The Best Cheesy Vegetable Waffles
There’s a newcomer to The Breakfast club and it’s one that we’re completely obsessed with. Waffles, savoury or sweet. Say hello to the Best Cheesy Vegetable Waffles. Yes, there are vegetables, but there’s also cheese, which makes everything better, doesn’t it?
Popular in the 80’s as a diner special, usually with soft-scoop ice cream and neon coloured sauces. With unusual combinations pumpkin pie or filled with marshmallows and chocolate for the easiest S’mores, the waffle is back. Today we’re all about savoury waffles. We love them as is for weekday breakfasts or topped with bacon and egg for lazy weekend brunches.
As a cook and recipe developer, I’m always on the look-out for new ingredients and interesting products. Invariably these items end up in my shopping trolley. Although I’m not always sure what I’ll be making, I’m optimistic about the possibilities. There are however a couple of odd condiments that are more successful as kitchen ornaments. And then, there are some so good they become kitchen staples! Like spaghetti vegetables. Ever since Tim Noakes endorsed zucchini and butternut as mainstays to the LCHF diet, spaghetti veg has become a firm favourite in many South African households.
Where to find Spiralled Vegetables
Spiralled veggies are everywhere and come in shades of butternut orange, zucchini green and beetroot red. I recently discovered them at Woolworths and couldn’t resist throwing them in the basket. I made a triple batch of these cheesy vegetable waffles and keep them on hand for after school lunches or a quick and easy breakfast. As any seasoned waffler knows, waffles are best eaten hot off the press. If you’re making these ahead of time, pop them in toaster for a couple of minutes to crisp up and reheat.
Tips for making the Waffle Batter
The batter is made with bran rich self raising flour. This product is another new-comer to local supermarkets. Sasko is currently the only local brand that produces a bran-enriched self raising flour. For additional flavour, I add spring onions, paprika and some fresh chilli. Once the batter is mixed, add handfuls of beetroot, butternut or zucchini. For the beetroot version, I crumble in a handful of feta. As the vegetables are relatively fine, they only need a few minutes in the waffle iron to cook through perfectly. Simple, fast and so good! Now we’re having bacon and eggs with waffles, plus cheese and vegetables for breakfast. This is what I’d call a Happy meal.
The Best Cheesy Vegetable Waffles
- 100 g (2/3 cup) fibre rich self raising flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely diced
- a handful of fresh parsley, roughly chopped
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons melted butter or olive oil
- 1/2 cup mozzarella, grated
- 1/2 cup mature cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 1/2 cups loosely packed spaghetti vegetables of your choice
- 1 teaspoon fibre rich bran flour, extra for dusting
- Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, paprika, chilli and parsley in a bowl.
- In a jug, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk and butter.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the flour and mix to combine.
- Place the spiralised vegetables in a bowl and sprinkle over the extra dusting flour. This will help keep the vegetables separate and absorb excess water.
- Add the vegetables and cheese to the batter and fold through.
- Preheat the waffle iron. Brush with vegetable oil or spray the surface with non-stick spray.
- Ladle in at least 2 heaped tablespoon amounts of batter for each waffle. Cook for at about 5-6 minutes until golden and crisp.
- Repeat until all the batter is used up.
- Serve with fried or poached eggs and bacon. For a vegetarian option, Mexican spicy beans and avo are really good.
Hello, I’m Di
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5 Comments. Leave new
Great thinking . This is ingenious !
Darren
It’s a “must try” for me – I will certainly try them.
Angie
They’re quite addictive Angie. I also add corn sometimes and have even used the Indian vegetable fritter recipe in the waffle machine instead of pan-frying. It worked a treat!
Thanks Da. You’ll be eating loads of these!