Description
Chickpea Zucchini Fritters are a delicious and easy Mediterranean-inspired dish featuring grated zucchini, protein-packed chickpeas, and tangy feta cheese. These golden fritters are pan-fried to perfection, offering a perfect balance of crispy exterior and tender interior, ideal as a snack, appetizer, or light meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound zucchini (grated – about 2 medium)
- 1 can chickpeas (15 oz / 400 g can – rinsed and drained well)
- 1 large egg (or 2 eggs if small)
- 1 small red onion (thinly sliced)
- 1 clove garlic (grated)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano (or dried dill)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (up to ¾ cup if batter is wet)
- ½ cup crumbled feta (or grated parmesan)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin)
Instructions
- Grate and Salt the Zucchini: Grate 1 pound of zucchini using the large side of a grater. Place the grated zucchini in a bowl or colander, sprinkle with two pinches of salt, and let it sit for 10 minutes to allow excess water to release.
- Squeeze Very Dry: After resting, thoroughly squeeze the zucchini using your hands or a clean kitchen towel to remove as much liquid as possible. This step is essential to avoid soggy fritters.
- Mix the Batter: In a large bowl, mash the drained chickpeas with a fork, leaving some chunks for texture. Add one large egg, then mix in the squeezed zucchini, thinly sliced red onion, grated garlic, dried oregano, flour, crumbled feta, baking powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together until you form a thick batter.
- Cook Until Golden: Heat two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Scoop portions of the batter into the pan and gently flatten them into fritters. Cook each side for 4 to 6 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- Serve Warm: Transfer the cooked fritters onto a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil. Serve warm, ideally with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, yogurt dip, tzatziki, or a simple Greek bean salad.
Notes
- Be sure to squeeze the zucchini dry to prevent the batter from becoming too wet and soggy.
- Adjust the amount of flour as needed depending on the moisture content of the zucchini.
- You can substitute feta with grated parmesan if preferred.
- Serve with lemon juice or a cooling dip like tzatziki for authentic Mediterranean flavors.
- These fritters can be reheated in a pan or oven for best texture retention.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: chickpea fritters, zucchini fritters, Mediterranean recipe, vegetarian fritters, easy snack, healthy appetizer
