Zucchini Fritters with avocado yoghurt sauce - a quick and easy lunch or snack that's gluten-free and perfect food for little kids.
When I was pretty heavily pregnant with our second we had a week or so where there wasn't an awful lot of cooking going on.
Our big boy (who was 17 months at the time) was pretty sick and it was all we could manage to either defrost something for our dinner or just make toast.
I had vegemite toast for dinner three nights in one week! - one time not even toasted.
FYI they don't give pregnant mummas food in Emergency, luckily I thought to throw in the loaf of bread that was on the bench and some Vegemite.
Having a sick baby in hospital is nothing at all like a holiday but for some reason, I had that same feeling when I got home of wanting to get into the kitchen (after I slept for a few days).
I happened to make these before we all went downhill though.
Some weeks I'm totally organised, meal plan, know what I want in our fruit and vege box - other weeks I am all over the shop and end up ordering three of the same thing.
There may have been an oversupply of zucchinis one week. They were nearly out of season here so I guess I could have just said I was making the most of them while they were still around.
Zucchini fritters are nothing new. They’ve been around for ages but for some reason I’d never tried them.
I will admit that the extra step of draining grated zucchini often puts me off zucchini recipes (yes I’m lazy like that) but since I’ve discovered popping it in a tea-towel and wringing it out, I’m way more tolerant of the extra work.
I’m also always on the hunt for quick, easy and healthy lunch recipes for me and the kids and something that can be frozen is even more of a winner which these are.
This version is gluten-free but you could easily use regular or wholemeal flour if that’s all you have.
I'm aware they really look like zucchini pikelets more than fritters. I think the more finely you grate the zucchini the more pikelet-like they become.
Serving
They’re actually quite delicious on their own but for a real flavour boost I urge you to try my yoghurt and avo dressing.
I know, yoghurt and avocado sounds like a pretty weird combination but with a few drops of lemon juice it makes such a creamy, rich topping that goes perfectly with the zucchini fritters.
They’d also be pretty yummy with a spread of cream cheese.
I will admit that my little guy took one look at them and put the plate up on the table and pushed it away (better than throwing them at me I guess).
I'm really hoping baby number three is more adventurous in his or her eating.
My sister who was visiting at the time told him she’s be thrilled if someone served her the same thing for lunch but that didn’t convince him.
Recipe
Zucchini fritters (with avocado yoghurt sauce)
Ingredients
- 1 large zucchini or 2 small grated and drained
- 1 clove of garlic minced
- ¼ cup fresh basil chopped
- ¼ cup fresh oregano or 1 tablespoon dried
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 free-range eggs
- ¼ cup gluten free flour I used quinoa flour
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper or to taste
- 2 tbps coconut oil
Dip Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon avocado
- 1 tablespoon natural yoghurt
- A little bit of lemon juice to taste
Instructions
- Combine the zucchini, garlic, basil, oregano, lemon, eggs, flour, onion powder, salt and pepper in a medium sized bowl.
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan and cook the batter, 1 tablespoon per fritter for a few minutes on each side.
- Transfer cooked fritters to a plate then repeat with the remaining batter.
Chris Scheuer says
Oh Claire, I'm so sorry Ollie ended up in the hospital. Wow, what a scare that was. I can't believe you've even had the time to cook but these zucchini cakes sound wonderful.
Claire says
It was a bit of a scare as you experienced too your poor things!
Hotly Spiced says
What a terrible time you had with Ollie and I'm surprised you were able to make yourself some toast - I would have been dialling up the takeaway. When my little guy was 8 days old he had to be admitted to hospital. We were in there for a week and I wasn't given a thing to eat or drink. On leaving, I complained and apparently it was an over-sight but how I could have been there for a week with no one thinking I might need some nourishment still shocks me. We have a brand new hospital near where I live and there's a food court! Yes, you have to pay for what you want but at least you won't starve! xx
Claire says
Would you believe it never actually occurred to me to call for takeaway. I don't think I could have eaten more than toast. Well that sounds like a decent solution for hospital food.
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
Hey nothing wrong at all with zucchini pikelets! I'm a big pikelet fan :D
Claire says
Haha good!
Christie says
Put jam on top. Tricks them every time :)
Claire says
I'll have to try that Christie! I gave him some for lunch today and they were rejected again.