LOW-CARB BROCCOLI RICE CROQUETTES

Low-Carb Broccoli Rice Croquettes image

A low-carb alternative to rice croquettes using frozen broccoli rice. These croquettes are great as a snack or appetizer.

Provided by Buckwheat Queen

Categories Appetizers and Snacks Meat and Poultry Pork

Time 1h20m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
1 ¾ ounces pancetta, diced
1 (10 ounce) package frozen broccoli rice
⅛ teaspoon powdered saffron, or to taste
¼ cup low-sodium vegetable broth, hot
½ cup finely shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1 egg
½ cup almond meal
½ cup hazelnut meal
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
8 small fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini)

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped pancetta and cook and stir until cooked through but not too crispy, 4 to 6 minutes. Add frozen broccoli rice and stir until it is warmed through and the liquid releases, 3 to 5 minutes.
Stir saffron powder into hot broth and pour mixture into the skillet. Continue cooking, stirring often, until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Transfer broccoli rice to a large bowl to cool completely, about 15 minutes.
Add shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and egg to cooled rice mixture and mix until well combined. Whisk together almond meal, hazelnut meal, chili powder, and pepper in a separate bowl; remove 1/3 cup and mix into the rice mixture until well combined.
Coat your hands with remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil. Scoop rice mixture with a 1-ounce cookie scoop into your palm. Make an indentation in the rice ball with the back of the cookie scoop. Place 1 bocconcini inside the indentation and add another scoop rice on top. Form into a ball and roll in the almond meal mixture, coating well on all sides; place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining rice, bocconcini, and almond meal mixture.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Turn croquettes over and bake until brown and crispy, about 10 more minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 456.8 calories, Carbohydrate 12.5 g, Cholesterol 103.7 mg, Fat 36 g, Fiber 5.5 g, Protein 24 g, SaturatedFat 11.6 g, Sodium 384.4 mg, Sugar 1.8 g