Zucchini Fritters – Air Fryer
Air fryer zucchini fritters are a great way to help you use up some of that excess zucchini in your garden. They are incredibly tasty and so easy.
They are perfect as an appetizer for a summer BBQ or a vegetarian side dish for dinner. With only a handful of ingredients, they are also economical. The air fryer makes them crispy on the outside and soft and pillowy on the inside.
This is a great use for larger zucchini that are too big for eating fresh.
What you Need
- Baking Mix: Use Bisquick or your favorite baking mix- or substitute flour and baking powder for the baking mix.
- Zucchini: Fresh or frozen, thawed and well-drained zucchini.
- Eggs: Eggs will be the only liquid used in these fritters since there is so much water in the zuccchini.
- Chives or Green Onions: Just give them a bit of mild onion flavor.
- Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper is the best to use.
- Salt: The zucchini is pretty bland so additional salt is required to boost the flavor.
- Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated parmesan cheese is the best.
Optional Variations
- Substitute any other cheese on hand for the Parmesan. Cheddar cheese, gouda, feta, and even Swiss are delicious in these fritters.
- Add additional spices or herbs such as onion powder, garlic powder, basil, oregano, dill, parsley, cumin, or chili powder for a kick.
How to Make Them
Step One:
Wash and dry the zucchini.
If you are using a large zucchini, cut it in half lengthwise. Scoop out the large seeds with a spoon.
Cut it into long strips lengthwise so that they fit into the food processor’s shoot, if using one.
Small zucchini can be grated with the small seeds in them.
Step Two:
Grate the zucchini with either a food processor or with a box grater.
Salt the zucchini and place it in a colander in the sink to drain for about one hour.
Step Three:
Add the zucchini to a cheesecloth bag or a clean kitchen towel, one cup at a time. Wring as much water out of the zucchini as you can. This is an important step. If there is too much water left in the zucchini, the dough will be too wet and the insides will be soggy.
It’s easier to get all of the water out if you don’t try to drain the zucchini all at once.
Step Four:
Chop any herbs.
Step Five:
Add all of the ingredients to a large mixing bowl. Mix well.
The batter should be on the dry side.
Form the patties. Use an ice cream scoop to make them all a similar size. Lightly pat the patty down to make it flatter.
If the mixture seems a bit wet, place them on a rimmed baking sheet and freeze them for ten minutes. This will help them hold their shape.
Step Six:
Spray the basket with non-stick spray, if the manufacturer recommends it. (Some manufacturers don’t recommend it.) Also, spray both sides of the fritter.
Preheat the air fryer at 375°F for at least five minutes.
Step Seven
Arrange the fritter on the air fryer basket without crowding them.
Air fry for 7-10 minutes.
Flip when they are browned. Continue to air fry for another 7-10 minutes.
Place them on a rimmed baking sheet, to bake them in the oven at 400°F for about 20 minutes. Then flip them and continue to cook until the other side is browned. Spray them with non-stick spray before baking.
To fry them in a skillet, add 2 tablespoons of oil to a cast iron or non-stick frying pan. Place the patties in the pan, leaving enough room between them to turn them with a pancake turner.
How to Serve the Fritters
Serve these yummy fritters with sour cream, French onion dip, comeback sauce, tzatziki sauce, Greek yogurt, spicy chipotle aioli, or ranch dressing. They are great for appetizers and pair well with chicken and pork.
What to do With Leftovers
While these fritters are best when they are fresh and hot, they can be reheated. Store them covered in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
They can also be frozen, which is the best way to store them. Place them in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Freeze for a few hours and then add them to a freezer bag. Freeze them for up to 4 months for the best flavor.
The air fryer or the oven are good places to reheat them. The air fryer will get them back to crispy again. They can also be warmed in the microwave but they will be soggy and not crisp.
Fritters are the ultimate comfort food. If you’re a fritter fan, try these delicious potato fritters. They make a delightful side dish or appetizer for most occasions.
More Zucchini Dishes
These zucchini fritters are an excellent use for excess zucchini. Make a big batch and freeze them for later.
Zucchini Fritters
Ingredients
- 2 pounds zucchini about 4 cups grated
- 1 tablespoon Salt
- 1 cup Bisquick, or your favorite baking mix
- 2 eggs
- sliced chives or scallions
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh ground black pepper to taste
- no-stick spray
Instructions
- Grate the zucchini with a food processor fitted with the grating attachment or by hand with a box grater. Salt the zucchini. Let it sit for about one hour in a colander in the sink.2 pounds zucchini, 1 tablespoon Salt
- Add the grated zucchini to a cheesecloth bag or a fine-mesh strainer, one cup at a time, and squeeze out as much water as you can. Get it as dry as possible or the fritters will fall apart.
- Mix the Bisquick, eggs, Parmesan, and pepper together. Add the zucchini and mix it in. Ingredient quantities are in the notes section below for using flour and baking powder.1 cup Bisquick, or your favorite baking mix, 2 eggs, ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, Fresh ground black pepper to taste
- Form the fritters. Scoop the dough out with an ice cream scoop so that the fritters are a uniform size and will cook the same. Place the fritters on a rimmed baking sheet. Place the sheet in the freezer.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F for 10 minutes. Once the air fryer is preheated, remove the fritters from the freezer and spray one side with non-stick spray. Place them in the air fryer basket with room in between the fritters so they don't touch. Air fry for 7-10 minutes until they are golden brown. Spray the top side with non-stick spray and flip them. Continue to fry 7-10 minutes.
- Serve them hot with a dipping sauce.
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