Crispy on the outside, soft and tender on the inside, and bursting with the flavors of summer, these Zucchini Fritters are an excellent way to use the season’s bounty. The recipe is naturally vegan and easy to make and these are a snack you need on your radar.
About Zucchini Fritters
Right around this type of year, my countertops are overflowing with zucchini. They’re an easy crop to grow, and prolific, too! While I love Chocolate Zucchini Bread, I wanted to make a savory dish with my summer squash. These crispy Zucchini Fritters are the result of my tireless explorations, and boy are they tasty!
Usually, zucchini fritters are made with all-purpose flour, but this is a wholesome version made with whole wheat flour. The texture is light and soft from inside and delightfully crisp on the outside.
I’ve also been able to make this an egg-free recipe by using chickpea flour as my binding. Adding chickpea flour and baking powder helps in giving a soft texture to the fritters and also makes them crispy from the outside. Black salt can also be added to mimic the eggy aroma due to the presence of sulfur.
In addition to being ridiculously tasty, this is an incredibly easy one-bowl recipe. Just keep adding ingredients to the bowl and mixing it! There is no need to squeeze the grated zucchini of their juices, meaning it’s totally fuss-free.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Whole Wheat Flour – You can make these zucchini fritters with all-purpose flour too, though you may need to add a bit more flour in the recipe if using it.
- Chickpea Flour (or Gram Flour a.k.a. Besan) – Substitute cornstarch, rice flour, potato starch, or tapioca starch for chickpea flour or gram flour.
- Zucchini – Any color or shape of summer squash can be used, including patty pan, zephyr, or yellow summer squash. I used regular green zucchini in the photos below.
- Onions – Any color of onion will work here! You can also swap in leeks, shallots, or spring onions if you prefer.
- Garlic – Fresh is preferable, but you can swap in garlic powder in a pinch.
- Celery Stalk – For a bit of earthiness. Fresh fennel can be used instead.
- Parsley or Cilantro (Coriander Leaves) – For bright, herbaceous flavor.
- Black Pepper & Salt – For seasoning. Freshly cracked black pepper will have far more flavor than pepper powder.
- Baking Powder – For leavening.
- Black Salt – Optional, but delicious.
- Olive Oil – Or any neutral oil you prefer.
Step-by-Step Guide
How To Make Zucchini Fritters
These simple summer squash fritters are so easy to make. Here’s how:
Preparation
1. Finely chop 1 medium-sized onion, 2 to 3 inches small celery stalk, 2 to 3 medium garlic cloves, and a few parsley leaves.
You will need ⅓ cup finely chopped onions, ½ teaspoon finely chopped garlic, 2 teaspoons finely chopped celery, and 2 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves.
2. Rinse 2 medium-sized zucchinis (300 grams) and then pat dry with a kitchen towel. Grate them using a handheld grater, box grater, or food processor.
Do not grate them too finely. Use the larger holes on whichever grater you choose. You can peel the zucchini if you want to, but you don’t have to.
Make Batter
3. Put the grated zucchini in a mixing bowl. I directly grate the zucchini into a mixing bowl to cut back on the dishes.
4. Add the finely chopped onions, garlic and celery.
5. Add ½ heaped cup whole wheat flour and ¼ cup chickpea flour or gram flour.
6. Season with ¼ to ½ teaspoon black pepper (crushed), ⅛ teaspoon black salt (optional), ½ teaspoon salt, or add it as required.
Also, add ½ teaspoon baking powder.
7. Mix very well. Depending on the water content in the zucchini which will vary with the variety and farming methods used, the batter can become too thick or thin.
If the batter is very thick and floury, then sprinkle it with some water. If the batter becomes thin and runny, then add some wheat flour.
Make Zucchini Fritters
8. In a 10 to 10.5 inches seasoned, heavy cast-iron skillet or pan, add 2 tablespoons olive oil. For frying each batch of 3 fritters add 2 to 3 tablespoons of oil.
Let the oil become hot. Using a serving spoon or ¼ cup measuring cup begin to pour the batter on the pan.
9. Gently place the batter on the pan.
10. Then with the back of the spoon or cup, spread lightly. Do not spread thin as then the fritters break.
11. Begin to fry on medium-low to medium heat. I usually fry on medium-low heat so that the insides are cooked well.
The cast iron skillet retains heat and this helps in crisping the fritters.
12. Depending on the size of the skillet, you can fry three to four or even more zucchini fritters at a time.
13. When one side is crisp and golden, gently remove and flip. Fry the second side.
14. Fry the second side till golden and crisp. For even frying you can flip once or twice.
15. Remove and place them on kitchen paper towels for a brief period just for the extra oil to be soaked up. Do not keep them for long as then they can stick to the paper towel.
You can even use a strainer with a bowl underneath to drain the oil. Make all zucchini fritters this way.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Zucchini Fritters with a dipping sauce of your choice. You can even serve it with sour cream, yogurt, ketchup or creme fraiche.
Expert Tips
- Batter Consistency: The batter consistency should be a thick batter. If the batter becomes too thin or runny, the fritter will become soggy and wet from inside. In this scenario, adding some wheat flour helps to get the right consistency. If the batter looks very thick, floury, and dry, then sprinkle it with some water.
- Type of Zucchini: To make these you can use any colored zucchini – green or yellow. In the recipe, I have used green zucchini. But do make sure that the zucchini is not bitter. Before you chop, do a taste test, and if it is bitter, trash it.
- A Note on Frying: While shallow frying, you can add less oil. Though frying in less oil will reduce the crispiness. To quicken up the frying process, use two skillets side by side. Use a heavy seasoned pan to avoid fritters sticking to the pan.
Optional Variations
- Cheesy Fritters: For a cheesy flavor add 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast flakes. To get a vegetarian cheesy flavor, add some vegetarian parmesan cheese or cheddar cheese to the batter. If you add cheese, reduce the salt in the recipe.
- Add More Veggies: You can add additional vegetables like grated carrots, finely chopped bell pepper (capsicum), and grated cabbage to your fritters for added nutrition and flavor.
- Gluten-Free Option: For a gluten-free recipe, use chickpea flour entirely for the batter. Thus add ¾ to 1 cup of chickpea flour to the batter.
- Flour: You can also make these easy zucchini fritters with all-purpose flour. You may need to add more all-purpose flour to the recipe if using it.
- Baked Fritters: Make baked zucchini fritters by adding 1 tablespoon of oil in the batter. Bake in a preheated oven at 200 degrees Celsius (392 degrees Fahrenheit) for 15 to 20 minutes till golden. Halfway through remove the fritters and brush them with oil. Then continue to bake till done. Line the baking tray with parchment paper before baking.
FAQs
Ooops! Sounds like the oil wasn’t quite hot enough. Make sure the oil is shimmering and very hot before adding the batter, which will help to sear the zucchini and create a crisp crust. If you add the batter when the pan is cold, the oil has a tendency to seep in and make it soggy.
I typically like to serve them with a creamy sauce like a yogurt dip or a zesty dip like Cilantro Chutney.
Sure! Any leftovers can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat, use a toaster oven or pan fry them until crispy and heated through.
More Easy Snacks!
Breakfast Recipes
World Recipes
American Recipes
Bread Snacks
Please be sure to rate the recipe in the recipe card or leave a comment below if you have made it. For more veetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter.
Zucchini Fritters Recipe Made Easy & Tasty
Crispy on the outside, soft and tender on the inside, these Zucchini Fritters are an excellent way to use the season’s bounty. The recipe is naturally vegan and easy to make with ingrediets like whole wheat flour, chickpea flour, onion, herbs and seasonigs.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Prevent your screen from going dark while making the recipe
Making batter
Take the grated zucchini in a mixing bowl. Add the chopped onions, garlic and celery.
Add both whole wheat flour and chickpea flour. Season with crushed black pepper (crushed), black salt (optional) and regular salt. Add the baking powder.
- Mix very well. Depending on the water content in the zucchini, the batter can become too thick or thin. If the batter becomes very thick, then sprinkle some water. If the batter becomes thin and runny, then add some wheat flour.
Frying
- In a seasoned and heavy 10 to 10.5 inches cast-iron skillet or pan heat 2 to 3 tablespoons oil on medium-low or medium heat. For frying each batch of 3 to 4 zucchini fritters add 2 to 3 tablespoons of oil. Using a serving spoon or ¼ cup measure begin to pour the batter on the pan.
With the back of the spoon or measuring cup, spread lightly. Do not spread thin as the fritters will break.
Begin to fry medium low to medium heat. Fry three to four zucchini fritters at a time.
When one side is crisp and golden, gently remove and flip. Fry the second side till golden and crisp. For even frying you can flip once or twice.
- Remove and place them on kitchen paper towels for a brief period just for the extra oil to be soaked up. Do not keep for long as then they stick to the paper towel. You can even use a strainer with a bowl underneath to drain the oil. Make all zucchini fritters this way.
Serve Zucchini Fritters hot with a dipping sauce of your choice.
- Zucchini: Both green or yellow zucchini can be used.
- Consistency of batter: Zucchini fritters batter has a thick consistency. If the batter becomes too thin or runny, the fritter will end up becoming soggy. In this scenario, add some wheat flour. If the batter looks very thick, then sprinkle some water.
- Cheesy Flavors: To get a vegan cheesy flavor add 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast flakes to the batter. For a vegetarian cheesy flavor, add some vegetarian parmesan cheese or cheddar cheese to the batter. When adding cheese, reduce the salt in the recipe.
- Flour: You can make these zucchini fritters with all-purpose flour also. You may need to add more all-purpose flour in the recipe though.
- Binding Ingredient: You can use corn starch, rice flour, potato starch, tapioca starch in place of chickpea flour or gram flour.
- Frying: You can fry the fritters with less oil. But frying in less oil will reduce the crispiness. Use two skillets side by side to quicken up the frying. Use a heavy seasoned pan to avoid fritters sticking to the pan.
- Gluten-Free Option: Use only chickpea flour entirely to make the batter. Add ¾ to 1 cup chickpea flour to form the batter.
- Baking: You can make baked zucchini fritters by adding 1 tablespoon oil in the batter. Line the baking tray with parchment paper. Bake in a preheated oven at 200 degrees Celsius (392 degrees Fahrenheit) for 15 to 20 minutes till golden. Halfway through remove the fritters and brush them with oil. Then continue to bake till done.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve Zucchini Fritters with any dip you like. You can even serve with sour cream, yogurt or creme fraiche.
Nutrition Facts
Zucchini Fritters Recipe Made Easy & Tasty
Amount Per Serving
Calories 301 Calories from Fat 180
% Daily Value*
Fat 20g31%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 1mg0%
Sodium 508mg22%
Potassium 680mg19%
Carbohydrates 27g9%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 7g14%
Vitamin A 558IU11%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 2mg10%
Vitamin B6 1mg50%
Vitamin C 35mg42%
Vitamin E 3mg20%
Vitamin K 64µg61%
Calcium 70mg7%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 56µg14%
Iron 4mg22%
Magnesium 59mg15%
Phosphorus 186mg19%
Zinc 1mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This Zucchini Fritters recipe from the archives first published in July 2020 has been updated and republished on July 2023.
Source link
