- Prep-time: / Ready In:
- Makes 7–8 fritters
- Serving size: 1 fritter
- Print/save recipe
I created this recipe when we were growing our own zucchini at home. Now, those zucchini can’t grow fast enough to keep up with how much we love the recipe! Whether you opt for yellow or green, you don’t need to peel the zucchini for this recipe; simply grate on the large holes of a box grater, or feed through the grating blade of a food processor. These make a light meal or a lovely side dish. Serve with a vegan sour cream (or a nut cheese thinned with a little water), or even simply with ketchup or a balsamic reduction.
Flour Tip: Depending on the moisture in the zucchini, and how it measures grated, you may need more or less flour. I like ¾ cup; it yields fritters that are still moist with zucchini but hold together just fine. You can always start with ¾ cup and adjust with a touch more flour if you like as you start to cook. More flour will yield firmer patties.
Dill Seed Tip: Dill seed beautifully accents these fritters. If you don’t have it, I wouldn’t substitute fresh or dried dill weed. Instead, try substituting ¼–½ teaspoon cumin seed or fennel seed.
By Dreena Burton,
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon tahini
- 3 cups grated zucchini
- ¾ to 1 cup chickpea flour (see tip in intro)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional)
- 3 to 4 tablespoons chives or sliced green onions (green portion only)
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon dill seed (see tip in intro)
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Stir together lemon juice and tahini. In a large bowl, combine all the remaining ingredients and pour over the lemon-tahini mixture. Combine with a spoon or spatula until you have a uniform mixture. As the zucchini releases moisture (from the added salt), the chickpea flour will absorb that liquid. Allow mixture to sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Scoop a portion of the mixture (about ¼ cup) onto the skillet. Use a spatula to flatten it into a fritter shape. Cook on one side for 3 to 4 minutes, until golden. Flip and cook for another 2 to 4 minutes, until golden on both sides and cooked through. If the fritters are browning too quickly, reduce the heat to allow the centers to cook more fully.
Per serving (1 fritter): 53 calories, 7 g carbohydrates, 2.9 g protein, 1.8 g total fat, 0.2 g saturated fat, 0 g cholesterol, 159 mg sodium, 1.5 g fiber, 2.1 g sugar
Note: Nutritional information is provided as an estimate only.
Comments (93)
(5 from 38 votes)What if you don’t have chickpea flour? Sounds like a ridiculous question but I’ve tried regular white flour & they tasted very flat.
Hi Ginny, Chickpea flour has a nutty flavor and more body than wheat flour, which is probably why they tasted flat when you used wheat flour. Chickpea flour is handy for lots of savory recipes and is worth looking out for. You can also buy it online if your local store doesn't stock it. Hope that helps!
I made these but didn't have enough zucchini so I grated some tofu into it. I also added hot red pepper powder and used cumin. Delicious!
Hello! LOVE your fritters. can they also be baked in the oven? Thank you, Britta
Hi Britta, yes, these can be baked on the oven. Others have had good results using a 375 degree oven. Place them on baking paper and bake for 20 minutes or so, on each side until the look golden brown and cooked through.
I’m allergic to chickpeas. What other flour can I use?
Hi Marlene, Other readers have had success using oat flour in this recipe. Or, if you can eat gluten, a whole wheat flour should work, as well. Happy frittering!
I made these last summer and they were good but needed some work. I did purposefully let my dill plants go to seed just so I could harvest the seeds for this! I haven't seen any other recipe call for them, but why not? Anyway, I added almost 2 full cups of chickpea flour, about 1/3 cup of nutritional yeast, about 1/2 tsp each onion powder and garlic powder, and one small white onion minced since I didn't have scallions. They came out excellent this time! *chef's kiss* I'm betting they'll reheat well in the airfryer. For the person asking about pans, Caraway pans are awesome. No chemicals, high quality. They are expensive, but you get what you pay for, and if you take care of them properly they should last many years.
Absolutely delicious and nutritious!! Thank you for this great recipe 🙏
Our family was unanimous-these are awful.
I have made these 3 times. Love the flavor of the dill seed! Very good!
Did you do an article on the best pans to use that don't have chemicals? I am very interested in reading it.
Caraway makes fantastic non-stick chemical-free cookware.
Hi Lauren. You might check out our roundup of our favorite nonstick cookware, which includes a PFOA-free pan. Hope that helps! : https://www.forksoverknives.com/how-tos/nonstick-kitchen-tools-for-oil-free-cooking/
Made them this morning, very tasty. 1/2 cup chickpea flour and 1/2 cup Nutritional yeast used.
The flavor was pretty good, but the texture was slimy on the inside and they didn't really crisp up on the outside. I even baked them for about 10 mins after pan fry and they still were slimy on the inside.
i loved it!
I would really like to try this But I need some help with grating the zucchini Any advise would be appreciated Thank you
A food processor with the shredding blade works very well. If you can't use a box grater (to grate by hand) or a food processor, you could get close to shredded texture by using a peeler. If you don't have any other option, you could try making very small thin pieces with a knife.
Oh wow, these are so good! I added 1/3 cup of nutritional yeast and added several shakes of Bensons Table Tasty in place of the salt. I made 7 instead of 8 fritters because I was guessing at measurement. Following the advice in previous comments, I baked then on parchment paper at 375, 25 min on one side-flip-then 20 mins. They were a little over cooked, but my family just demolished them. Definitely will make again, probably tomorrow.
Made them this morning and we both liked them but found I used too much mustard ( I like mustard more than my wife ). But the zucchini we are growing is "Romanesco" which is slightly bitter to begin with so the fritters were slightly on the bitter side. We will make them again as zucchini loves growing here in zone 9b. Beware if you grow the "Romanesco" zucchini the plant is huge but sturdy enough to grow vertically on a strong support.
These are pretty good. I don't like the chickpea flour. What could I replace it with?
Hi Shirley, Other readers have had success using oat flour in place of the chickpea flour. Give it a try and let us know how it goes! Thank you, Courtney Davison Editor, Forks Over Knives
I made this yesterday and it was very good I will make it again for sure.
These are not even close to delicious to me. I'm sorry, I am not trying to offend the artist of this recipe, but someone needs to review on the opposing side as well. I did not care for the texture or the taste. I think everyone should taste and see for themselves however I am not a fan.
Unfortunately I agree, I followed the recepie, texture and flavour I did not enjoy
I made these with just picked Cocozelle Green Squash from the garden.. OMG delicious
Can you use 1:1 flour instead of chickpea flour
I love the results it tastes delicious I didn’t have chives I used onion instead I’m going to make it a staple. It’s easy to make and so healthy.
I followed the recipe precisely (including standing time to allow the chickpea flour to absorb the liquid) and these turned out perfectly. Even my non-zucchini-eating husband enjoyed these and I will make again. I pan fried most but tried a few in the air fryer--results weren't as predicable. But I could see re-crisping leftovers in the air fryer (if we had any leftovers--which we did not).
I love zucchini fritters ,, I make a mean tomato relish which goes really well with them
These were delicious! I used cassava flour on hand. Doubled recipe and added 1/2 cup of nutritional yeast for some cheesy goodness! :) Flattened them on sheet pan into 5x1/2 rounds and baked at 400. 10 minutes each side. Amazing! Thanks!
Very good and added more seasoning including granulated onion plus 3 tablespoons of aquafaba to make firmer like a burger
I made this recipe as written except for adding some garlic powder and onion powder and a little non salt seasoning. It was delicious. I did air fry them flipping them after 5-6 minutes and they turned out really well. Great recipe!
Delicious! I used an air fryer at 375 for about 20 mins. Topped with a dollop of the sour cream from the suggested recipe, and sprinkled dried chervil and dill overtop.
Really tasty. I followed suggestions from other posters and baked on parchment paper @ 400, for 40 minutes, flipping them halfway through. Used fennel seeds and almond flour as that is what I had on hand. Also added 1/2 t turmeric powder.
Do these keep well in the fridge? I need a recipe for a shared lunch but will have to make it the night before. What are they like cold? Thanks.
Made these the other day, loved them, the zucchini fritters also freeze well. That's a plus with all the zucchini! I baked at 400 for 20 min, then flipped and baked another 15. Perfect!!!
These were a hit with the whole family . I used cumin seeds as suggested instead of dill seed.Delicious ,I will be buying dill seed to use for the next batch. Thank you!!
These are good. I baked them at 425 for 40 minutes, flipping them half way. I used oat flour instead of chickpea flour.
Outstanding. Put a little maple syrup on them. Ummm um!
Has anyone tried subbing oat flour vs chickpea flour and/or almond butter vs tahini?
10
These were so delicious! I grated the zucchini, sprinkled in a 1/4 t salt. put it in a colander to drain for 15 minutes, used only 1/2 cup chick pea flour, dried dill, baked on parchment paper 400 for 20 minutes, flipped and baked for 15 minutes. Perfect! Will make again.
My husband liked these, so I will make them again although they weren't my favorite. I baked them at 350 for 15 minutes on one side and about 10 minutes the other side, but they were a bit undercooked. The only things I will change for next time is to cook them 15 minutes both sides and leave out the fennel seed.
I wish you guys would quit calling for non stick skillets. We are experiencing a PFAS issue in Maine and they are what is in most non stick skillets. Even skillets that say "no PFAS" on their label at the store can have a similar compound that is thought to have similar risks. Can this be adapted to use an air fryer? I love FOK recipes in general but get frustrated to see non stick skillets called for! Otherwise FOK rocks!
Bake on parchment paper
Hi Leda, We bet these would be equally delicious in an air fryer. Baking on parchment-lined sheet, as the other commenter suggested, is also an option. We appreciate your feedback about the nonstick skillets. We're currently working on a guide to the best/safest nonstick cookware options, which will be published on our website soon. Thank you, Courtney Davison Editor, Forks Over Knives
I don't use non-stick skillets or pans either, but I found that a good quality, heavy stainless steel skillet works for me on the stovetop. When I do baking, I usually use silicone pans or liners instead of parchment so there is no paper waste.
Maine isn’t the only state with PFAS issues. I use a good quality stainless steel pan and if I need a dab of oil, I will use it to prevent sticking. Air fryer conversions would be much appreciated, pressure cooker too (for the recipes that qualify).
Try the non-stick cookware by Caraway. They are chemical free. They use ceramic. They are pricey but worth every penny.
I use a carbon steel pan, it's non stick and I wish I'd found it sooner. Even the so called healthy ceramic ones are not good for you. Marketing tells lies.
Is there a flour can I can substitute for the chick pea flour? Thanks
Leah, While we haven't tested this recipe with another flour, other commenters have had success swapping in almond flour in this recipe. If you do give it a try, please let us know how it goes. Thank you! Courtney Editor, Forks Over Knives
Check out fromourplace.com I LOVE my pan from here. I figured the it was worth it to make an investment in a quality pan like this for the health of my family. Their ceramic coating is made without toxins found in the majority of nonstick cookware. Made without PTFEs, PFOAs, other PFAS, as well as potentially toxic materials like lead and cadmium High-performance nonstick means cooking (and cleaning up) has never been easier.
Just testing
How long and at what temperature did you bake these?
I'm about to make this for the second time. I tried pan frying oil free and baking and I think I preferred the baking on unbleached parchment. Great recipe as is - super easy. Thanks so much Dreena! I definitely recommend doubling (at least) and freezing some of them. I put parchment in between so they wouldn't stick together. The first time I used yellow squash, as that's what I had and it worked out perfectly.
Oh btw, I used cumin seed as I didn't have dill seed. Thanks for that idea Dreena. Worked great.
What temperature and for how long did you bake these?
Tried this the other day - loved the texture, but next time I will add lemon zest as well, to give bit more of a kick in fresh flavour. I also added the salt to grated zucchini and let sit for 10-15 minutes, then squeezed out any additional moisture. Thank you for sharing this recipe. Will definately make again. Keeps well in fridge for a healthy snack.
I made them again today. I baked them at 350 for 30 minutes on parchment and flipped them after 15. They turned out perfect. Maybe a little soft in the middle but I far preferred that as I had over-baked last time. Also, I didn't have enough chickpea flour and did half or a bit more of brown rice flour. I think the half and half tasted even better. I'll probably try 1/2 oat or quinoa next time.
Today I made this recipe and add carrot. I like it a lot. Finally something I can use chickpeas flood. In my pantry is like 2kg of tapioca starch and I need to find what to do with it.
Tapioca flour/starch is great to use in vegan cheeses in place of arrowroot or cornstarch as it does thicken but also gives a stretchy cheesy outcome!
Has anyone tried baking these? How did they turn out baked?
I used oat flour instead of chickpea & peanut butter instead of tahini. I also let the zucchini sit with just the salt for awhile to pull the moisture out. Then I added the mustard, dill seed, green onions & pepper. I stirred all that & then I added the oat flour, then the lemon juice & p.b. I also baked them & they were amazing!
I made this recipe but also substituted one cup corn ( with 2 cups zucchini). I squeezed out some of the moisture in the zucchini. Next time I will bake them. Instead of vegan sour cream I simply put salsa on top of them - delicious! I will make them again!
I substituted fresh grated pumpkin for the zucchini, what with it being winter right now, but otherwise followed the recipe as written, except cooking in a cast iron skillet. Turned out well; the recipe is a keeper in my book. I will rename it "grated squash fritters"! Yield was on the nose.
Would it work without the Tahini - I am following Dr Esselstyn's diet - so no nuts/seeds (except some flax/chia).
Someone on another format said she makes them without the tahini because of the fat content, and they're fine.
Is the a substitute for the Tahini - or would it work just to omit it? I am following Dr Esselstyn's diet so no added fat.
I’m Very interested to read your paper Re: non stick cooking pans. Dr Neal Barnard said they are fine but I’m not convinced ;((
Really good recipe! I added some fresh corn and reduced the zucchini, for a twist!
Is the zucchini packed in the cups or loose? That would affect how they turn out. It would help if you gave the weight of the zucchini in ounces. Thanks, Sandra
I can't say 100% but usually it means loose, unless they specifically otherwise.
Thank You for this wonderful recipe that is very like the unhealthy version at Jacks Restaurant and Bar in San Mateo. I serve it with Tzatziki made with my homemade soy yogurt plus a relish of small dice tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onion. Delish--part of the permanent rotation.
Tastes great but still mushy and gloppy, even after frying for a long time. I think next time I'll try to bake them in the oven.
Perhaps if you add a little more flour it will work in the pan!
I recommend fresh zucchini of course and then squeeze out the moisture and pat with paper towels
Great healthy food which leaves you feeling satisfied…….thankyou for the recipe
Yes, I found out that baking works much better than frying!
this one is a keeper!
Can I substitute a different flour? I have brown rice flour, tapioca flour, oat flour, corn meal flour, and ‘sweet’ white sorghum flour (gluten free). I don’t really want to buy more flour!
I would like to know what is a great substitute for chickpea flour also. It is not part of the fodmap diet I'm on. If a flour substitute that IS on the fodmap diet, does the amount change? Trying to get an answer on this site is almost impossible.
I recommend adding chickpea flour to your plant-based pantry. We use it to make chickpea flour omelets, that my kids love chopped up in breakfast burritos.
I used almond flour and they were fine. Next time I am going to mix almond and oat. I think any flour will work.
Easy and delicious!
This was great! Fairly easy and -very- yummy!
Relatively new to the WFPB way of living, I can only agree with other reviews, these fritters are fantastic! My husband also loves them. I tried with fennel seeds as we had no dill seeds. A great addition as I only added a little. Next time I will try added fresh chilli as we love spicy food. :-) Thank you so much for a wonderful recipe, this is now firmly in our repertoire !
I was skeptical but these fritters are REALLY good! The only thing I altered was I added fresh blanched corn ( it is a summer veggie ripening at the same time as zucchini). So good!
This was a real winner in my household. Even my daughter, who pretty much hates everything I make, got second helpings.
Sounds wonderful!
Thank you for the recipe. I got zucchini from my sister's garden, and try out the recipe this weekend!♡♡♡