Are you looking for healthy, low-carb recipes that are super quick and easy to make? Do you ever find yourself swimming with zucchini at the end of the summer? These little zucchini pancakes taste like heaven and only take a few minutes to fry up in a pan. They make for a wonderful snack, side dish, or even a filling vegetarian meal or tasty breakfast! Today, I am going to show you how to make zucchini fritters in under 30 minutes.
Why Zucchini? The Keto-Friendly Vegetable
Zucchini is one of the best keto vegetables because the carb count is super low, and they are meaty enough to keep you feeling nourished and full! One cup of cooked zucchini is just 2 net carbs and only 15 calories! Because zucchini is so versatile, there are so many ways to cook with it, so many sauces to smother on top of it, and so many delicious baked goods you can hide it in.
What Makes This Keto Zucchini Fritters Recipe Special?
These keto zucchini fritters are slightly crispy on the outside and cheesy and tender on the inside. The recipe only requires a few simple steps and uses just a few pantry staples. These low-carb keto zucchini fritters are battered with almond flour and pan-fried to perfection in avocado oil. These fritters are made with such simple ingredients (just 6!).
Ingredients You'll Need
- Zucchini: Grab some from your grocery store or garden.
- Almond flour: This keeps it keto and gluten-free! I like to use super fine almond flour. Coconut flour can also be substituted but you would only need 2-3 tablespoons.
- Parmesan cheese: Adds a salty, savory flavor. Feta cheese is a fantastic choice as well.
- Eggs: You’ll need large eggs to get the ingredients to properly bind together. For an egg-free version, you should be able to use a flax egg. Mix 2 tablespoons flax meal with 5 tablespoons water. Let it sit for 5 minutes to thicken up.
- Seasonings: Garlic powder, parsley, salt, and pepper enhance the flavor. Adding two cloves of garlic is just the right amount to take these from ordinary to extraordinary! You can always add more if you want. We often use parsley. However, you can easily swap it for any of your other favorite herbs.
- Green onions (scallions): We eat green onions on so many foods because they give you a subtle flavor that is terrific.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Keto Zucchini Fritters
Remove Excess Moisture from Zucchini: This is important because it helps the mixture hold together tightly and prevents the ingredients from falling apart.
- Grate the zucchini into a colander, toss with the sea salt and allow to drain 10 minutes. Or, use a cheese grater to shred the zucchini.
- Dump zucchini into a clean kitchen towel. Wrap towel around zucchini and gently squeeze over sink to remove excess water. You should be left with about 2 cups of zucchini "pulp". Discard the zucchini "water" you've squeezed out. Another way to do that: (1) place it in a cheesecloth or brand new dish cloth and squeeze it out or (2) place it in a fine strain colander over a bowl and let the liquid drip out for about 10 minutes. Push it down with a few paper towels to remove even more water.
- Salting the grated zucchini will help pull out the water. Squeezing the zucchini after allowing it to sit in the colander will remove any excess liquid that didn't drain out.
Combine All the Batter Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the zucchini "pulp", almond flour, parmesan cheese, green onions and eggs. Whisk to combine. Or Mix grated zucchini, eggs, parmesan cheese, coconut flour, parsley, and garlic powder together until well blended. Set batter aside.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
- Tip! If the fritter batter in your bowl ever starts to get watery, no problem! Use a paper towel to blot out any extra moisture.
Cook the Fritters: The flexibility of these zucchini fritters is amazing. I will give you options to pan fry, bake or even air fry.
- To Pan Fry: Heat about 1-2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil in large skillet or Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add in the avocado oil. Drop spoonfuls of zucchini fritter batter into hot oil. Use a large cookie scoop to scoop out the fritters and form into patties. (If you don't have a large cookie scoop, measure out 3 tablespoons for batter). Place in the avocado oil. Continue forming and adding more fritters, being careful not to overcrowd the skillet. I can fit at most 6 fritters in my skillet. Fry each side until browned, flattening with spatula as you go. When both sides are nicely browned, about 2-3 minutes per side, remove from pan and drain fritters on paper towels. Cook for about 5 minutes per side, until crispy, golden brown. Transfer the cooked fritters to a paper towel lined plate. Will make about 10-12 fritters.
- To Bake: Warm the oven to 400 degrees and prepare 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Add some cooking spray and spoon batter onto the sheet. Flatten with the back of a spoon and spray each fritter with cooking spray. Bake for 10 minutes, flip and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
- To Air Fry: Warm the air fryer to 375 degrees. Add the fritters to the fryer pan making sure they are in a single layer and not touching. Spray them with cooking spray and cook for 8 minutes. Turn and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes.
Tips and Tricks for the Best Zucchini Fritters
- Make them Crispy: To make these Keto zucchini fritters crispy, you need to fry them in a pan. Another way to make them crispy is to add a little less mixture and make them thinner.
- Remove the excess moisture: Salting the grated zucchini will help pull out the water. Squeezing the zucchini after allowing it to sit in the colander will remove any excess liquid that didn't drain out.
- Include an absorbent ingredient: Coconut flour is used in the fritter batter because it's very absorbent. That way, any additional water released from the vegetable during cooking will be absorbed. Psyllium flour, flax meal, or chia seeds would also work.
- Use a hot non-stick pan: The oil needs to be very hot to sear the outside of the patties so be sure to use one with a high smoke point. But it's also important to have a non-stick surface so those crispy outsides don't get stuck in the pan.
- Press the fritters as they cook: Adding pressure to the bottom of the patty as it cooks will ensure the surface gets a nice brown sear. With a silicone spatula, gently flatten the edges and make the fritters round.
- Drain on paper towels after frying: If the oil settles on the cooked fritters, they can get soggy.
- Carefully flip them on the other side, as they're still soft so they can break easily. Once the fritters are done and slightly chilled, they'll set nicely.
Serving Suggestions and Topping Ideas
Serve the low-carb patties as an appetizer or a side to complement your meal. They even make a tasty and filling breakfast! Jazz up these keto zucchini fritters with your sauce topping of choice!
- Serve the fritters warm, topped with your topping sauce of choice.
- I love them with a fresh chopped salad or with Salsa or Pico de Gallo.
- The spicy ranch dip is one of my favorite dips ever. Start by making the spicy ranch. Whisk all ingredients in a mixing jug and refrigerate until ready to serve. The flavors will meld together and it actually tastes better the next day, so you can make this one ahead.
- Top with your choice of yogurt, sour cream, tzatziki or any of your favorite dips.
- Enjoy with a little sour cream or ranch dressing!
- You can also dip them in low-carb veggie dip or sugar-free ketchup as an appetizer.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
- Meal Prep: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
- Freezing: Freeze in a freezer-safe airtight container for at least 6 months. If you can, thaw in the fridge overnight.
- To reheat: Warm in the oven at 350F for 10-15 minutes or until heated through. Either microwave until warm, about 2-4 minutes (I like to sprinkle in a little water to help it steam and prevent it from drying out), reheat in a 350ºF oven until warm, 10-15 minutes, or my favorite way is crisping up again in a cast iron skillet with more avocado oil.
Can I freeze keto zucchini fritters?
These fritters freeze perfectly! So make a double batch and freeze half for dinner or lunch another day. I have freezing and reheating instructions in the recipe notes and pro tips.
Can I bake these zucchini fritters in the oven?
Yes! You can bake them. I’d put them on a rimmed baking sheet, spray with avocado oil and bake at 425ºF for about 15 minutes. They won’t be as crispy, which is why I prefer the cast iron skillet.
Can I make zucchini fritters in the air fryer?
Yes! Follow all the prep instructions and then fry in the air fryer at 400ºF for about 10-15 minutes until crispy and golden brown!
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
How many carbs are in zucchini fritters?
Zucchini is a super low-carb vegetable! In this recipe, there are just 3 net carbs per serving! Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
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