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Imagine if you will that a katleta (meat patty) married a zucchini fritter and they had babies = Chicken Zucchini Fritters. I’m not sure why I hadn’t thought of this sooner. They are healthier than regular kotlety; being half meat and half veggie and they are super juicy and flavorful.
One of my readers, Nataliya, wrote in with this recipe. I was convinced I needed to make them when she mentioned that her kids loved these patties. I get so much inspiration and ideas from you all, so thank you! Low and behold, my son loved these too, and so did the Mr. and so did I, oh and my sister and brother and law too. I’ll stop now. 🙂 Thank you Nataliya for this great recipe!
Ingredients for Chicken Zucchini Patties:
2 medium zucchini (about 1 1/4 lbs), grated (I used a green zucchini and a yellow squash)
2 tsp salt, divided
1 lb ground turkey or chicken
1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
1/4 cup green onions or chives,finely sliced
1 large egg
2 cloves garlic, pressed,
8 oz ricotta cheese (or 1/2 of the 15oz tub)
Olive oil to saute
How to Make Chicken Zucchini Fritters:
1. Place zucchini in a colander. P.S. my OXO colander/bowl set made this step convenient. Sprinkle grated zucchini with 1 tsp salt and let stand for 10 minutes, then squeeze out as much juice as you can from your zucchini, squeezing it out by the fistful to get out the most juice out, or as one of the readers suggested, use double-lined cheesecloth to ring it out. You’ll be amazed how much juice actually comes out of these babies. Transfer drained zucchini to a large bowl. Wonder if anything delicious can be done with this healthy juice? Got any ideas?
2. Add 1 lb fresh ground turkey or chicken, 1 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1/4 cup finely sliced green onion, 1 egg, 2 pressed garlic cloves and 8 oz ricotta cheese.
3. Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat and add 3-4 Tbsp extra light olive oil. Place a heaping tablespoon of the mixture into your hand and form a round patty about 1/3-inch thick. Cook over medium heat uncovered for 3 minutes, then flip, cover and cook for another 3-4 minutes more or until cooked through. Add more oil to the pan as needed for subsequent batches.
Enjoy!
Chicken Zucchini Fritters Recipe
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Imagine if you will that a katleta (meat patty) married a zucchini fritter and they had babies = Chicken Zucchini Fritters. I'm not sure why I hadn't thought of this earlier. They are healthier than regular katlety since they are half meat and half veggie and they are super juicy and flavorful.
Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
Cook Time: 25 minutes mins
Total Time: 40 minutes mins
Ingredients
- 2 medium zucchini, about 1 1/4 lbs, grated (I used a green zucchini and a yellow squash)
- 2 tsp salt, divided
- 1 lb ground turkey or chicken
- 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 1/4 cup green onions or chives, finely sliced
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed,
- 8 oz ricotta cheese, or 1/2 of the 15oz tub
- Olive oil to saute
Instructions
How to Make Chicken Zucchini Fritters:
Place zucchini in a colander or bowl. Sprinkle grated zucchini with 1 tsp salt and let stand for 10 minutes, then squeeze out as much juice as you can from your zucchini, squeezing it out by the fistful to get out the most juice out. You'll be amazed how much juice actually comes out of these babies. Transfer drained zucchini to a large bowl. Discard drained juice.
Add 1 lb fresh ground turkey or chicken, 1 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1/4 cup finely sliced green onion, 1 egg, 2 pressed garlic cloves and 8 oz ricotta cheese.
Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat and add 3-4 Tbsp extra light olive oil. Place a heaping tablespoon of the mixture into your hand and form a round patty about 1/3-inch thick. Cook over medium heat uncovered for 3 minutes, then flip, cover and cook for another 3-4 minutes more or until cooked through. Add more oil to the pan as needed for subsequent batches.
- Full Nutrition Label
- Nutrition Disclosure
Course: Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: Russian, Ukrainian
Keyword: Chicken Zucchini Fritters
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
Natasha Kravchuk
Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.
Read more posts by Natasha
FAQs
Get the skillet searing hot.
As you're combining all the ingredients for your fritters, go ahead and get the skillet warming up over medium-high heat with a bit of oil. A hot skillet will start cooking the fritters as soon as they hit the pan. That helps sear a crust on each fritter that will hold them together.
How do you make fritters less soggy? ›
Tips and Tricks
- Squeeze out any excess water from the vegetables such as potatoes and zucchini after grating to prevent soggy fritters.
- If you find the mixture is too wet, add additional flour.
- Try and make the fritters approximately the same size so that they cook evenly in the oven.
How wet should fritters be? ›
Batter consistency is key to good fritters. If too runny, add a touch of extra flour (otherwise fritters soggy inside). If way too thick, add a touch of water. It does come down to how juicy / how well the water was removed from the zucchinis.
How do you fix wet fritters? ›
Adding flour to a wetter batter will give you the thick consistency you want. Add crumbled stock cubes for a flavourful kick!
What can I use to bind fritters instead of egg? ›
For binding
To bind fritters, you'll need something that coats the core ingredients and something that holds them together – thick yogurt or sour cream work well, with the help of a little flour.
Why do you put baking powder in fritters? ›
Baking soda (bi-carb) OR baking powder – just a touch, to aerate the batter every so slightly (without it, it's slightly denser); Parmesan – for a good hit of savoury flavour AND to make the fritters extra crispy! Green onion and coriander – for a hit of freshness.
Does baking soda make fritters crispy? ›
Is baking soda or powder best for frying? A pinch of baking soda can help produce crispy fried foods. It reacts with the acid in the batter to create carbon dioxide bubbles. These lead to an airy batter and a crisper, fluffier result.
Why are my vegetable fritters falling apart? ›
If your zucchini fritters are falling apart, it's likely because the batter was too wet or the fritters are sticking to the skillet.
Why is my fried zucchini mushy? ›
Mushy veggies are also often the result of overcooking. When the interior is loaded with moisture, you have to cook it for much longer to evaporate all of the water and avoid the interior having the unappealing, spongy, raw texture that eggplant and zucchini are notorious for.
What is the best oil to cook fritters in? ›
Vegetable Oil: Best All-Purpose Oil for Frying
Typically a blend of oils, it has a high smoke point of 400 to 450 degrees, and it has a pretty neutral flavor, which deepens the flavor of the food.
I love zucchini fritters but there's quite an art to making a decent one. If the mix is too wet, they can be soggy or doughy. Too much oil and they can be greasy. Not enough oil and they won't be crispy (and who doesn't love crispy?).
How do you know when fritters are cooked? ›
Fry the fritters: Let the fritters cook undisturbed until browned on the bottom, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the patties with the spatula and cook until browned on the second side, 2 to 3 minutes more. Drain the fritters: Remove the fritters to a paper towel-lined large plate.
Why are my zucchini fritters sticking to the pan? ›
If your zucchini fritters are falling apart, it's likely because the fritters are sticking to the skillet or the batter was too wet. Getting the zucchini dry before preparing the batter so the binding agents can hold the fritter together. If you have a non-stick frying pan, opt for that as well.
Why are my fritters doughy? ›
If the fritters feel raw and doughy on the inside there could be two possible reasons. One is that the oil is just too hot, causing the outside to brown too quickly. You may find that you need to reduce the heat under the pan during cooking.
Why are my corn fritters falling apart? ›
If your oil temperature drops, the fritters will soak up excess oil while cooking, leaving them soggy. Why are my corn fritters falling apart? If using frozen or canned corn, make sure to drain well to eliminate excess moisture. Always spoon and level dry ingredients to make sure your measurements are consistent.
Why are my fritters tough? ›
Overmixing can cause the fritter to be gummy and tough. Only mix as much as you need to. I recommend skipping a mixer and doing this by hand to avoid overmixing. Use a cookie scoop.