Hidden Veg recipes for fussy kids

[AlwaysLatte]

My two still hate vegetables, apart from DS1 eating cooked carrots and broccoli and DS2 eating corn on the cob and raw carrots. I STILL make the Annabel Kramer sauce from when they were toddlers (they're now 12 and 10 😂) and it's great for sauces - for pasta, casseroles etc. But I'd love to find some other hidden veg recipes. I know they should just jolly well tuck into a plate of spinach or peas but they won't and I'm not going to force them. But we're growing lots of veg now and have courgettes, spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, beetroot and kale. Any winning recipes for those or any other veg (or fruit?) tried and tested for other similar fusspots out there...?

Sorry my sneaky IPad changed Karmel to Kramer!

You can put beetroot in chocolate cake and it tastes incredible and makes the cake very moist.

If they eat stir fry, you can slice the broccoli stalks, quite thinly in discs (take off the woody outer edges as it can be too tough). Reduces waste and does not have the texture broccoli has (still tastes of broccoli but somehow less in your face).
Spinach can be stirred into a variety of curries or soups and basically dissolves. Ditto with grated courgette.

Have you ever tried making rosti? You can make a version that is a mix of grated courgette and grated potato. A bit of a faff, but very tasty.

@HathorX some great ides, thank you. Especially the Rostinone!

Argh thank you auto correct!

My DS is incredibly fussy.

I grate carrot and courgette into everything that's tomato sauce based - pasta, lasagna, chilli.
He will (now) eat most casserole/one pot things, so I bung as much veg in there as I can.

I'm starting to make things more obvious now. He just ate a sausage hot pot thing with peas, sweetcorn and broccoli mixed in then cauliflower on the side - this would have been unthinkable this time last year.
I've just been increasing the size of the pieces gradually, in the meals I know he will eat.

I grate carrot and courgette into the mince mixture when I make meatballs or burger/patties. I've also added finely chopped spinach.

But the best way to get mine to eat veg is in blended thick vegetables soups.

Rosti is a nice idea. How about fritters?
You can put maybe a safe veg in and then branch out, ditto tempura.

Pasta bake www.mrsrachelbrady.co.uk/2015/09/recipe-hidden-roasted-vegetable-pasta-bake/
Hide courgette in this recipe for Mac and cheese www.myfussyeater.com/one-pot-mac-cheese-with-hidden-veg/
Or hide cauliflower with this version www.bbc.com/food/recipes/macaroni_cauliflower_53315 Cauliflower is good for hiding in mash, as are parsnips.
Add puréed sweetcorn to scrambled egg.
Meatballs realfood.tesco.com/recipes/sunitas-secret-veg-meatballs.html
Burgers www.hungryhealthyhappy.com/hidden-vegetable-beef-burgers/
Shepherds pie www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/hidden_vegetables_05418
Pasta bake www.ocado.com/webshop/recipe/secret-veggie-pasta-bake/23305
Cauliflower tots www.healthylittlefoodies.com/cauliflower-tots/
Fritters www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/toddler-recipe-sweetcorn-spinach-fritters
The carrots in these bean enchiladas are grated and are therefore barely noticeable when cooked. www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/bean-enchiladas
Hidden veg lentil bolognese www.mrsrachelbrady.co.uk/2016/09/hidden-veg-and-lentil-spaghetti-bolognese/
Risotto www.familiesonline.co.uk/food/recipes/pasta-and-rice/hidden-vegetable-risotto
Muffins realfood.tesco.com/recipes/cheesy-courgette-muffins.html
Cauliflower pizza base:
Heat the oven to 200C, gas 6. Blitz 250g cauliflower in a food processor and tip into a microwave-safe bowl. Cook on high for 5-6 mins, until softened. Carefully squeeze out any excess water in a clean tea towel, then mix with 1 beaten egg, ½tsp freshly chopped oregano and 1 tbsp Parmesan, and season. Spread the cauliflower mix onto a lined baking tray, to a circle about 23cm wide. Spray with Frylight and cook for 10 mins.
Mix tomato purée with a little hot water and spread onto the cauliflower base. Top with mozzarella and cook for a further 10 mins.

I grate mushrooms into bolognese and chilli. Husband and kids point blank refuse mushrooms, but wolf down bolognese with grated mushroom in!

You can blend a whole (peeled, deseesed and chopped) roasted butternut squash into your cheese sauce for Mac & cheese (or lasagne) makes it go a really "synthetic cheese" orange. I add some chopped chorizo and sweetcorn and call it Mexican Mac & cheese.

Like @poorlittledoggy I finely dice mushroom, and a few handfuls of spinach if I have it, into every recipe involving mince. Grating in carrots and courgette also a winner.

And I also add "visible" veg to every plate when I can. They don't have to eat it but get a casual "good on you for trying it" if they so much as lick it. Eventually they do try a nibble. That's how DD1 ended up liking broccoli, which was my holy grail veg at the time!

Some amazing ideas Ricekrispie! I'm intrigued by the Cauliflower pizza, will try that asap...

Top cottage pie with carrot and swede mash or mashed sweet potato.
I make falafel with beetroot or butternut squash.