The waffle iron is one of our favorite kitchen solutions, whether you’re trying to make your food more creative and enjoyable, the frying pan is already in use, or you don’t want to heat the house.
Once considered a single-use appliance that could have been more practical for anyone who did not frequently make creative chefs and space-constrained home cooks, now embrace waffles and waffle irons.
However, it is only sometimes obvious which foods will prepare well in a waffle iron and which will create a nightmare-inducing mess.
We wanted to share some of our favorite unconventional dishes that can cook in a waffle iron. We primarily concentrate on meals (or meal components), but many sweet treats also work well in a waffle iron!
10 Delicious Foods You Can Cook In A Waffle Iron
The following are our ten fave unexpected waffle iron foods.
1. Falafel
This chickpea or fava bean–based Middle Eastern staple, typically deep-fried, becomes much crispier and much lower in fat when prepared on a waffle iron. It does not retain its typical round shape, but with such texture, who cares?
Falafel is traditional serves in a pita pocket, but it’s also an excellent topping for a vegetarian salad or over couscous, as in our Black Bean Falafel with Harissa Aioli. Given the waffle iron’s flattening effect, you could use it as a sandwich.
Spray or brush both irons with oil to prepare falafel on a waffle iron, then evenly distribute the batter on the bottom iron. Close the iron gently (do not apply pressure) and brown the food evenly. This recipe works best with fresh falafel batter rather than frozen falafels.
2. Fried rice In Waffle Iron
If you enjoy the crispy pieces of rice that form at the bottom of the pan after cooking rice or fried rice, this method is for you! On a waffle iron, you can reheat cold leftover fried rice or prepare fried rice from fresh rice if you prefer; however, rice that is already hot will not become as crispy as rice that reheats.
To make “waffled” fried rice:
- Combine your preferred seasonings, such as garlic, ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes (the sauce mixture we use in our Kung Pao Chicken Wings recipe with Fried Rice).
- Mix this with small, diced frozen vegetables, such as peas, carrots, bell pepper, and rice.
- Add vegetable oil to your waffle iron, then evenly distribute rice across the surface and close. If you close the waffle maker firmly, the patty will be dense and remain together; if you close the waffle maker less firmly, the cake will be slightly fluffier but more likely to fall apart when you remove it.
3. Pizza
Oh, pizza! Cooking everyone’s beloved food in a waffle iron makes it faster and crispier. Begin by forming your pizza dough into small spheres, then stretch those balls to approximately the dimensions and shape of your waffle iron.
Cook the pizza dough on a greased waffle iron until it is faintly brown, and then remove it to add sauce, cheese, and vegetables.
Carefully place it back on the iron to melt the cheese without contacting the cheese with the top iron. Visit our post How to Make Waffle Iron Pizza for more in-depth instructions.
4. Crab cakes
Some individuals strongly believe in what crab cakes should and should not include. While we enjoy all crab cake varieties, crab cakes without an exterior coating prepare best in a waffle iron.
If you purchase or make crab cakes with breading, use a waffle iron with a low heat setting and keep a close eye on them as they cook.
Check out our Crab Cake Sandwiches with Chili-Lime Sauce if you’re making your crab cakes from scratch.
5. Omelets In Waffle Iron
When we first envisaged putting raw eggs on a waffle iron, we envisioned a massive mess. However, this is an inventive method for cooking scrambled eggs or their more refined sibling, the omelet.
Chop vegetables that cook quickly, such as spinach and bell pepper, and whisk them with eggs, salt, and pepper. You could also mince roast, steamed, or sautéed vegetables in the refrigerator.
Pour the mixture onto a heated, greased waffle iron and close it; in a couple of minutes, you will have an omelet that peels off in a single strip. Add green onion, cheese, sour cream, and other desired garnishes.
6. Zucchini fritters In Waffle Iron
Using a clean kitchen towel, squeeze the shredded zucchini over the sink to remove excess water. In our recipe for Zucchini Fritters with Cilantro Garlic Sauce, the zucchini combines with an egg, some ricotta cheese, flour, salt, and pepper.
You may substitute parmesan cheese for the ricotta and add optional Italian seasoning if desired. Place spoonfuls of this mixture onto your hot waffle iron and secure the lid; a standard-sized waffle iron can accommodate three fritters. Remove them from the flame and serve them with a yogurt or sour cream dollop.
7. Grilled cheese sandwiches
This midday favorite could not be easier to prepare, and a waffle iron makes this task even more straightforward.
While the waffle iron heats up, butter one side of two slices of bread per individual, then spread half of the unbuttered sides with shredded cheese. Cook on a preheated waffle iron with the second slice of bread on top so both buttered sides face out.
Press down firmly and toast your sandwich until the exterior is crusty and the interiors melt.
We like to serve these sandwiches with a simple side salad, such as our Waffle Iron Grilled Cheese with Spring Mix Salad, which pairs acidic apples with the rich creaminess of the cheese.
8. Tofu
People who dislike tofu have not tried it prepared in a crispy manner, and — surprise! — this is another area where the waffle iron excels.
The weight of the top iron presses extra moisture out of the tofu, allowing it to become crisp on the outside and dense and chewy within. The compartments are also ideal for capturing small pools of sauce that enhance the flavor.
Begin with firm or extra-firm tofu packaged in water, then thoroughly dry it after removing the liquid. Marinate the tofu for at least 20 minutes and up to a day in your preferred marinade; when it’s time to cook, discard the marinade, dry the tofu, and place it on a greased, preheated, high-temperature waffle iron. It must simmer for approximately 5 minutes.
9. Polenta
Whether you’re working with a tube of precooked polenta or residual cheese grits that you can’t figure out how to reheat properly, a waffle iron can provide a tasty solution.
Cheese grits may work better because they contain more fat from the cheese and any additional butter or olive oil used in the original recipe.
This fat helps the polenta to crisp up into a delicious crust where it meets the iron while keeping the interior soft and fluffy.
10. Brownies
The waffle iron is ideal for cooking this simple brownie recipe for a speedy dessert—just-cooked globs of batter demand to serve piping hot with a serving of ice cream or whipping cream.
While these are some of our favorite methods to prepare meals with a waffle iron, the possibilities are by no means limited. Experiment with cooking bagels and croissants, hash browns and tater tots, French toast, biscuits, cakes, and muffins with your waffle iron! You might discover the next innovative waffled cuisine trend if you experiment and enjoy it. Just be sure to thoroughly preheat the irons, grease them well, and be prepared for occasional waste.
Thank you for reading…..
