Air-Fryer Fritters: Quick, Easy, And Healthy!

Fritters are essentially fried patties made from fruits or vegetables. Deep-frying them can be a hassle, so why not try making them in an air fryer? This handy kitchen gadget crisps up foods to perfection, giving them a classic fried texture and taste with hardly any oil.

Here's a simple recipe for zucchini fritters in an air fryer.

Ingredients:

- 2-3 medium/large zucchini

- 1 teaspoon salt

- 1 large egg

- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

- 1 teaspoon garlic powder

- 1 teaspoon onion powder

- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions:

1. Shred the zucchini using a grater or food processor.

2. Add salt to the grated zucchini and mix. Let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes, then drain out the water and excess liquid using a paper towel or clean kitchen towel.

3. Preheat your air fryer to 360-375 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare the air fryer basket with non-stick spray or parchment paper.

4. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the whisked egg, flour, and spices with the shredded zucchini. Mix well.

5. Use an ice cream scoop to scoop about 2 tablespoons of the zucchini fritter batter into the prepared air fryer basket. Make 5 fritters, leaving room between each one.

6. Spray the tops of each fritter with cooking spray for a crispier result.

7. Air fry the zucchini fritters for about 12 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.

8. Carefully remove and serve with your favourite dipping sauce.

Grating and squeezing the moisture out of the zucchini

Grating the zucchini is a key step in making zucchini fritters in an air fryer. The zucchini should be grated using the large holes on a box grater or a handheld cheese grater. You can also use a food processor if you have one. The zucchini should be coarsely grated for a better texture.

Once the zucchini is grated, it's important to remove as much moisture as possible. Place the grated zucchini in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Gently toss with your hands and let it sit for about 10 minutes. During this time, the salt will draw out the moisture from the zucchini. You can also add the garlic and onion to the zucchini at this step if you want to enhance their flavour.

After 10 minutes, it's time to squeeze out the excess water. Place the zucchini in a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth and squeeze over the sink to remove as much liquid as possible. Alternatively, you can use your hands to squeeze out the water. The zucchini should feel dry to the touch. This step is crucial as excess moisture will make the fritters soggy.

Once the zucchini is grated and dried, you can add the remaining ingredients and shape the mixture into patties. The zucchini is now ready to be cooked in the air fryer!

Combining the zucchini with eggs, flour, and seasoning

Step 1: Grate the zucchini

Using a box grater, handheld cheese grater, or food processor, grate the zucchini. The zucchini should be coarsely grated for a better texture. Transfer the grated zucchini to a colander or kitchen towel.

Step 2: Remove moisture from the zucchini

Sprinkle the grated zucchini with salt and gently toss with your hands. Leave the mixture to sit for 10 minutes. This step is important to ensure your fritters are crispy and not soggy. After 10 minutes, squeeze out as much excess water and moisture as possible from the zucchini using a strong paper towel, kitchen towel, or cheesecloth.

Step 3: Combine the zucchini with eggs, flour, and seasoning

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add the whisked egg, flour, and spices to the shredded zucchini. You can season generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and any other herbs or spices you prefer. Mix the ingredients well. The mixture should be thick but still moist and able to form into patties.

Step 4: Form the zucchini fritter batter into patties

Use an ice cream scoop or a 1/4 cup measuring scoop to portion out the zucchini fritter batter. Form the batter into patties, approximately 3 inches wide. You should be able to make 5-12 fritters, depending on the size of your air fryer basket.

Step 5: Optional chill and pre-fry preparation

At this stage, you can optionally place the uncooked patties in the freezer for 5-8 minutes to help them keep their shape. Additionally, preheating your air fryer for a few minutes before cooking can help achieve a crispier texture.

Forming the mixture into patties

Now that you've gathered and prepared your ingredients, it's time to form the mixture into patties.

For this step, you'll want to use a medium cookie scoop or an ice cream scoop to portion out the mixture into 2-tablespoon-sized fritters. This will ensure that your fritters are all roughly the same size, which will help them cook evenly in the air fryer.

Once you've scooped out the mixture, use your hands to gently form it into patties. They should be about 3 inches wide and about half an inch thick. If the mixture is too sticky, you can lightly wet your hands to prevent it from sticking to your fingers.

As you form the patties, place them on a plate or baking sheet. You should end up with around 8-12 fritters, depending on the size you make them.

If your mixture is too runny to form into patties, add a little more flour until it thickens. Conversely, if your mixture is too dry and crumbly, you can add a small amount of water or oil to help it hold together.

Once your patties are formed, it's a good idea to chill them in the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes before cooking. This will help them firm up and ensure they don't fall apart in the air fryer.

Cooking the fritters in the air fryer

Now that you've gathered your ingredients and prepared your fritter batter, it's time to cook the fritters in the air fryer. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Preheat the Air Fryer:

Start by preheating your air fryer. Most recipes recommend preheating to around 360-400°F (180-200°C). You can also preheat for a few minutes at a higher temperature, like 410°F, as seen in the apple fritter recipe. This initial blast of heat will help achieve that coveted crispy texture.

Prepare the Air Fryer Basket:

Generously coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper. This step ensures your fritters don't stick to the basket.

Form the Fritters:

Using a scoop or your hands, form the fritter batter into evenly sized patties. For zucchini fritters, aim for about 10-12 patties, while apple fritters will yield around 4-5 fritters. Leave some space between each fritter in the basket to avoid overcrowding.

Spray the Fritters:

Lightly spray the tops of the fritters with cooking spray or olive oil spray. This step will help create a crispy exterior. You can also spritz the fritters with cooking spray after flipping them during cooking.

Air Fry the Fritters:

Place the air fryer basket into the preheated air fryer and cook the fritters. For zucchini fritters, cook at 360-375°F (180-190°C) for about 12-14 minutes, flipping them halfway through. Apple fritters, on the other hand, cook at 410°F (210°C) for 5-6 minutes per side, for a total of 10-12 minutes.

Flip and Cook:

After the initial cooking time, carefully flip the fritters and continue cooking for the remaining time. For a crispier fritter, you can spray the tops again with cooking spray after flipping.

Serve and Enjoy:

Once the fritters are golden brown and crispy, remove them from the air fryer and serve immediately. These fritters pair well with various dipping sauces, such as sour cream, yogurt, herb dip, ranch dressing, or honey mustard sauce.

Remember, cooking times may vary depending on your air fryer brand and model, so keep an eye on your fritters to ensure they don't overcook. Enjoy your delicious, crispy fritters!

Serving with a dipping sauce

Fritters are a versatile dish that can be served as an appetizer, side dish, or even a snack. They are also a great way to use up leftover vegetables in your fridge. When it comes to serving fritters, a dipping sauce can elevate the dish and take it to the next level. Here are some ideas for serving fritters with a delicious dipping sauce:

Vegetable Fritters with Garlic Herb Sauce:

This sauce pairs perfectly with vegetable fritters, especially those made with broccoli, corn, carrots, and green onions. The sauce is simple yet flavourful, and the longer it sits, the more the flavours blend together. Here's what you'll need:

• Sour cream
• Dried parsley, oregano, basil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper

Zucchini Fritters with Asian Dipping Sauce:

Zucchini fritters are a tasty variation, and when paired with an Asian-inspired dipping sauce, they become something special. This sauce is sweet and salty with a hint of spice. Here's what you'll need:

• Rice wine vinegar
• Soy sauce
• Sugar
• Red pepper flakes

Apple Fritters with Browned Butter Glaze:

Apple fritters are a delicious treat, and the browned butter glaze adds a nutty, rich flavour. The glaze is simple to make and can be adjusted for thickness. Here's what you'll need:

• Butter
• Confectioners' sugar
• Milk
• Vanilla extract

Fritters with a Variety of Dipping Sauces:

Fritters are versatile, and you can get creative with the dipping sauces. Here are some additional sauce ideas to try:

• Sour cream with lemon and nutmeg
• Tzatziki sauce
• Ranch dressing
• Honey mustard sauce
• French onion dip
• Guacamole
• Apricot Dijon sauce
• Creamy pineapple-lime sauce
• Cheddar cheese sauce
• Sweet and creamy Asian sauce

So, the next time you make fritters in your air fryer, don't forget to whip up a delicious dipping sauce to take your fritters to the next level!

Frequently asked questions