These vegan zucchini fritters are made with red lentils and sweetcorn. Healthy and super versatile, they’re delicious as a starter or side dish, in sandwiches, and in salads. Gluten-free and oil-free.
It’s no secret that I love getting creative in the kitchen. Sometimes that’s cooking something new all together, sometimes I switch up an old favourite dish. The great thing about fritters is the fact that the possibilities are so broad. You can make them with different vegetables, sprinkle in new spices, add beans and legumes, etc. Just like sandwiches, pasta and oatmeal, fritters are something I could never get bored of.
I shared a chickpea fritter recipe on the blog a while back, but since then, I’ve been making new varieties quite a lot. This one was inspired by the fact that I had a lot of leftover zucchini in my fridge, and needed to use it up somehow. Hence, I came up with these vegan zucchini fritters.
About these vegan zucchini fritters
I love these fritters for many different reasons. First and foremost, they’re a great way to eat more vegetables, even if you’re not a fan of zucchini. It adds a lot of texture and structure, but the other ingredients mask the flavour nicely. You can also replace it with carrot if that’s what you prefer.
Another great thing about these fritters is just how versatile they are. You can:
- eat them by themselves with a dipping sauce of your choice
- add them to sandwiches or wraps
- serve them with a salad
- crumble them into pasta
and so much more! Whenever I make vegan zucchini fritters, I always make a couple extra to store in the fridge for meal prep because once they’re ready, you can construct such a huge variety of healthy and easy meals with them. They’re great for either breakfast, lunch or dinner, and for bringing along to party tables as a starter or side dish.
The final product is whole food plant based, gluten-free and oil-free (as long as you use a good non-stick frying pan). They’re made from whole food ingredients that don’t break the bank, and are much easier than it seems. Plus, as I said, it’s definitely a good idea to make a huge batch and enjoy them a few days in a row!
How to make vegan zucchini fritters
Start by grating the zucchini and squeezing as much water out of it as possible. This step is very important because it ensures your fritters turn out crispy, not soggy. Now, some people like to mix it together with some salt and let it sit for 10 minutes, but this step is not essential if you don’t want the fritters to be too high in sodium.
Add the zucchini to a large mixing bowl with the other ingredients. Stir until thoroughly combined, and then it’s time to cook the fritters.
To keep this recipe oil-free, use a good non-stick frying pan. I usually do this and don’t have a problem with them sticking. Form the fritter shapes using your hands and fry for 3-4 minutes on each side, until sufficiently crispy. Alternatively, you can bake them at 200 degrees C/392 F for around 20 minutes and achieve a similar result.
When they’re done, transfer to a plate and serve straight away, or save in the fridge for later.
Other recipes you might like…
- Why not serve these with pea avocado pesto?
- If you like savoury snacks, you might like making homemade veggie chips.
- Chickpea and quinoa salad with pumpkin is another healthy and delicious lunch idea!
Let me know in the comments: what’s your favourite way to use zucchini? If you give these vegan zucchini fritters a go, be sure to tag me on Instagram (@earthofmariaa) so I can see your creations!
Vegan Zucchini Fritters With Red Lentils (Gluten-free)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup red lentils uncooked
- 2 medium zucchinis grated
- 1/2 cup sweetcorn fresh
- 1 medium red onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup buckwheat flour
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook lentils according to instructions on packaging (this usually takes around 15 minutes). Meanwhile, use your hands to squeeze as much water as possible out of the grated zucchini.
- Add the zucchini, cooked red lentils, sweetcorn, red onion, garlic, buckwheat flour, nutritional yeast, cumin and paprika to a large mixing bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and stir together the ingredients.
- Use slightly damp hands to form fritter shapes, flattening them down on a non-stick frying pan. Cook in batches for around 3-4 minutes on each side, until golden and cooked through. Serve immediately or store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
I love courgette fritters and this is a great idea to add lentils for an added protein boost.
Thank you! The flavours definitely work very well together 🙂
wow what a wonderful combination of flavors I love zucchini and lentils so this is a win win for me!
Thank you very much! Those veggies taste great together for sure.
These zucchini fritters look really good. I love making different kinds of fritters too. Going to pin this recipe for later!
I’m always trying new varieties because there are so many unique possibilities haha. Thank you for pinning!
My favorite thing to do is use up leftovers by making them into something new — these fritters look perfect. I can’t wait to investigate the contents of my refrigerator to see what kinds of fritters I can make.
Yes I love doing that as well, and often I come up with new favourite recipes that way. It’s great because there really are so many possibilities with fritters!
A great vegan option for a holiday dish!
It’s great for sharing at party tables for sure!