Crispy on the outside, tender inside, and packed with fresh herbs and zucchini. These vegan fritters make a great appetizer, snack, lunch, or side dish.
Servings
4 servings
Makes about 10–12 fritters
Ingredients
For the Fritters
- 2 medium zucchini, grated
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ small onion, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh dill or basil, chopped
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
(or chickpea flour for gluten-free option) - 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp paprika
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
- 5 tbsp water
- 2–3 tbsp olive oil for frying
Optional Dipping Sauce
Vegan Garlic Yogurt Sauce
- ½ cup unsweetened vegan yogurt
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- Pinch of salt
- Fresh dill or parsley
Mix all ingredients and chill until serving.
Instructions
1. Prepare the Zucchini
Grate zucchini using the large holes of a box grater.
Place grated zucchini in a colander.
Sprinkle with salt and let sit:
- 10–15 minutes
This helps remove excess moisture.
2. Remove Excess Water
Transfer zucchini to a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth.
Squeeze out as much liquid as possible.
This step is important for crispy fritters.
3. Make the Flax Egg
In a small bowl combine:
- ground flaxseed
- water
Let sit:
- 5 minutes
until thickened.
4. Mix the Batter
In a large bowl combine:
- zucchini
- onion
- garlic
- parsley
- dill or basil
- flour
- nutritional yeast
- baking powder
- pepper
- paprika
- flax egg
Mix until a thick batter forms.
If mixture feels too wet:
- add a little more flour
If too dry:
- add 1–2 tsp water
5. Cook the Fritters
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
Scoop about:
- 2 tablespoons batter
per fritter into the pan.
Flatten gently with a spoon.
Cook:
- 3–4 minutes per side
until golden brown and crispy.
Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
6. Serve
Serve warm with:
- vegan garlic yogurt sauce
- lemon wedges
- fresh herbs
Serving Ideas
Pair with:
- salad
- roasted vegetables
- grain bowls
- wraps
- hummus
- soup
Storage
Refrigerator
- Store up to 4 days.
Freezer
- Freeze cooked fritters up to 2 months.
Reheat in:
- skillet
- oven
- air fryer
for best crispiness.
Tips for Crispy Fritters
- Removing zucchini moisture is the key step.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan.
- Medium heat prevents burning before the center cooks.
- Chickpea flour creates extra crisp edges.
Variations
Mediterranean Version
Add:
- olives
- sun-dried tomatoes
- oregano
Spicy Version
Add:
- chili flakes
- jalapeños
Extra Veggie Version
Mix in:
- grated carrot
- corn
- spinach

