Greek zucchini fritters, also known as "kolokythokeftedes," are a delectable Mediterranean dish that showcases the vibrant flavors of fresh zucchini. These crispy and savory fritters capture the essence of Greek cuisine, blending zucchini, herbs, and spices into irresistible morsels of golden perfection. Prepared with simple, wholesome ingredients, these fritters are a delightful appetizer, side dish, or main course, offering a taste of Greece in every bite. With a versatile nature that complements various dipping sauces and accompaniments, Greek zucchini fritters are a culinary adventure waiting to be savored.
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GREEK ZUCCHINI FRITTERS
These zucchini fritters are based on a recipe I learned from the cookbook author Diane Kochilas. A classic mezze served in Greek taverna, they're like a Greek version of latkes.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories appetizer
Time 2h20m
Yield Serves six to eight
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Salt the zucchini generously and leave to drain in a colander for one hour, tossing and squeezing the zucchini from time to time. Take up handfuls of zucchini, and squeeze out all of the moisture. Alternately, wrap in a clean dish towel, and squeeze out the water by twisting at both ends.
- In a large bowl, beat the eggs and add the shredded zucchini, herbs, cumin, bread crumbs, salt and pepper to taste and feta. Mix together well. Take up a small handful of the mixture; if it presses neatly into a patty, it is the right consistency. If it seems wet, add more breadcrumbs or a few tablespoons of all-purpose flour. When the mixture has the right consistency, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour or longer.
- Heat 1 inch of olive oil in a large frying pan until rippling, or at about 275 degrees. Meanwhile, take up heaped tablespoons of the zucchini mixture, and form balls or patties. Lightly dredge in flour.
- When the oil is very hot, add the patties in batches to the pan. Fry until golden brown, turning once with a spider or slotted spoon. Remove from the oil, and drain briefly on a rack. Serve with plain Greek style yogurt if desired.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 365, UnsaturatedFat 23 grams, Carbohydrate 16 grams, Fat 31 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 8 grams, SaturatedFat 7 grams, Sodium 436 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams, TransFat 0 grams
KOLOKITHOKEFTEDES (GREEK ZUCCHINI FRITTERS)
These Greek zucchini fritters are not deep-fried, but pan-fried in olive oil--delicious!
Provided by gus
Time 1h30m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Shred zucchini into a colander and sprinkle with about 2 teaspoons salt. Allow to drain over the sink for 20 minutes.
- At the same time, mix water and flaxseed meal together until completely combined. Set aside and allow mixture to sit for about 10 minutes.
- Squeeze out liquid from onions and potatoes by wringing them in a clean tea towel over the sink. Set aside.
- Combine bread crumbs, mint, dill, parsley, lemon zest, pepper, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Add flaxseed meal mixture and mix to combine.
- Rinse shredded zucchini very lightly and ring out any liquid in a tea towel. Add zucchini, shredded onion, potato, and carrot to the bread crumb mixture and combine. Add flour and baking powder and combine everything once more with your hands. Set aside to rest for at least 10 minutes on the counter, or up to 3 days, covered in the refrigerator.
- Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a shallow frying pan over medium heat, making sure the oil doesn't burn.
- Scoop zucchini mixture in 1/3-cup portions and roll into balls your hands. Working in batches, add balls to the hot oil and gently pat into a patty. Cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes; flip and continue to fry until crispy and golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes more. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Repeat with remaining balls, adding 2 tablespoons more oil to the pan between each batch. Serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 205.9 calories, Carbohydrate 24.1 g, Fat 10.9 g, Fiber 3.6 g, Protein 4.7 g, SaturatedFat 1.5 g, Sodium 1139.2 mg, Sugar 3.8 g
CRISPY ZUCCHINI FRITTERS WITH GREEK YOGURT SAUCE (TZATZIKI)
A traditional Greek summer appetizer
Provided by Marilena Leavitt
Categories Appetizers
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- For the fritters:
- Grate the zucchini and place it in a colander, over a bowl. Sprinkle with salt and let drain for 30 minutes. Squeeze out moisture and pat dry with paper towels.
- Place the grated zucchini in a bowl and add the green and yellow onions, dill, parsley, cheese, flour, eggs, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well.
- Pour oil into a sauté pan to a depth of ¼ of an inch. When oil is hot, drop the mixture by the tablespoon into the pan, pat it down gently with the back of the spoon and fry for 2 minutes on one side then 3 minutes on the other or until golden brown.
- Transfer the fritters to paper towels to drain. Repeat with the remaining mixture.
- Keep warm until ready to serve.
- For the tzatziki:
- Peel the cucumber, seed it and grate it. Place it in a colander, sprinkle with some salt and let it sit for half an hour. Squeeze the water out by pressing it between the palms of your hands. Place the grated cucumber in a medium bowl.
- Mince the garlic cloves and the fresh dill and add it to the bowl.
- Add the rest of the ingredients, season with salt, mix well, cover and refrigerate overnight or for at least a couple of hours.
- Before serving, mix again, drizzle with some extra olive oil, place a Kalamata olive in the middle and serve with wedges of toasted Greek pita bread, or with zucchini fritters.
GREEK ZUCCHINI FRITTERS KOLOKITHOKEFTEDES RECIPE - (4.4/5)
Provided by Foodiewife
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- NOTE: *If you only have regular yogurt, you will need to set it in a fine sieve or cheese cloth, overnight, to remove excess liquid. Greek Yogurt is much thicker in texture than regular yogurt. For the sauce: Mix yogurt, a grated clove of garlic, cucumber, the juice of 1 lemon and ½ teaspoon cumin. Refrigerate, to allow the flavors to marry, while you prepare the fritters. Wash the zucchini. With skins on, grate them with the coarse side of a grater (or a food processor, which I prefer). Remove the zucchini by the handful, squeezing to remove as much liquid as you can. You can also use a tea towel or cheese cloth. I use a ricer, which works brilliantly to remove a lot of liquid! This is important, or you could end up with soggy fritters. Put the grated and drained zucchini into a bowl with herbs, feta and green onions. Mix with a fork. Add the lightly beaten egg and stir. Add flour and panko bread crumbs. The mixture should be wet but not watery. Mix in a small dose of salt-- I prefer kosher salt. NOTE: Feta cheese already has some saltiness, so I went easy on the salt and I am glad that I did! Heat olive oil in a pan about 1/8 inch deep covering the entire pan. When the oil hot and shimmering, scoop out a spoonful of the zucchini mixture I used an ice cream scoop) and put it in the pan. Let the fritters cook about 3-4 minutes or until brown and then flip them. Cook another 3-4 minutes until browned. Remove fritters and place on a paper towel -lined plate to remove some excess oil. Serve hot with tzatiki sauce. If using regular yogurt, put yogurt in a cheesecloth lined sieve over a bowl. Drain several hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Greek yogurt is thicker and does not need the draining. Peel, seed and coarsely grate cucumbers. Drain well. Add garlic, vinegar, olive oil, sat and pepper to cucumbers. Mix well. Add drained yogurt and blend.
Tips:
- Grate the zucchini with a box grater, using the large holes. This will create long, thin strands that will hold together well in the fritters.
- Squeeze out as much excess moisture from the grated zucchini as possible. This will help to prevent the fritters from becoming soggy.
- Use a combination of all-purpose flour and cornmeal in the batter. This will give the fritters a crispy exterior and a tender interior.
- Be careful not to overcook the fritters. They should be cooked until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside, but still tender on the inside.
- Serve the fritters hot with your favorite dipping sauce, such as tzatziki sauce or aioli.
Conclusion:
Greek zucchini fritters are a delicious and easy-to-make appetizer or side dish. They are perfect for using up leftover zucchini and are a great way to get your kids to eat their vegetables. With a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can make these fritters that are sure to be a hit at your next party or gathering.
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