Healthy Zucchini Fritters - Vegan & Gluten Free Recipe

Crispy, savory, vegan and gluten free Zucchini Fritters recipe that takes less than 15 minutes to make. Pan Frying makes them healthy and low in calories. These fritters can be served as quick and easy evening snack, appetizer or finger food for the little ones. Zucchini fritters are an excellent way to add super nutritious zucchini into your family diets. Sometimes, I make these just for myself as light lunch when I am not in mood to cook. 

Can Pakodas be healthy?

When you hear fritters or pakoda, the first thing that rings in the mind is some kind of deep fried snack. Did you know that fritters or pakodas can be healthy too? So today, I am sharing my way of making zucchini fritters without deep frying.

These zucchini fritters have been my family favorite for quick hot snack with a hot cup of tea or coffee. Though zucchini is a summer vegetable, you can spot them all year round in the grocery stores. So you can also enjoy them on cold evenings when looking for something warm to munch on.

Is Zucchini healthy?

Do not under estimate the power of Fresh Zucchini! Zucchini is very rich in Vitamin A, Manganese, Vitamin C, Potassium, Magnesium and anti-oxidants. Some articles also mention that cooking zucchini further increases the amount of vitamin A in it. Zucchini is very rich in water and fiber, which helps tremendously in reducing constipation and symptoms of various gut disorders.

Lastly, did you know that we should never peel Zucchini’s skin? Zucchini peel contains the highest levels of anti-oxidants. Zucchini Recipes.

Popular Zucchini Recipes

I am always lookout for good recipes that use healthy ingredients. Zucchini is an important vegetable for people on plant based diet. Fresh zucchini recipes are common on internet as it can be cooked in many different ways. Sautéed zucchini, zucchini boats, zucchini chips, zucchini fries and zucchini pasta are some examples. I particularly love this zucchini fritters recipe due to its ease of making and health benefits.

What’s in Vegan Zucchini fritters?

These zucchini fritters are 100 % vegan. Most zucchini recipes available online have eggs or cheese as one of the ingredients. For example, zucchini bread usually has eggs. Baked zucchini recipes are usually loaded with cheese and stuffed zucchinis use non-vegan fillings. There are very few vegan recipes that use zucchini as a main ingredient.

Only a handful of ingredients are needed for this recipe. Mainly zucchini, chickpea flour, rice flour and some spices. Most of these ingredients can be easily found in most household pantries.

Best Zucchini Fritters

I get so excited that it is hard for me to resist eating them, as soon as out of the pan. Tasting can easily turn into a meal. You know what I mean, so be careful. Ha Ha Ha!

For batter, simply mix all ingredients, other than zucchini in a bowl to mix. Simply slice the zucchini into thin slices and Dip one slice at a time into the batter. Let the laced zucchini slice sizzle on low heat till they are crisp and well done. Pan-frying ensures that zucchini fritters are cooked fully without making it mushy.

Important Recipe Tips for Zucchini Fritters

There are few important pointers to make best zucchini fritters while following this recipe.

• Zucchini should not be sliced too thin or to thick. Around ⅛th inch thick slices would be perfect.

• Second tip is related to batter. I add my secret ingredient, rice flour, in the batter to make batter layer crisper. Rice flour brings out the right crispiness in the fritters, when add in the right proportion. I add ¼ cup of rice flour to every cup of chickpea flour aka besan. 
• It is important to ensure that the batter has the right consistency. Consistency of batter can be check by dipping a spoon in the batter and checking the back side of spoon. Neither should batter create a thick coat on the back, nor should it be too thin to see the spoon itself.

• Lastly, the pan or griddle you use plays a crucial role. See the next section below for tips on selecting the pan.

Right Pan for Pan-frying Snacks - Mealthy Non-stick Pan

The pan used for making pan-fried fritters should have thick bottom to ensure consistent frying heat for all fritters. Fritters should be cooked at low heat for longer duration to get the right crispiness. This also gives heat time to penetrate inside the fritters to cook well. I mostly use a cast iron griddle to pan-fry the fritters. Recently, Mealthy sent me their non-stick pan to try out. Since then, I am hooked to the Mealthy Non-stick Pan.

I am always on a look out for one good non Teflon, non toxic non stick pan because there are some yummy delicacies which can only be done right and best on Nonstick pan. Mealthy non stick pan is PFOA-free, is pressed together with a stainless layer and then laser etched to get the honeycomb pattern .

This greatly reduce the amount of oil needed for pan-frying. In fact, I only needed oil to add some shine to the fritters. The multi-layer technology used in this pan to ensure uniform heat distribution is impressive.

 This Mealthy NonStick pan is dishwasher safe. Compatible with ceramic, gas, induction burners as well as oven safe and comes with 15-year warranty. If you are looking for new pan in the market, I would recommend considering this one well.

Ingredients for Zucchini Fritters

Produce:

• Zucchini -3 Large thinly sliced
• Cilantro – 2Tbs Chopped
• Lemon Juice – 1 Tbs
• Chickpea Flour or Besan -1 Cup
• Rice Flour - ¼ Cup any kind
• Water - 1 Cup to make batter
• Oil of your choice – 2 Tbs + 1 tbs (divided)

Seasoning:

• Turmeric Powder - ¼ teaspoon
• Cayenne / Red Chili Powder-¼ Tsp
• Cumin Seeds – 1 tsp
• Garam Masala -¼ tsp
• Salt – ½ teaspoon or adjust as per taste

Instructions for Zucchini Fritters

Make the Batter:

1. Take a large bowl. Put chickpea flour and rice flour  in it per the quantities mentioned above.
2. Add the spices - cumin seeds, turmeric, cayenne powder, garam masala, salt and lemon juice.
3. Now add 1 tbs oil and wisk all contents in the bowl.
4. Now add water and  wisk all contents in the bowl some more to form a smooth batter.
5. Add cilantro and whisk again. Final batter will be slightly thin.  
6. Pre-heat the frying pan or griddle at low heat.
7. Pre-heat the pan at low heat setting. Oil it using basting brush.
8. Once the pan is ready, start placing the batter dipped zucchini, one by one, on the pan / griddle.
9. Keep the heat low and cover the pan/griddle with lid let for approximately 2 minutes.
10. Flip the zucchini fritters to the other side once little brown from bottom and let them get crisp from other side.
11. Nice golden brown color means fritters are cooked. Transfer the pan fried fritters to a mesh. Keeping them out of excess steam prevents them from getting soggy.
12. Pan Fry all the zucchini fritters similarly and take them out on mesh surface similar to cooling rack.
13. Serve with your choice of dip. 

We enjoyed the fritters with  Cilantro Green Chutney and cranberry chutney.

Mint Cilantro Chutney and Cranberry Chutney go well with Zucchini Fritters.