Cheesy Rice Vegan Kebabs With Tater Tot Stuffing

These incredible fried meatballs are loaded with cheese & make perfect vegan party food! Easy vegan appetizers like Cheesy Rice Vegan Kebabs are delicious to taste! It has flavors of India, the Middle East & the Mediterranean which makes it a great example of fusion cuisine.

Course Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine American, Indian, Mediterranean

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 20

Servings people

Calories 200.3kcal

Author Priya Lakshminarayan

Equipment

Frying pan

Ingredients

To prepare the rice mixture

½ cup cheddar cheese grated
3 tablespoon fresh/dried fenugreek leaves
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon paprika
2 teaspoon chaat masala
1 onion finely chopped
5 cloves garlic minced
2 jalapenos minced
1 tablespoon ginger minced
2 tablespoon chickpea flour besan
2 tablespoon rice flour
Salt as required
½ cup chopped cilantro
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon crushed saffron
1 cup cooked rice
12 nos tater tots frozen

To make flour water

½ cup maida
Water as required

To make seasoned breadcrumbs

½ cup bread crumbs
¼ cup Parmesan cheese finely grated
2 teaspoon paprika

To fry the vegan kebabs

2 cups Oil for frying

Instructions

To prepare the rice mixture

In a mixing bowl grated Cheese, dried fenugreek leaves (kasoori methi), turmeric powder, paprika, and chaat masala.
Then add chopped onions, minced garlic, minced jalapenos, and grated ginger,
Next add chickpea flour (besan), rice flour, salt, cilantro, lemon juice, and crushed saffron.
Add cooked rice. Mash and mix them all together.
Let it rest in the fridge for 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, thaw the frozen tater tots and cut them in half.
Shape the rice mixture to any desired kebab shape. Place one half tater tot in the center of each kebab and shape it firmly using your hands.

To make flour water

Prepare a mixture of flour + water and dip the kebab in the mixture. It should be of coating consistency.

To make seasoned breadcrumbs

Grate Parmesan cheese. I have tried it with both dairy and non-dairy Parmesan.
Prepare a mixture of bread crumbs, grated Parmesan and paprika.
Then roll it over the breadcrumbs mixture. Coat it well.
Prepare as many vegan kebabs as you need.

To fry the vegan kebabs

Heat oil for frying.
Deep fry in oil on medium flame until it turns golden brown. Strain the excess oil using paper towels.
Vegan Cheesy Rice fried meatballs are ready. Serve them immediately with green chutney, mayo, queso or ketchup on the side.

Notes

You can use dairy and non-dairy cheese to make these fried meatballs. This is also a great recipe to use leftover cooked rice. Dried fenugreek leaves give this vegan finger food a very unique flavor. Although it can be found in any Indian grocery store or Amazon, you can skip adding it. Add dried herbs instead. Tater Tot stuffing makes it even more appetizing. You can use any frozen variety available to you or make it without it as well. You don't need to cook them as it will get cooked when fried in oil.

Mash the rice mixture well so that you can shape them into balls easily. Work with your hands for this. If it's too wet, gradually add more flour to help bind. Placing the mixture in the fridge helps to dry it up and makes it easy to work with. Give them any shape you like. You can prepare the pre-fried kebabs ahead of time and keep it in the fridge. Then you can fry and serve them as and when needed. You can shallow fry, bake or fry them in the air-fryer.

Nutrition