If you’re looking for a crispy and nutritious appetizer to spice up any summer gathering, I recommend frying up these zucchini fritters. This summer snack has cultural ties to multiple countries along the Mediterranean, and like so many other dishes from the Mediterranean, this dish is meant to be shared and experienced with others.
According to some food historians, zucchini fritters date back to Ancient Rome. Other Mediterranean fritters such as French beignets and Spanish frittatas are said to have originated around the same time. Zucchini fritters also have ties to the Middle East. The Italian version of this snack is called frittelle di zucchine and contains an array of fresh, summer ingredients.
For this recipe, I am substituting breadcrumbs with chickpeas. This retains the same crunchy taste while adding additional protein and fiber to the mix. A fine, white cheese, such as feta, pairs well with the zucchini and is personally one of my favorites!
Feel free to add your favorite herbs and spices to make your zucchini fritters unique to you! To keep it simple, add onions and garlic for added flavor and to make your kitchen smell like an Italian’s dream.
Zucchini Fritters
Ingredients
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 2 zucchini, diced (about 1 cup)
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1- 15 oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 6 oz crumbled feta
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Pepper
Directions
- In a medium-sized skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and zucchini. Stir and heat until the onions become translucent.
- In a large bowl, add chickpeas. Mash with a potato masher or the back of a fork until the chickpeas are mashed.
- Add the vegetable mixture to the chickpeas. Stir in egg, feta, flour, salt, and pepper.
- Heat the skillet used for the veggies over medium heat. Form the fritter mixture into 2” patties. Heat on both sides until cooked (about 3-5 minutes per side).
- Once the fritters are cooked, set them aside on a plate covered with a piece of paper towel. This will help to absorb any oils from the fritters.