By: redchilliesPosted on

Kids are fun to be with. It is a joy to see their innocence, sweet blabbering and their tiny working minds. They are unpretentious and just about everything seems to make them happy.  Oh wait, I forgot to add a golden “if” clause to the statement above, so let me rephrase it; they are joy and more only if they are well fed and not hungry. Otherwise their tantrums and outbursts are joy to none. But then here is the eternal conundrum; even though they are hungry, they don’t eat anything offered to them which is healthy. They come up with such weird excuses even at such young age. But toss in some junk food and they cannot seem to contain their joy.

Here is how the conversation follows at our house with our 3 year old boy.

Me:”Let me help you with your jacket”

DS:”No, I do it myself”

Me:” Let me help you put on your shoe”

DS:”Nooo, I do it myself”

Me:” OK, you want to do everything by yourself so come to the table and eat your food”

DS:”Noo I can’t walk, my leg hurts”

So when it comes to food, there are funny excuses and no reasoning with the kid works.  So it is up to us parents to get creative and think of ways to create dish that is appealing to kids albeit a healthy way. PS: While working on this draft I also read Madhu’s similar predicament and could not help but wonder how kids have the same mindset.

I got this recipe idea from Krafts Magazine. The original recipe called for Tuna, I skipped that and added some more vegetables, spices etc. Again this is more of an idea/guideline and the ingredients can be changed based on availability and also one’s taste.

Note: Be careful while using potato; if more potato is used, it takes a longer while to get cooked. If not cooked completely it could taste bitter.

 Ingredients:

  •  ½ cup cabbage
  • ½ cup cauliflower/broccoli
  • ½ cup carrot
  • ¼ cup potato grated(peeled)
  • Handful of spinach
  • ½ cup shredded cheese (any variety)
  • ¼ cup onions chopped
  • Handful of coriander leaves (chopped)
  • 1 tsp Grated ginger
  • Little chilli powder
  • Little amchur powder (optional)
  • 1 Tbsp butter
  • ½ cup sooji(rava) or corn meal
  • salt
  • Oil

Method:

  • Chop/grate the vegetables very finely. I use this chopper here and pulse all the vegetables (except onions and potato) together.
  • Melt the butter and add it to the chopped vegetables.
  • Add the onions and remaining ingredients (except oil) and mix well.
  • Heat a flat pan and add some oil. Now take a portion of the mix (I used this ice cream scoop) and place it on the hot pan. After a minute flatten the top and make into small cakes. Cover with lid and allow to cook on medium flame.
  • After one side is cooked, turn it and cook on the other side. Add more oil and cook again on medium flame for relatively longer time.
  • I have observed that the time to cook is slightly longer than regular tikkis/patties.  

 

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Categories: Appetizers / Snacks, Kid Friendly Recipes

27 Replies to “Vegetable Cakes for Kids”

  2. I know how tough it is to get them to eat! So many of my friends have the same issue as well. These cakes look so inviting.. am sure your son loved them. Hope to try it sometime for my daughter.

  3. Very healthy indeed RC. They look good too. We go through all this trouble of sneaking good stuff and make it appealing but these little ones simply reject it. I really wish that it’s just a phase and they will outgrow it.

  4. These looks so good. Not just for kids, for us too:-)
    I had done with aloo & peas, but great idea to add all the veggie. the icecream scoop way is an easy way. I will do that next time.

  5. Your cakes look amazing, RC! Very temptingly placed too:).

    Kids are so unpredictable, and they come up with such novel excuses. Hugs to your three year old:) My neighbours (the one near and the one below) have three year olds and I have noticed that they prefer to eat at place though my neighbour is an excellent cook, and sometimes when she feels a little hurt about it I just have to remind her that my kids did the same when they were young! I would make parathas so often and my daughter loved their always more than mine:)!

  7. It is always challenging with kids and we should keep changing the menu 🙂 The cake is just catchy !

  9. that is an excellent snack/healthfood for kids. These muight serve as a great lunch item as well. If only I can make it half as well as yours!

  11. Yeah i know i know, my daughter is 16 and still it is always a war to make her eat vegetables.
    I ams usre she would love these as they look so yumm.

  12. Thanks Mahima, it tastes wonderful even for adults, trust me 🙂

    Laavanya, it is the same problem again. My son had may be few bites and he was then “tired” to eat.

    Sure Madhuram. I am hoping for this phase to get over. Too much of “nakharas” to handle.

    Thanks Soma. I learnt about this ice-cream scoop in that magazine. I think it is very handy way to scoop out the mixture to make it even.

    Thanks Sunshinemom. Been there, done that. When I was little, I used to go to my neighbours house and eat tomatoes with sugar. My mom used to be so annoyed about this 🙂

  13. Hugs to you Trupti. I hope this phase goes out and do give it a try.

    Thanks Cham. I know, coming up with a menu to satisy them is a challenge. Even after that they don’t like what we give them 🙁

    Thanks Sripriya. Welcome and hopeyou have a good time, thanks for all the warm words, it means so much for me.

    Sure ISG. It is very healthy and nutritious. Of course, you cook so well and you have such creative ideas. Not to forget your strong gardening skills.

    Thanks Madhu. However my son was suspicious when I said “CAKE” and he stared at it for a long time.

    Happy Cook, I was hoping to see this phase get over ASAP. You say this happens at 16 also ? 🙂 Hugs to you girl.

  17. Your son sounds just like my toddler. She even asks me to carry to bed and says her legs hurt. Ha ha kids! The vegetable cakes looks so appealing for kids (ofcourse fo me too!) thanks for the delicious recipe RC!

  19. Very healthy and perfect snack.Not just for kids,adults will enjoy as well.My daughter is also like this- “wil do it myself” is the motto.

  23. I don’t see any kid refusing to eat something that looks like this.:)
    The things we do to get our kids to eat healthy. I think I could write a book about my experiences! I’m still learning.:)

  26. This has become a great snack in our household. I used cranberries, beetroot, green peppers, carrots, sweet potato, onions, spinach, curry leaves in my version.

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