Cheesy Potato and Broccoli Bites : Perfect way to get your veggies

For a vegetarian appetizer or main course, Cheesy Potato and Broccoli Bites with a stringy heart and parmesan fondue are the treat for lunches or dinners in the winter time, but in other seasons they can be prepared by replacing broccoli with other vegetables, such as zucchini, squash, chard, chicory, spinach, turnip greens, in short, there is plenty to indulge in, and every time you bring to the table something mouthwatering and really tasty, also very fast thanks to the combination of cooking in an air fryer and microwave potatoes.

Ingredients :

For the timbales:

• 700g (1.5 lbs) potatoes
• 500g (1.1 lbs) broccoli
• Salt, to taste
• Black pepper, to taste
• Dried chili flakes, to taste
• 150g (5.3 oz) smoked provola or scamorza cheese
• Butter and breadcrumbs for greasing the molds

For the Parmesan fondue:

• 150g (2/3 cup) heavy cream
• 100g (3.5 oz) Parmesan cheese, grated

How to make Cheesy Potato and Broccoli Bites:

1. We clean the broccoli into florets, wash them, cook them in boiling water until tender, drain and leave in a bowl after mashing with a fork.
2. We wash the potatoes, dry them, put them in a bowl, cover with foil and cook at maximum power in microwave for 7-10 minutes, or until they are cooked, times vary depending on power and size of potatoes, ideal is to choose them not too big all alike.
3. When the potatoes are cooked, we cut them in half and from the cut side put them in a potato masher, one by one, and get a mashed potato.
4. We add the broccoli to the potatoes as well, mix with a spoon to even out the mixture. We add salt and pepper and if you like some chili pepper, I love it, the homemade kind, dried, then baked and coarsely ground when it’s nice and crispy. We mix well,
5. We prepare the ramekins greased with butter and lined with breadcrumbs. We also prepare the diced provolone or scamorza cheese.
6. We start filling the ramekins with the mixture, leaving a hole in the center where we put 3 cubes of provolone each and close with more mixture to level the surface well.
7. We place the ramekins in the basket of the air fryer and bake at 180°C (350 °F) for about 8-10 minutes.
8. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan we put cream and parmesan cheese and over low heat prepare the fondue, stirring occasionally to let the parmesan cheese melt well. We leave the fondue warm in the saucepan.
9. We take the pies out of the oven, turn them upside down on a serving plate while still hot, just out of the oven, pour on some fondue, and at this point we are ready to enjoy a real goodness the potato and broccoli pies with a stringy heart and delicious parmesan cream.

Bon Appétit!