Broccoli Bake (egg free alternative)
This is a quick and easy comfort food recipe. I found it perfect to accompany a rainy day. I wanted to create a souffle like dish but decided that this version is much simpler and lighter on the dairy. In addition, the recipe requires only one cooking medium and I believe most people will appreciate the simplicity of this recipe.
Looking back I never combined rosemary and broccoli and they turned out to be a really complementary match. Broccoli are sometimes difficult to combine with spices, but rosemary is surely game and I will definitely combine them again.
The use of flax seed here was to avoid using eggs. I like to use eggs in many dishes but I believe it is good to change sometimes. I am also often asked for egg alternative, so here is the trick. Use ratio 1:3 i.e. 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds to 3 tablespoons water. That is usually an egg replacement. You have to mix these and allow them to set before incorporating them with the rest of the ingredients. They will form a sticky mixture which can be used as a vegan replacement in sweet and savory dishes.
The recipe below makes out 4 ramekins which is good for 2 people. Accompany these with salad for a complete dish.
- 1 small head broccoli (around 285g) washed and drained
- 2 cloves garlic
- 125g white cheese (I used 1 local cheeselet/gbejna)
- 65g ground almonds (or other flour alternative of your choice)
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ teaspoon chilli flakes
- Dash of sea salt
- 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
- 6 tablespoons water
- Preheat oven at 220 degrees Celsius.
- Mix the ground flax seeds with water using a teaspoon and set aside in a glass. This will form a gooey mixture which will be used as a binding agent instead of the eggs.
- Grind garlic in food processor until finely chopped. (S blade is good).
- Add the broccoli in food processor and pulse for few seconds to finely chop them. Place mixture aside in a bowl.
- In same food processor bowl pulse the cheese for a few seconds until chopped into small pieces. Add to broccoli mix.
- Add the rosemary, chilli flakes, salt and almonds to the broccoli bowl and mix well with a spoon.
- Add the flax seed mixture to the broccoli and mix well.
- Distribute the mixture evenly in 4 ramekins.
- Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes. Best served warm in the same ramekin.
