Air-Fried Zucchini Fritters: Quick, Easy, And Healthy!

Air fryer zucchini fritters are a tasty, healthy snack that can be served as a side dish or a main course. They are crispy on the outside and soft and warm on the inside, and can be served with a variety of dips such as sour cream, ranch, aioli, tzatziki, hot sauce, or remoulade. This recipe is a great way to get your kids to eat their veggies without any resistance!

How to prepare the zucchini

Preparing the zucchini is a crucial step in making zucchini fritters in an air fryer. Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to prepare the zucchini for this delicious and healthy dish:

Step 1: Shredding the Zucchini

Start by washing and drying the zucchini. You will need about 1-2 medium-sized zucchini, depending on the recipe you follow. Using a box grater or a food processor, shred the zucchini into a large mixing bowl. You can shred it using the large holes of the box grater for a coarser texture. Alternatively, you can use the grater attachment in your food processor for a quicker and more uniform shred.

Step 2: Removing Excess Moisture

Zucchini naturally contains a lot of water, and this excess moisture can lead to soggy fritters. To prevent this, it is essential to remove as much water as possible from the shredded zucchini. Place the shredded zucchini in a colander or strainer over the sink. Add a generous amount of salt and toss it with the zucchini. Let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes. The salt will help draw out the moisture from the zucchini.

Step 3: Squeezing Out the Liquid

After the zucchini has rested and released some of its water, it's time to get rid of that excess liquid. Using a clean kitchen towel, cheesecloth, or paper towels, squeeze the zucchini over the sink to remove as much liquid as possible. You can also use a tea towel or a large spoon to press the zucchini against a sieve and wring out the water. This step is crucial, so don't be afraid to really squeeze out as much liquid as you can!

Step 4: Combining with Other Ingredients

In a separate large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients, such as the flour, baking powder, garlic powder or Italian seasoning, and any spices or herbs you wish to add. You can also add grated Parmesan cheese or another type of cheese to enhance the flavor. Once the dry ingredients are mixed, add the shredded and dried zucchini to the bowl.

Step 5: Mixing the Batter

Now, it's time to mix everything together! Add an egg or two to the bowl, depending on the recipe, and mix all the ingredients until you have a batter-like consistency. You can use a spoon or a spatula to combine everything thoroughly. At this point, you can also add in any other vegetables or ingredients, such as corn or chopped bell peppers, if you wish to include them in your fritters.

Step 6: Forming the Zucchini Cakes

Once your batter is ready, it's time to form the zucchini cakes or patties. Use your hands or a spoon to shape the batter into evenly sized cakes, similar to small burgers. You can make them slightly flatter if you prefer crispier fritters. This recipe should yield around 8-12 patties, depending on their size.

Tips for Preparing Zucchini:

• If you're short on time, you can use a French press to quickly remove the water from the zucchini.
• Be generous with the salt when drawing out the moisture, as it helps release more water.
• Always remove as much moisture as possible from the zucchini to ensure crispier fritters.
• You can use a variety of cheeses, such as Parmesan, cheddar, or mozzarella, according to your preference.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket when cooking the fritters to ensure even cooking.

How to make the batter

To make the batter for zucchini fritters in an air fryer, start by preparing the zucchini. Wash and trim the ends of the zucchini, then grate it using a box grater or a food processor. You can also shred the zucchini with a grater, catching the pieces in a strainer placed over a towel.

Next, you'll want to remove the excess moisture from the zucchini. Place the grated zucchini in a colander or strainer over the sink and toss it with salt. Let it sit for about 10 minutes. After that, squeeze out as much liquid as possible from the zucchini using your hands, a clean kitchen towel, cheesecloth, or paper towels. This step is crucial to ensuring your fritters don't turn out soggy.

Now, it's time to make the batter! In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, garlic powder or Italian seasoning, and any other spices or seasonings you'd like to add (salt, pepper, paprika, etc.). You can also add shredded or grated cheese, such as Parmesan, cheddar, or gouda, for extra flavor.

In a separate bowl, beat one or two eggs, depending on the recipe. Add the eggs to the dry ingredients and mix well. You can also add finely chopped herbs like chives, parsley, basil, or oregano to the mixture for extra flavor.

Finally, add the zucchini to the bowl and mix everything together until you have a batter with a thick, sticky consistency. If the batter seems too runny, add a little more flour.

Your zucchini fritter batter is now ready to be formed into patties and cooked in your air fryer!

How to shape the fritters

Shaping the zucchini mixture into fritters is a crucial step in ensuring they hold together during cooking and achieve the desired crispy texture. Here's a detailed guide on how to shape the zucchini fritters for air frying:

• Make Sure the Mixture is Dry Enough: Before shaping the fritters, ensure that your zucchini mixture is not too wet. This is important because excess moisture can lead to soggy fritters that fall apart easily. Follow the previous steps of squeezing out the liquid from the shredded zucchini and combining it with the dry ingredients. If the mixture still feels too wet, you can add a little more flour to absorb the moisture.
• Divide the Mixture: Once you have a batter with a suitable consistency, it's time to divide it into portions. Use a spoon or spatula to divide the mixture into equal portions. The number of portions will depend on the size of your fritters. For smaller fritters, you may make around 10-12 portions, while for larger ones, you may end up with 8 portions.
• Shape into Patties: Using your hands, shape each portion of the mixture into a patty or cake. Aim for uniform size and thickness to ensure even cooking. You can gently press down on the patties to flatten them slightly, which will help create a crispier texture.
• Chill the Patties (Optional): If your mixture feels a bit too soft or difficult to handle, you can place the shaped patties in the freezer for about 5-10 minutes. This step will help them firm up and hold their shape better during cooking.
• Consistency is Key: For the best results, aim for consistency in shaping your fritters. Make sure they are all roughly the same size and thickness. This will ensure that they cook evenly in the air fryer and give you a consistent texture and doneness across all the fritters.
• Don't Overcrowd the Air Fryer: When placing the shaped fritters into the air fryer basket, make sure they are not overcrowded. Leave some space between each fritter to allow for proper air circulation. You may need to cook the fritters in batches to avoid overcrowding.

How to cook the fritters

Ingredients

To make zucchini fritters in an air fryer, you will need the following ingredients:

• Zucchini
• Egg
• Flour (all-purpose, almond, or gluten-free)
• Parmesan cheese (optional)
• Baking powder
• Spices and seasonings (salt, black pepper, paprika, dried parsley, basil, oregano, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, etc.)
• Oil or cooking spray

Instructions

• Shred the zucchini using a box grater or a food processor.
• Place the shredded zucchini in a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. This step is crucial to ensure the fritters are not soggy.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the zucchini with the remaining ingredients: egg, flour, cheese, baking powder, and spices. Mix until well combined.
• Form the mixture into evenly sized patties. The batter should be firm enough to hold its shape. If it's too soft, add more flour or chill the patties in the freezer for 5-10 minutes before cooking.
• Preheat your air fryer to 350-375°F (175-190°C). Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil to prevent sticking.
• Place the zucchini patties in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they don't touch each other.
• Air fry the fritters for 5-6 minutes, then flip them over using tongs and air fry for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy.
• Serve immediately. Zucchini fritters are best enjoyed fresh and hot.

Tips for Success

• Always preheat your air fryer before adding the fritters.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook the fritters in batches if needed.
• Flip the fritters halfway through the cooking process to ensure even browning.
• Check for doneness towards the end of the cooking time to prevent burning.
• For extra crunch, try pressing a layer of breadcrumbs onto the fritters before frying.

How to serve the fritters

There are many ways to serve zucchini fritters, and they can be served as a snack, side dish, or main course. Here are some ideas:

As a Snack or Appetizer:

• Serve the fritters with a dipping sauce such as tzatziki, marinara sauce, aioli, yogurt-based dip with lemon juice and herbs, or hot sauce.
• For a fancier take on sour cream, combine it with some minced garlic and lemon juice.
• Try other sauces like soy ginger sauce, blue cheese, or apricot Dijon dipping sauce.

As a Side Dish:

Serve the fritters with a simpler protein dish such as grilled chicken legs or pork chops.

As a Main Course:

• Serve the fritters with rice or mashed potatoes and a fresh green salad.
• Pair them with a juicy pork chop or chicken breast recipe.
• For a Southwest spin, serve them with Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Soup—the soup's Tex-Mex flavors work perfectly with zucchini and corn.

Frequently asked questions