Zucchini Fritters (best crispy zucchini fritters with feta & dill)

This is my absolute favorite recipe for zucchini fritters—crispy on the outside, soft in the middle, and perfectly seasoned. The addition of feta cheese, dill, garlic, and lemon zest to the batter makes these fritters truly irresistible.

Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make this easy recipe:

Instead of zucchini, you can also use yellow squash.

Instead of dill, you can use fresh basil or parsley.

How to make it step-by-step

STEP 1: Grate the zucchini using the large holes of a box grater. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of salt and set aside for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the remaining ingredients.

(1 1/2 lbs (675g) zucchini, 2 medium)

STEP 2: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, chopped dill, minced garlic, basil, flour, lemon zest, and baking powder (all the ingredients except zucchini and feta).

(2 large eggs, 2 tablespoons chopped dill, 3 cloves garlic, pressed/minced, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1/2 cup (60g) flour, spooned and leveled not scooped!, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, zest grated from 1 lemon)

STEP 3+4: Place the zucchini in a kitchen towel or cheesecloth and wring out the water thoroughly (this step is crucial for crispy fritters). Discard the liquid.

STEP 5: Add the zucchini and feta cheese to the bowl, and season to taste with salt and pepper.

(2/3 cup (80g) crumbled feta cheese)

STEP 6: Stir with a spatula or spoon until well combined. Cook immediately!

STEP 7: Heat clarified butter or oil in a non-stick pan over medium-high heat (the more butter or oil, the more delicious and crispy the fritters will be). The best for cooking zucchini fritters is a cast iron pan.

Scoop about 1 heaped tablespoon of batter for each fritter. Don’t worry about shaping them into perfect rounds; uneven edges will make them super crispy. Avoid smoothing the surface as well; the uneven texture will contribute to a crispy result.

STEP 8: Cook until golden brown on one side, then flip and cook until golden brown and crispy on the other side.

Transfer the fritters to a wire rack or a plate and repeat with the remaining batter.

Enjoy!

Top tips for the best zucchini fritters

• Wring out the water very thoroughly, as best as you can, to ensure wonderfully crispy fritters. This will also prevent the fritters from becoming soggy.
• Don’t skimp on flour; it won’t make the fritters tough but rather crispier. In the past, I tried to add as little flour as possible to my fritters, but now I add more, knowing it contributes to their crispiness. The zucchini has plenty of moisture on its own, even if you squeeze it thoroughly.
• Unfortunately, the more oil you use to cook the fritters, the crispier they will be. The best option for frying fritters is clarified butter, a type of butter suitable for frying that doesn’t burn quickly. You can easily make homemade clarified butter (with just one ingredient: butter) or buy it at the store.
• Cook the fritters over medium-high heat if you have a powerful stove or medium heat if you have a regular stove. You want them to get nicely crispy and browned on the outside, but they should also be cooked through and soft in the center.
• Cook the fritters immediately after preparing the batter. Adding salt to the batter will release even more moisture from the zucchini.
• If your zucchini fritters are falling apart, it likely means they aren’t ready to be flipped. Cook them a little longer before turning them over. You may also need to reduce the heat on your stove. Another possible reason could be that you haven’t wrung out the zucchini well enough.
• Don’t overcrowd the fritters in the pan, as this will cause the oil temperature to drop too much, resulting in soggy fritters.
• Storage: These zucchini fritters store very well. Keep them in the fridge for up to three days, and reheat them in a dry non-stick pan. They will still be very good and crispy (though slightly less so).

More delicious zucchini recipes for you to try

Baked Parmesan Zucchini	Zucchini Corn Fritters	Mexican Zucchini Boats
Zucchini Fries	Sweet Potato Zucchini Fritters	Zucchini Quesadilla

What to serve with zucchini fritters

• sunny-side-up eggs or poached eggs
• baked salmon
• sour cream, plain yogurt, or any other yogurt dip (such as plain yogurt mixed with herbs, lemon juice, and fresh garlic)
• avocado sauce
• tzatziki sauce