1–2 medium zucchinis (about 100 grams grated and squeezed)
Herbs & Spices
- 1 tablespoon chives
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Dry Ingredients
- ½ cup (75 grams) plain flour (can substitute gluten-free or rice flour)
- ½ cup grated cheese (cheddar or colby)
Wet Ingredients
- 1–2 eggs (depending on size and moisture of zucchini)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Celsius to prepare for baking the zucchini tots evenly and achieve a golden crust.
- Prepare Zucchini: Grate the zucchinis, then squeeze out as much liquid as possible using your hands to ensure the tots hold together well and aren’t soggy.
- Mix Ingredients: Place 100 grams of the squeezed zucchini in a large mixing bowl, add chives, onion powder, flour, grated cheese, and 1 egg. Stir well with a wooden spoon to combine into a cohesive batter. Add the second egg if the batter feels too dry and isn’t sticking together.
- Shape Tots: Line a baking tray with baking paper. Using a tablespoon, scoop portions of the batter and place them spaced on the tray to form small tot shapes.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven at 200 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes or until the zucchini tots turn golden and cooked through.
Notes
- Make sure to squeeze out the grated zucchini thoroughly; the drier the better for crispy tots.
- Egg quantity may vary from 1 to 2 depending on moisture; start with one and add more if needed.
- Omit salt when preparing for baby-led weaning; seasoning with salt and pepper can be done for older kids or adults.
- Store baked zucchini tots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheat frozen tots in the microwave or air fryer for best results.
- Plain flour can be substituted with gluten-free or rice flour as needed.
- Chives can be replaced with grated onion or finely sliced spring onions.
- Cheese used is typically grated cheddar or colby cheese.
