Fry

Fried Greens Meatlessballs

July 15, 2015
5
6 Ratings
Photo by Alexandra Stafford
  • Serves 3 to 4 as an appetizer
Author Notes

This recipe is a godsend to anyone who belongs to a CSA or tends a prolific garden. Any greens—beet, turnip, kale, chard, mustard, etc.—can be used here. I've even made these with a mix of the green tops from my CSA carrots and onions. The recipe comes from Twelve Recipes by Cal Peternell, who notes that these "hot little balls make a nice snack or appetizer, but are also good later, to eat at room temperature out of hand on the go." I find them completely irresistible.

A few notes: The recipe calls for a bunch of chard or kale, washed and sautéed until tender, then chopped fine. You can do this ahead (as suggested in the book), or you can incorporate this step into the recipe, as I've done below: Simply add the greens to the pan after the cilantro, cumin, and garlic have been sautéed.

I like to give my greens a quick pulse in the food processor. The greens need to be chopped finely at some point, and I find it easier to do it before they are sautéed. You could chop them finely by hand, too.

Finally, basil or parsley can be substituted for the cilantro. —Alexandra Stafford

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 bunch greens, about 10 cups loosely packed, about 8 oz, see notes above
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil or grapeseed oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • salt, to taste
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1/2 cup cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
  • 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup crumbled feta
  • 1 or 2 eggs
  • oil for frying
Directions
  1. Pulse greens in a food processor or finely chop with a knife—they should be small but not puréed or mushy. Set aside.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat and add the oil, onion, and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, cilantro, and cumin seeds. Stir for 30 seconds.
  3. Add greens to pan and sauté for a minute or two, until they have wilted. Turn the mixture into a large bowl.
  4. Let cool for five minutes, then add the breadcrumbs and feta. Mix well, then taste for seasoning. Add more salt if necessary—this is your chance to get the seasoning right while the mixture is egg-free. Crack one egg into the bowl and mix with your hands to incorporate. Squeeze a small ball of the mixture. If it holds together, begin portioning out the remaining mixture into small balls. If it doesn't hold together, add another egg. I usually find one egg to be enough.
  5. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add balls to pan—they should sizzle when they hit the oil—then turn heat down to medium or medium-low. Cook until golden, about 2 minutes. Use a fork to flip the balls to the other side and cook for another 2 minutes or so. Serve immediately or at room temperature.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • thzhou
    thzhou
  • epicharis
    epicharis
  • kxr173
    kxr173
  • rachel5453
    rachel5453
  • Aura Navarro
    Aura Navarro
I write the blog alexandra's kitchen, a place for mostly simple, sometimes fussy, and always seasonal recipes. My cookbook, Bread Toast Crumbs is available everywhere books are sold.

140 Reviews

Chrystal J. August 22, 2019
OK stay with me here: I used carrot tops, beet tops, dill, and garlic scapes for the greens mixture. Swapped ground cumin (1 tsp) for whole as I prefer ground. Used egg whites only instead of whole eggs. These turned out AMAZEBALLS. Like other reviewers I also flattened into small patties to make them easier to work with, and they reminded me of falafel. We served them with Nellino's Pomodoro sauce and they were stunning. I will always always always leverage this recipe when I have an excess of greens, and will likely leverage it when I don't and make an excuse to buy them.
 
thzhou June 21, 2019
I have cut so many corners from this recipe out of sheer laziness, and they still turn out great. my latest version is to skip the initial saute. the food processor makes quick work of the leafy greens and cilantro, I often skip the onion too, and then a quick mix with the rest of the ingredients in a bowl (with maybe some extra bread crumbs to deal with the moisture) means they're ready to go in the pan that much faster. I shape them in to small patties rather than balls, for more pan contact, which helps keep them together better. Ate them earlier this week with some leftover yogurt ranch sauce - A+.
 
barb April 30, 2018
Has anyone tried this baked? Seems like it would work best in a mini muffin tin like my baked falafel does.
 
cld April 30, 2018
I always bake them after rolling them in parma cheese. 350 for about 20 minutes or until they develop a nice crust.
 
LaMar December 12, 2018
I've only ever done them baked, they turn out great, and freeze and reheat really well also. Perfect for an overproductive garden or CSA share in the middle of greens season.
 
Caroline M. April 22, 2018
This is such a great recipe to use with foraged greens (I’ve already enthused last year about making it with foraged sea kale). I made it yesterday using mallow, cuckoo flower, borage and wild cabbage leaves. That took care of half the greens - the other half I used Swiss chard. I think I could have used all wild greens, but was cautious as it was the first time I’ve cooked with borage and mallow. I also made it into a bake, so that everything would have a good cook in the oven because I didn’t want any stringiness. I always do this recipe as a bake, now, because it saves all that mucking about with frying and worrying if the fritters will stick together. I usually use a loaf tin. The other thing I discovered is that you can use a spoonful of mayo instead of a second egg.
 
epicharis March 25, 2018
These turned out great, although I think a second egg is probably required. What a wonderful way to use greens and leftover crumbs. This is definitely going into my clean-out-the-fridge category.
 
BakerMary January 23, 2018
Can anyone describe the consistency this mix should be for making into balls? At all dry? Mine was very soggy...
 
kxr173 November 12, 2017
This is one of my favorite recipes! I've been making these and adapting the flavors and greens since the recipe was first posted. My go to greens combo is kale, spinach & Swiss chard, with a lot of parsley. After chopping the greens, I season well with salt and pepper to layer the seasoning and let that stand while I chose the onion and garlic (this also wilts them a bit before cooking, making them easier to handle!). I typically add a squeeze of lemon to brighten the flavors after greens have wilted in the pan. I also make in bulk, so I bake them to make things easier. My baking method is to prepare as instructed, then after rolling, I then give a very (very) light toss in panko or regular bread crumbs and bake on a rack I place in a lined cookie sheet. Bake at 400 for approx. 20-25 min. Let cool and then I transfer them to a parchment lined sheet and freeze them as individual balls. They freeze perfectly and bake in 20 min in a 425 oven. I always have these on hand...my fave and a constant request of friends and family!! Love this, thanks for sharing!!!
 
Alexandra S. November 13, 2017
So happy to hear this! Thank you for sharing your baking method and other adaptations — great tips!
 
Luciana June 1, 2018
Very helpful - thank you!
 
rachel5453 October 18, 2017
made these (with great success) with only about a cup of kale I had on hand, a spaghetti squash, and parsley (subbed for the cilantro). worked wonderfully! ate them over couscous with a bit of greek yogurt on top :)
 
Aura N. August 17, 2017
Does anyone think that fromage blanc would work instead of feta in this recipe (unsure about the texture)? Basically, I have already been to the store and am short on time for a gathering at our house but I have a LOT of greens to use and would love to try this. Alternatively I have parmesan I could sub in.
 
LW.ATX.78 August 18, 2017
I would say this recipe is super adaptable! I think the issue with fromage blanc would be that it's too creamy/ not sturdy enough... but the flavor would be great. Maybe use a blend of 60% parm and 40% fromage blanc (but break it up into small bits before adding to the greens - otherwise it may clump and not distribute very evenly).
 
Aura N. August 18, 2017
Thank you so much for the suggestion. I also remembered I have ricotta in the fridge which might be slightly sturdier-regardless I will try the parm/soft cheese mixture and see how it works out!
 
Caroline M. July 23, 2017
I just have to add that this bake was just as divine the next day, cold, on a picnic on the beach.
 
Alexandra S. July 23, 2017
That sounds lovely :)
 
Caroline M. July 21, 2017
I made the mixture with wild Irish sea beet, which is like a very substantial spinach. I had some wholemeal breadcrumbs in the freezer, but not enough, so I added some quinoa flakes that I softened in a bit of boiling water. I also subbed mature cheddar cheese for the feta. The last change I made was to pack the (very yummy) raw mixture (only one egg) into a small baking tray, because I didn't want to fry it, as I was serving it with potato wedges (cooked in beef dripping in the oven). Absolutely fantastic! I thoroughly recommend cooking it as a 'bake'.
 
Alexandra S. July 23, 2017
So interesting! Thanks for sharing all of your adaptations. Love the idea of baking these. Thanks!
 
LaMar July 9, 2017
These baked up great on parchment paper-lined baking sheet, 400 degrees, 10 minutes then flipped for 10 more minutes. I made with chard/kale mix, subbed in some fresh dill for cilantro. The cumin is key. Thanks for this recipe!
 
Alexandra S. July 10, 2017
Perfect! Thanks for writing in!
 
JoAnna May 8, 2017
I made these using quinoa instead of breadcrumbs, and I baked them at 425 for 10 minutes, flip, another 10 minites. So delicious!
 
JoAnna May 8, 2017
*minutes
 
Alexandra S. May 9, 2017
Yum!! So excited to try this.
 
Clover88 May 7, 2017
This is a masterpiece! Uses up greens, delicious, and so many ways to use the green balls. It's a keeper!
 
Alexandra S. May 9, 2017
Yay!
 
Joy H. May 7, 2017
I just made these with chard and pulsed some fresh corn tortillas because I didn't have any fresh breadcrumbs. I also left out the fresh herbs because I didn't have any. Still amazing!
 
Alexandra S. May 9, 2017
Awesome, so great to hear this!
 
Anusha R. May 7, 2017
My parents and I just loved his recipe. I used kale as my main green and basil instead of cilantro. Also more fetta than suggested because I have no self-control. Yum!
 
Alexandra S. May 9, 2017
Yes to more feta!! :) :) :)
 
Chris G. April 9, 2017
I will admit that I've not looked at all the comments since my last comment.
1 year ago, so if someone has already suggested these ideas, I apologize!
*
Lots of very interesting combinations and ideas in this column! 107 comments to date! And here's another one from me! For those of us that are not strict Vegetarians or Vegans, try mixings some of these greens combinations with your favorite "Meatball Recipes!" Results: Endless new meatball Recipes & one last suggestion if not already covered in these comments? There is always Tofu, Tempeh, Seitan, and TVP & Mushrooms, and other such meat/cheese replacements. I did a search for "meat substitutes in my browser" see the results:
https://www.google.com/search?q=meat+substitutes&oq=meat+substitutes&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.8394j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Chris
 
Alexandra S. April 9, 2017
Love this idea! I am not a strict vegetarian, and I've been craving lamb meatballs. Love the idea of half greens/half meat. Thanks so much!!
 
frecklywench April 8, 2017
These are delicious! I used some kale and a bunch of very wilted chard, stems included. For those looking for serving ideas: I had mine as dinner with roasted sweet potatoes and the yogurt tahini sauce from this Ottolenghi recipe: http://orangette.net/2015/06/here-was-an-opportunity/
 
Alexandra S. April 9, 2017
Yum! Thanks for the sweet potato recipe link, too!
 
Tazmin A. January 16, 2017
I'm not sure about the health benefits when you fry these. I'm definitely going to try the baking. Thanks for the tip!
 
robin L. March 3, 2017
I fried mine in coconut oil...that may be a little healthier? They're so good, and a good use of greens, so I don't mind frying...8^)
 
Katy November 23, 2016
Finally made this for the first time using just some leftover carrot top greens and parsley. I don't think the carrot tops quite added up to the recommended amount of greens, but nonetheless these meatless balls turned out crazy delicious and this recipe will be one that I keep as a go-to recipe forever as a wonderful way to use up those greens! Love this!
 
Alexandra S. November 23, 2016
So happy to hear this Katy!! Is this THE Katy? As in the one and only KatyKat? (Sorry if I am mistaken.)
 
Katy November 23, 2016
YES! :) Happy Thanksgiving friend o friends!
 
Alexandra S. November 23, 2016
Love you KatyKat xoxo
 
deanna1001 November 10, 2016
Meant to comment sooner - I made these with the basil/red pepper flake variation (baked) for my chorus rehearsal - quadrupled the recipe. It was a huge hit and all of them disappeared within 20 minutes. Then I made the recipe as written except I baked them again (just can't seem to get with the frying thing these days...) for election night. They were the only happy thing about it. Thanks for a great recipe again. (Greens are all from CSA - first time it was broccoli rabe, chard and collards; second time a bunch of braising greens and turnip greens - both were just fine.)
 
Alexandra S. November 15, 2016
Wow, Dee, you are amazing! I cannot imagine actually quadrupling the recipe though often I have on hand the amount of greens that would demand quadrupling :) So happy to hear there was a bright spot on election night. You're inspiring me to put a 3-week old bundle of collard greens to use. Need to use it up ... it's finally starting to look tired. Great to hear from you!
 
Charlotte S. September 9, 2016
I've made these several times, they work with any greens! Delish!!
 
Alexandra S. September 9, 2016
Yay!
 
Rachel August 28, 2016
I followed this recipe to a T and it failed miserably. My green mixture wouldn't hold together with 1, 2, or even 3 eggs! I added a bit of oil to the mixture to try to help it along but that didn't work either. I tried to form balls as best I could but in the end I basically ended up with a fried mixture of loose kale, feta, and breadcrumbs. However, the flavour was excellent so I just ate it as a side dish since I'd already invested so much time, effort, and ingredients. Will not make again.
 
robin L. March 3, 2017
I used almond meal (flour) instead of breadcrumbs...try that maybe? They've worked well for me every time...
 
Rachel August 28, 2016
I followed this recipe to a T and it failed miserably. My green mixture wouldn't hold together with 1, 2, or even 3 eggs! I added a bit of oil to the mixture to try to help it along but that didn't work either. I tried to form balls as best I could but in the end I basically ended up with a fried mixture of loose kale, feta, and breadcrumbs. However, the flavour was excellent so I just ate it as a side dish since I'd already invested so much time, effort, and ingredients. Will not make again.
 
Rachel August 28, 2016
I followed this recipe to a T and it failed miserably. My green mixture wouldn't hold together with 1, 2, or even 3 eggs! I added a bit of oil to the mixture to try to help it along but that didn't work either. I tried to form balls as best I could but in the end I basically ended up with a fried mixture of loose kale, feta, and breadcrumbs. However, the flavour was excellent so I just ate it as a side dish since I'd already invested so much time, effort, and ingredients. Will not make again.
 
Rachel August 28, 2016
I followed this recipe to a T and it failed miserably. My green mixture wouldn't hold together with 1, 2, or even 3 eggs! I added a bit of oil to the mixture to try to help it along but that didn't work either. I tried to form balls as best I could but in the end I basically ended up with a fried mixture of loose kale, feta, and breadcrumbs. However, the flavour was excellent so I just ate it as a side dish since I'd already invested so much time, effort, and ingredients. Will not make again.
 
Alexandra S. August 28, 2016
Oh no! Sorry to hear this. Question: did you pulse the greens into fine pieces?
 
Rachel August 28, 2016
Yes, I pulsed in my food processor.
 
Alexandra S. August 28, 2016
Ok, too bad! Once again, so sorry it didn't work out.
 
cucina D. August 18, 2016
so yummy! My Nonna who lived on a large working farm outside of Rome made something similar with broccoli rabe, Swiss chard and beet greens combined with egg sandwich and cheeses like cacciocavalo, Parmigiano and Asiago. She baked them in her large artisanal stone and brick oven alongside her breads and pizzas. Wonderful share that has reminded me of my youth in Italia with my famiglia 😍
 
Jocelyn G. August 18, 2016
I'll be right over to her house :)!
 
Alexandra S. August 18, 2016
Me, too! :) Now all I want to do is make these and smash them into an egg sandwich ... yum!
 
Min L. August 7, 2016
I find out you're an amazing angel chef on earth even though world around :)) I saw your recipes:)) so pretty mind!
 
Alexandra S. August 14, 2016
:) :) :)
 
megan.smith.9231712 July 26, 2016
Made these tonight and they were delicious! I made them "Italian" style and substituted fresh parsley, oregano and basil for the cilantro, as well as left out the cumin and added a little crushed red pepper. Rolled them in Parmesan cheese and baked them in the over. Served over zucchini pasta with homemade tomato sauce. So yummy. Thank you for the recipe!
 
Alexandra S. July 27, 2016
oh wow, that sounds AMAZING!! Every part — the parmesan, the zucchini pasta, the homemade tomato sauce ... yum!
 
My garden over-floweth with radishes and tops. I have never seen such gargantuan radish tops before! I do believe I'll be making this soon with those and some green onion tops also in the garden. Wow, thanks for the recipe! Will try to report back when I can as I'm headed out of town for a spell.
 
Alexandra S. July 22, 2016
Please do! Would love to hear how the radish greens work out, though I am sure they will be delicious. Enjoy your trip!
 
Megan July 11, 2016
Wondering if anyone has attempted or perfected freezing these since Fresh Tomatoes' attempt..(whether frozen raw then cooked, or cooked-frozen-cooked again). Can't find any new info, but it would be awesome to be able to pull these out of the freezer and have them at the ready. Might have to do some experimenting...
 
Christina July 7, 2016
Made these tonight with Cotija cheese rather than feta and added a few dashes of spicy seasoning mix. Baked them as instructed below - 350 for 15 min then flip and bake another 10. I should have sprayed the pan or used my silpat as they stuck when I tried to flip but otherwise delicious!! Thanks!
 
Alexandra S. July 10, 2016
So happy to hear this, Christina! I have yet to try baking them, but you are inspiring me. Good to know re silpat. Thanks!
 
RLiza June 28, 2016
This is good. Made it with kale, used squeezed dry tofu instead, no cheese. Used lemon zest, not a fan of cumin.
 
Alexandra S. June 29, 2016
Nice! Great use of tofu.
 
Winnie W. June 28, 2016
Delicious! I made these more into cakes for easier frying. Used a mix of ricotta and parmesan because didn't have feta. Genius idea to use a food processor. Extra delicious with a squeeze of lemon juice on top. Thanks so much, can't wait to make again and try baking them!
 
Alexandra S. June 29, 2016
So happy to hear this, Winnie! I love a squeeze of lemon, too, and someone here (I think) has commented having had success baking the balls/cakes instead of frying. Good luck!
 
Laura K. May 30, 2016
Can you clarify the weight of greens you recommend? 5oz is not equal to 300 grams on my scale...
 
Alexandra S. May 31, 2016
Indeed, that was confusing. Just edited the recipe to say about 8 oz, based on a bunch of kale I just weighed in my fridge. Hope that helps!
 
Laura K. May 31, 2016
Thanks. Made them last night with 5oz of kale. We did like them. With so much cumin flavor, they reminded us of falafel! Now I'm curious about what they will be like with 60% more greens...
 
Alexandra S. May 31, 2016
Definitely similar flavors to falafel! I think the recipe is pretty forgiving with the amount of greens. The next time I make them, I'll weigh the loosely packed 10 cups.
 
Hina May 30, 2016
This is a wonderful recipe. Served it as a side (made with arugula and baby kale) with salmon for dinner and husband and I loved it :) Thank for for sharing!
 
Alexandra S. May 30, 2016
So happy you liked it, Hina! Your dinner sounds lovely.
 
cld May 30, 2016
Wonderful recipe, I used Dino kale and chard, one egg and rolled them in grated parma then baked them. Delicious, thank you.
 
Alexandra S. May 30, 2016
Yum! Love the idea of a grated-parm crust.
 
Lori S. May 26, 2016
15 min for side 1 and 10-15 for side 2. Wowee these are GUUURRREAT!!! :)
 
Alexandra S. May 26, 2016
Yay!! So great to know you can bake these! Thanks for reporting back :)
 
Lori S. May 26, 2016
I am baking them at 350, even as we speak ... will share how long and how they turn out!
 
Alexandra S. May 26, 2016
Oooh, I'm so curious!
 
Risottogirl May 23, 2016
Who throws away greens??? lately I have been fermenting... as in kimchi and fermented green sauce... but these sound delicious!!!
 
Alexandra S. May 23, 2016
So fun! Care to share your recipe/method? Would love to get in on the fermenting fun. I have little experience in this genre of preserving.
 
Julie D. April 22, 2016
Our balls fell apart in the frying pan. Any suggestions?
 
Alexandra S. April 23, 2016
Hi Julie! It's possible that the greens were not chopped finely enough or that you needed another egg or breadcrumbs. What kind of greens did you use? One thing you could try next time around is frying up a little tester ball/patty. If it works, then fry up the rest. If it does't, add an egg or breadcrumbs or both.
 
Julie D. April 23, 2016
Thanks! It was assorted greens, mostly kale. We'll try it again, thanks!
 
Alexandra S. April 23, 2016
Yum! I hope you do try again...I love this one!
 
Chris G. February 29, 2016
I don't know if this is going to work, I could not find the log-in button on this page?
I did not see anyone mentioning any of the usual Asian Greens in the comments don't forget about experimenting with those in the "meatballs."
Also, Mustard Greens might be really good to? I have not tried these yet, but will, I really love greens and salads!
I thought you might also find this interesting(?)
"Source"
Lamb Dumplings with Cucumber Vinegar Dipping Sauce
http://food52.com/recipes/10958-lamb-dumplings-with-cucumber-vinegar-dipping-sauce
by clintonhillbilly • April 6, 2011 • 3 Comments



Cucumber Vinegar Dipping Sauce For Lamb Dumplings or (?)

1 large cucumber
3 tablespoons rice vinegar


Using a citrus zester or fine grater, grate peeled cucumber over a small bowl. Cucumber juice, along with a little pulp, is the desired result. Add salt and rice vinegar and stir to combine. (lots of different veggies could be used this way to flavor the dressing or dipping sauce...There are literally hundreds of different dipping sauces in the Dim Sum listings on this web page that could be used to dip your "meatballs!" Even some vegetarian mealballs!
Chris Glenn
 
Alexandra S. February 29, 2016
Ooh, thanks for bringing my attention to those lamb meatballs! They look divine, and that dipping sauce sounds refreshing. Thanks!
 
Jocelyn G. December 13, 2015
I made these tonight with carrot tops, turnip greens, chard and brussels sprouts leaves (the part that is on the stalk). All would have been thrown away. Worked out great. Next time, I might add pine nuts for a little crunch. Love your blog, btw.
 
Alexandra S. December 13, 2015
Wow — ALL the scraps. I love it. Love the idea of pine nuts here — would complement all of the other flavors so nicely and add a little bit of welcomed texture. Thanks for your kind words. Means a lot.
 
Rhonda L. November 21, 2015
I made these last night as part of the main course of a meal for two close friends. I used a mix of primarily kale, spinach, arugula and a bit of basil and I used panko instead of the breadcrumbs. I served them with linguine tossed in fresh pesto and they were absolutely amazing! They were everyone's favourite part of the entire meal and let me tell you it was quite a spread.
 
Alexandra S. November 21, 2015
I am so happy to hear this! Love the idea of linguine and pesto. This is one of my favorite recipes, too. Thanks for writing in.
 
enbell September 21, 2015
I have pecorino romano and was hoping I could use that....
Gosh, thank you for the quick response :-)
 
Alexandra S. September 21, 2015
Sure thing! This is my time of night :) Pecorino would be great. It is on the salty side (so are feta and parmesan), but you might still want to be a little careful with the quantity. Hope that helps!
 
enbell September 21, 2015
What cheese could I substitute for feta?
 
Alexandra S. September 21, 2015
Really anything you like. What's nice about feta is that the cubes hold their shape, so you get nice salty/flavorful bites, but grated parmesan would be nice or ricotta salata (hard/aged ricotta) or even something like gouda. I hesitate to recommend the really good melting cheeses because they might make the balls too gooey, but honestly, there is no harm in trying — any cheese is going to be good here. What do you have on hand?
 
MargaretB September 4, 2015
Made these this week and they were fantastic! I used collards as the greens (stalks and all, just chopped very finely) and leftover cornbread as the breadcrumbs. I had warmed up some tomato sauce to go with them, but they ended up so moist and flavorful that I didn't really need it. They microwaved up just fine for an office lunch the next day, too. Awesome recipe!
 
Alexandra S. September 4, 2015
So happy to hear this! I have yet to try collards, so I am thrilled to hear this because we get them in our CSA. Fun! Love the idea of the tomato sauce and cornbread crumbs. Yum.
 
Rossana T. September 2, 2015
these sound yummy, they - and your site - were recommended by a friend . . . since we are grain free, my tweak to these would be to use crished pork rinds instead of bread crumbs - I prefer the texture with pork rinds rather than almond flour . . . weill definitely report back . . .
 
Rossana T. September 2, 2015
ugh, typos!!! crushed pork rinds and will report back!!!
 
Alexandra S. September 2, 2015
Very cool! I am intrigued my the crushed pork rinds. Never used them before. Please report back!
 
Rossana T. September 2, 2015
we are lchf so I use pork rinds in place of bread crumbs in just about everything, the texture is pretty close . . . definitely will report back . . .
 
Natalie August 4, 2015
Yum! Just made these using kale and almond flour instead of bread crumbs. Delicious!
 
Alexandra S. August 4, 2015
Fantastic! Love the idea of using almond flour in place of bread crumbs. Clever.
 
LW.ATX.78 July 29, 2015
I made these last night using Radish tops, kale and lemon balm- all abundant after this weeks CSA haul. They were delicious last night, and my co-workers all loved them today. Great way to use the greens!
 
Alexandra S. July 30, 2015
Fantastic! Doesn't it feel good using up things like radish tops? I think I like these best as leftovers. Glad your co-workers approved!
 
Fresh T. July 25, 2015
Just made these tonight and loved them. I doubled the recipe, I wouldn't double the cumin again, a little too much, but they were still good. I have some uncooked leftovers. I'm going to shape and freeze and see if they cook up the fine doing similar instructions (probably lower and slower then maybe high to brown??).
 
Alexandra S. July 26, 2015
I think that's a good idea. Maybe even start them in the oven at 350? Then finish them under the broiler? Or flatten them a bit so they are more like discs and will cook through faster — cook this shape stovetop? Let me know how they turn out. I'm curious as to how they freeze.
 
Fresh T. August 3, 2015
Ok, I just reheated and ate my frozen meatless balls. I did 325, 14 minutes a side (yes, they were taking a long time) and then I broiled. I think you were right 350 would have been better. They were a little mooshy - didn't love the flavor as much either, but they were still edible and decent.
 
Alexandra S. August 3, 2015
Ok, good to know, thanks for reporting back. Too bad! It would be nice to have a good reheating/make-ahead method.
 
Nancy July 24, 2015
Any way to make without the eggs?
 
Tara July 25, 2015
Hi Nancy,
I wondered the same thing myself. I tend to use "Flax egg" substitutions for eggs in most baking and other recipes. I'm guessing it could work as well here, but haven't yet tried it myself. Will do so the next time I make. (That's one T of ground flax to three T of water). Hope this works!
 
Alexandra S. July 26, 2015
Thanks for chiming in here, Tara! I am going to try this.
 
Salio August 3, 2015
Was wondering the same thing and thinking of trying the chick pea juice egg substitute I just read about....
 
Tara July 24, 2015
Hi There!
I hadn't read your post when I left my question above regarding the feasibility of baking instead of frying these. Thanks for your informative tip. I look forward to trying this alternative variation:)
 
Alexandra S. July 26, 2015
Oh, oops, just seeing this, too! Glad you like the idea of broiling :)
 
Tara July 24, 2015
Hello,
Just made these for dinner and they were de-LI-cous! One minor observation was that they were the slightest bit oily which stands to reason as they were fried. I'm wondering if this could be smoothed into a thin layer and baked in a pie plate then sliced in thin wedges. I suspect this would yield a slightly less crunchy outer texture, but with a bright, light, citrusy sauce drizzled over top, might make a nice appetizer just the same.....Suggestions my muses?
 
Alexandra S. July 26, 2015
Wonderful to hear this! And I think your idea is great. Another option could be broiling? Maybe just rub the balls in a little bit of oil — or drizzle oil over top — and broil on each side until golden. Love the idea of a citrusy sauce.
 
meep July 24, 2015
This is just like Persian kookoo sabzi. http://familyspice.com/recipes/recipe/?recipe_id=140
 
Smriti July 21, 2015
Can you make these ahead? Fry them, drain, then freeze?
 
Alexandra S. July 21, 2015
I think you probably can. I am wondering if you can freeze them before you fry them? ChefJune (https://food52.com/users/1185-chefjune) says she freezes her spinach balls, the questions is before or after she freezes them? I'll ask her.
 
Smriti July 22, 2015
My mother makes onion bhujias (pakoras) , fries them and freezes them. She said that you have to make sure they are completely drained of the oil. Curious to see what Chef June says. Thank you!
 
Antonia A. July 20, 2015
These look wonderful but I'm gluten intolerant. Do you think substituting rice (cooked?) for the breadcrumbs would work?
 
Alexandra S. July 20, 2015
Absolutely! I use rice in these turnip burgers, and it works like a charm: https://food52.com/recipes/36615-turnip-burgers
 
Jess July 19, 2015
What fun this looks! Do you think you could use a mix of leftover stalks from greens as an ingredient, rather than a whole bunch of greens? I often have collard or kale stalks left over, and maybe could combine them with other greens/leaves like the ones you mention to make up the total.
 
Alexandra S. July 20, 2015
I think you could, and I think combining them with greens is a good idea otherwise the balls will have a different (possibly heavier) texture. You could do two things: sauté the stems (cut into small pieces) with the onion until they are tender or you could pulse them in the food processor until they are fine, then briefly sauté them with the greens. Good luck!
 
Abby L. July 19, 2015
Made it tonight, utterly delicious!
 
Alexandra S. July 19, 2015
Yay! Makes me so happy. I can't get enough of them.
 
K.Mihalo July 19, 2015
It's like you've read my mind! I keep saving beet/radish greens from farmers market- in addition to buying more kale and chard. I love all of your greens recipes!
 
Alexandra S. July 19, 2015
Yay! Well, now you have a use for ALL of those greens — seriously, everything works. So happy you're liking the greens recipes :)
 
frog July 19, 2015
A "bunch" is so vague, especially when using the leafy tops of vegetables. The measurement in packed cups would be more useful. The photo shows the balls to be about an inch and the baller looks like a 1/2 or 3/4 ounce size. How many balls of that size does this produce?
 
Alexandra S. July 19, 2015
So true. OK, I will have to measure the greens (in both weight and cups) the next time I make these, which will be soon. My guess is that it's about 8 to 10 cups loosely packed greens because my food processor is always lightly filled when I go to pulse them.

I use a #100 scoop, which is 3/8 oz. I get about 20 balls with this scoop.
 
adinab August 11, 2015
I had 150 g/ 5.3 oz onion greens and 150 g/ 5.3 oz broccoli leaves and got 20 balls.
 
Alexandra S. August 11, 2015
Thanks so much for your measurements, Adinab! I am going to edit the recipe now.
 
Anne B. July 17, 2015
I would love to make this on a weeknight, minus the frying. Have you experimented how it works to bake them? I'm guessing at 350 for 20 minutes or so?
 
Alexandra S. July 18, 2015
I have not yet, but I think that's a good estimate — maybe check them after 15 minutes or so. You could also try drizzling them with a little bit of oil and broiling them for a few minutes a side?
 
EatSimplyEatWell July 22, 2015
I just made a variation of these using beet greens, dill instead of cilantro, ricotta instead of feta, Dijon mustard to replace the other spices and baked them at 375°F/190°C in the oven for 15 minutes. They turned out beautifully, and will be served with a cucumber-lemon yogurt sauce alongside new potatoes for dinner tonight. Thanks for the inspiration! :)
 
violentyoda July 28, 2015
I cooked these in a dry non-stick frying pan, and they turned out beautifully! They were great with tzatziki sauce, very fresh and summery.
 
Alexandra S. August 3, 2015
Wonderful to hear this. I love how this recipe can be used as a guide. Love the idea of a cucumber-yogurt sauce...speaks to my Greekness :)
 
Alexandra S. August 3, 2015
Violentyoda — nice call on the tzatziki. You and EatSimplyWell have the right idea!