🧀 Cheesy Veggie Sticks (Pan-Fried)
🌿 Description
These savory sticks are loaded with grated vegetables and melty cheese, lightly pan-fried until crispy on the outside and soft inside. A perfect healthy-ish snack, appetizer, or lunchbox idea!
🧾 Ingredients
🥕 Veggie Mix:
- 1 cup grated carrots
- 1 cup grated zucchini (squeeze out excess water)
- ½ cup finely chopped bell peppers
- 2 tbsp chopped onion
- 2 tbsp fresh herbs (parsley or coriander)
🧀 Cheese & Binding:
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella (for stretch)
- ¼ cup cheddar or parmesan
- 1 egg
- 3–4 tbsp flour (or breadcrumbs/oats flour)
- Salt & black pepper to taste
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp chili flakes (optional)
🍳 For Frying:
- 2–3 tbsp olive oil
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prep the Mix
- Squeeze water from zucchini really well.
- In a bowl, mix all veggies, cheese, egg, flour, and seasoning.
- Form a thick, moldable mixture.
2. Shape
- Take small portions and shape into sticks (like fingers).
3. Pan-Fry
- Heat oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat.
- Cook sticks 3–4 minutes per side until golden and crispy.
4. Serve
- Serve hot with yogurt dip, ketchup, or garlic sauce.
🔥 Tips
- If mixture feels wet, add more flour or breadcrumbs
- Don’t overcrowd the pan—helps crisp better
- Chill sticks for 15 minutes before frying for firmer shape
❓ Q & A
Q: Can I bake instead of fry?
Yes! Bake at 190°C (375°F) for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway.
Q: Can I make it low-carb?
Use almond flour instead of regular flour.
Q: Can I freeze them?
Yes—freeze shaped sticks, then cook directly from frozen.
Q: How to make them extra cheesy?
Add small cheese cubes inside each stick 😍
