Weight Watchers-Friendly Broccoli Balls

Weight Watchers-Friendly Broccoli Balls

Ingredients:

• 1 1/3 tsp olive oil (1 point)
• 2/3 cup finely chopped onion (0 points)
• 1 1/3 large head of broccoli, florets and tender stem (0 points)
• 2 2/3 tbsp fresh basil leaves or 1 tsp dried basil (0 points)
• 2/3 tsp dried oregano (0 points)
• 2/3 tsp garlic powder (0 points)
• 2/3 tsp chipotle pepper (0 points)
• 1/3 tsp ground black pepper (0 points)
• 1/3 tsp salt (0 points)
• 1 1/3 tbsp nutritional yeast (0 points)
• 1/3 cup almond meal (4 points)
• 1/3 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs (use low-carb or gluten-free if preferred) (2 points)
• 1 1/3 chia seed egg (1 tbsp chia seeds or chia seed meal mixed with 3 tbsp warm water, let sit for 2 minutes to gel) (0 points)
• 1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk (0 points)
• 1/3 cup reduced-fat vegan cheese shreds (optional, use sparingly to keep points low) (3 points)

Instructions:

1. Cook Onions:
   • Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Add onions and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
2. Process Broccoli:
   • Pulse the broccoli and basil in a food processor until grated. Aim for approximately 2.5 to 3 cups grated. Add to the pan with a dash of salt, mix, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes to dry out excess moisture. If the broccoli is already dry, cook for only a minute. Remove from heat.
3. Mix Ingredients:
   • In a bowl, combine the cooked broccoli mixture with dried oregano, garlic powder, chipotle pepper, black pepper, salt, nutritional yeast, almond meal, breadcrumbs, and almond milk. Mix well.
4. Prepare Chia Egg:
   • Make the chia seed egg (1 tbsp chia seeds or chia seed meal mixed with 3 tbsp warm water, let sit for 2 minutes to gel) and mix it into the mixture. Adjust the consistency with more breadcrumbs if needed.
5. Form Balls:
   • Shape the mixture into balls. If the balls are too crumbly, add another chia egg or sprinkle some non-dairy milk and mix well.
6. Bake:
   • Place the balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until crisp and golden on the outside. Turn the sheet around after 15 minutes and continue to bake. You can also sprinkle reduced-fat vegan cheese shreds on the balls in the last 5 minutes.
7. Serve:
   • Serve warm with marinara sauce, over spaghetti, or as veggie balls in a sub sandwich.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving – Recipe Makes 8 Servings):

• Calories: 87 kcal
• Fat: 5.3 g
• Carbohydrates: 7.8 g
• Fiber: 3.1 g
• Protein: 4.5 g

Weight Watchers Points:

• The entire recipe has approximately 10 points (depending on the specific brands and measurements used). Dividing this by 8 servings gives about 1-2 points per serving. Please confirm with the Weight Watchers app for precise points according to your plan.

Tips to Keep Points Low:

1. Use fat-free or light ingredients where possible, like reduced-fat vegan cheese or light almond milk.
2. Opt for zero-point foods like broccoli, onions, and spices to bulk up the recipe without adding points.
3. Use sparingly any higher-point ingredients like oil or cheese shreds, and measure accurately to avoid unnecessary points.

Enjoy your low-point, healthy, and delicious broccoli balls!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/3 tsp olive oil (1 point)
• 2/3 cup finely chopped onion (0 points)
• 1 1/3 large head of broccoli, florets and tender stem (0 points)
• 2 2/3 tbsp fresh basil leaves or 1 tsp dried basil (0 points)
• 2/3 tsp dried oregano (0 points)
• 2/3 tsp garlic powder (0 points)
• 2/3 tsp chipotle pepper (0 points)
• 1/3 tsp ground black pepper (0 points)
• 1/3 tsp salt (0 points)
• 1 1/3 tbsp nutritional yeast (0 points)
• 1/3 cup almond meal (4 points)
• 1/3 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs (use low-carb or gluten-free if preferred) (2 points)
• 1 1/3 chia seed egg (1 tbsp chia seeds or chia seed meal mixed with 3 tbsp warm water, let sit for 2 minutes to gel) (0 points)
• 1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk (0 points)
• 1/3 cup reduced-fat vegan cheese shreds (optional, use sparingly to keep points low) (3 points)

Instructions:

1. Cook Onions:
   • Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Add onions and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
2. Process Broccoli:
   • Pulse the broccoli and basil in a food processor until grated. Aim for approximately 2.5 to 3 cups grated. Add to the pan with a dash of salt, mix, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes to dry out excess moisture. If the broccoli is already dry, cook for only a minute. Remove from heat.
3. Mix Ingredients:
   • In a bowl, combine the cooked broccoli mixture with dried oregano, garlic powder, chipotle pepper, black pepper, salt, nutritional yeast, almond meal, breadcrumbs, and almond milk. Mix well.
4. Prepare Chia Egg:
   • Make the chia seed egg (1 tbsp chia seeds or chia seed meal mixed with 3 tbsp warm water, let sit for 2 minutes to gel) and mix it into the mixture. Adjust the consistency with more breadcrumbs if needed.
5. Form Balls:
   • Shape the mixture into balls. If the balls are too crumbly, add another chia egg or sprinkle some non-dairy milk and mix well.
6. Bake:
   • Place the balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until crisp and golden on the outside. Turn the sheet around after 15 minutes and continue to bake. You can also sprinkle reduced-fat vegan cheese shreds on the balls in the last 5 minutes.
7. Serve:
   • Serve warm with marinara sauce, over spaghetti, or as veggie balls in a sub sandwich.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving – Recipe Makes 8 Servings):

• Calories: 87 kcal
• Fat: 5.3 g
• Carbohydrates: 7.8 g
• Fiber: 3.1 g
• Protein: 4.5 g

Weight Watchers Points:

• The entire recipe has approximately 10 points (depending on the specific brands and measurements used). Dividing this by 8 servings gives about 1-2 points per serving. Please confirm with the Weight Watchers app for precise points according to your plan.

Tips to Keep Points Low:

1. Use fat-free or light ingredients where possible, like reduced-fat vegan cheese or light almond milk.
2. Opt for zero-point foods like broccoli, onions, and spices to bulk up the recipe without adding points.
3. Use sparingly any higher-point ingredients like oil or cheese shreds, and measure accurately to avoid unnecessary points.

Enjoy your low-point, healthy, and delicious broccoli balls!