Healthy, easy to make and absolutely delicious, these gluten free zucchini fritters make the perfect summer lunch! The addition of lemon zest and plenty of herbs make them wonderfully aromatic, and they can be made in less than half an hour. (With a dairy free option!)
What better lunch is there, on a balmy summer’s day, than zucchini fritters? Okay, sure, you have to stand in front of the stove for a while, which is a pain given the heat wave we’re having… but every delicious zucchini-packed mouthful makes it so totally worth it.
Here’s why these zucchini fritters should become your go-to lunch (or dinner) this summer. They are:
- Healthy: zucchini contain surprisingly high amounts of Vitamin C and potassium, plus: it’s veggies.
- Gluten free: and it’s as easy as substituting wheat flour for a gluten free flour blend.
- Delicious: provided you love zucchini… obviously. But if you do – you’ll LOVE these!
- Packed full of herbs that give them the most AMAZING flavour, and there’s a pinch of lemon zest for freshness.
- Easy to make, and I do mean that this recipe is fail- (and fool-) proof!
It all starts with a whole lot of grated zucchini. Now, did you know that zucchini are over 95% basically just… water? That means that if we want nice, fluffy zucchini fritters (rather than misshaped soggy blobs), we need to squeeze as much moisture out of those bad boys as possible.
I find it easiest to put the grated zucchini in a sieve above a bowl, and either let it sit for a while (if you’re feeling lazy and aren’t in a rush), or to press down on it with a spatula to force the liquid out.
Okay, in the mean time: let’t talk herbs. Zucchini are great in that they go well with most herbs you can think of. I went with tried and tested thyme in this case, but mint, oregano, sage and rosemary would work just as well.
Just chop them up, and on we go.
In addition to herbs, we’ll add lemon zest (for that extra zing), eggs and a small heap of grated parmesan cheese to the grated zucchini. Now, if you want to make these dairy free, just leave out the parmesan. No biggie. They’ll still be just as delicious… although I really do love the cheesy undertones that it adds to the fritters.
And before we forget, let’s add a pinch of grated nutmeg (because we all know that nutmeg + zucchini = BFFs), salt and pepper.
Then, in we go with the gluten free flour, a bit of baking powder and xanthan gum. Mix it up!
Frying these lovelies is easy: in a bit of olive, coconut or vegetable oil, a few minutes on each side until nice and golden brown and all soooo beautiful. I mean, seriously, just LOOK at them!!
I like to serve them with a good dollop of yoghurt (greek yoghurt, or a soy alternative with a squeeze of lemon juice work wonderfully!), some chopped parsley and a crisp salad on the side. But, let’s be honest, they are just as good on their own.
So there you have it, guys! Wonderfully aromatic gluten free zucchini fritters that are easy to make and even easier to eat. Give them a try, and I bet they’ll be your go-to summer lunch in no time.
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Zucchini Fritters (Gluten Free, Dairy Free Option)
Ingredients
- 2 large or 3 medium zucchini (~750 g)
- 1 1/2 oz (40 g) parmesan cheese, grated (leave out for dairy free option)
- 5 - 10 sprigs thyme, leaves only and chopped (or ~ 1 - 2 tsp dried thyme)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- pinch of pepper
- pinch of grated nutmeg
- zest of 1 lemon
- 2 eggs
- 1 - 1 1/4 cup (120 - 150 g) plain gluten free flour blend (I've used a simple store-bought blend of rice, potato and maize flour with no added xanthan gum)
- 1/4 tsp xanthan gum
- 1 tsp baking powder
- olive, coconut or vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Coarsely grate the zucchini, then place it in a sieve above a bowl and allow some of the excess liquid to drain away. To speed up this process, press onto the grated zucchini with a spoon or spatula. You should get ~1 cup of drained water/liquid.
- Add the parmesan cheese, thyme, salt, pepper, nutmeg, lemon zest and eggs. Mix well.
- Add the gluten free flour, xanthan gum and baking powder. Mix well until no flour clumps remain. If the mixture is too liquidy, add more gluten free flour (1 tbsp at a time).
- Heat up a large non-stick skillet/pan until very hot, then add 1 - 2 tbsp of oil of choice. Scoop 1/4 - 1/2 cup of the zucchini fritter mixture and cook until the underside is deep golden brown, about 2 minutes. Flip and cook on the other side for a further 2 minutes.
- Serve immediately, with a dollop of yoghurt (greek yoghurt, or a soy alternative with a squeeze of lemon juice work wonderfully!), a sprinkling of chopped parsley, or a side of salad. Enjoy!
Looking for more delicious lunch recipes? I’ve got you covered!
10-Minute Gluten Free Veggie Wrap
15-Minute Sweet Potato & Arugula Salad
I had to leave out the cheese – but it still tastes great. I love the lemon zest too
I just made these for a family lunch and they were a big hit, thank you for this delicious recipe. I also added a pinch of chili powder, a handful of mozzarella cheese (as I didn’t have enough parmesan), and 1/4 cup of ground almonds (so I only used 1 cup of plain gluten free flour). I will definitely make these again and have shared the recipe with family 🙂
I can’t wait until my zucchini are ready. I want to make these