Who would say no to tasty zucchini fritters with your favorite dipping sauces?
I am excited to share this great recipe for a delicious snack you can prepare with your air fryer today!
Making vegan zucchini fritters with an air fryer is one of the easiest and most delicious ways to enjoy a healthy snack with minimal effort.
This recipe is perfect for something savory but still wholesome, and it only takes minutes to whip up!
These healthy zucchini fritters are made without eggs and all-purpose flour so they are even better for your health than other traditional air fryer recipes.
Moreover, you can get delicious crispy zucchini fritters with an air fryer while using much less oil than traditional deep-frying.
The procedure cannot be any easier.... just grate the zucchini and combine it with nutritional yeast, flour, fresh herbs, and spices for a flavorful mix. Then, form them into patties and air fry them until golden brown.
If you like zucchini recipes, then try my reader's favorite Zucchini curry recipe.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- Easy to make with minimal ingredients.
- Deliciously crispy texture.
- Prep time of only 10 minutes.
- Healthier than traditional deep frying.
- Vegan and gluten-free friendly.
Ingredients
- Medium Zucchinis, grated.
- Chickpea flour/ besan flour
- Rice flour
- Nutritional yeast or vegan cheese
- Spices
See the recipe card for a list of ingredients and quantities, plus recipe instructions. You can find the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Instructions
Wash and grate the zucchini with a food processor into a large bowl. Squeeze out the excess liquid with a cheesecloth, paper towel, or clean kitchen towel.
Add chickpea flour, rice flour, nutritional yeast, and spices. Mix until everything is well combined.
Form the mixture into patties by hand or with an ice cream scoop (for best results).
Place the patties in your preheated air fryer basket in a single layer. Coat them with a thin layer of cooking spray (olive oil).
Air fry at 380°F for 15 minutes, flipping the zucchini fritters halfway through.
Let it cool after they are cooked through and look crispy on the outside.
Enjoy your vegan zucchini fritters hot with a delicious dipping sauce!
Variations
Spices:
- For an Italian twist, add some Italian seasoning to the mix
- If you like it spicy, add a bit of chili powder, black pepper, or cumin powder.
- You can also try adding some garlic powder and onion powder for extra flavor.
Flours:
- To make gluten-free zucchini fritters, use rice flour instead of all-purpose.
- For a nutty flavor, use almond flour instead of chickpea flour.
- You can also experiment with different flours to find your perfect combination.
Veggies: You can customize the fritters with your favorite vegetables. Add grated carrots, bell peppers, or mushrooms for a unique twist.
How to serve zucchini fritters
These vegan zucchini fritters are great for serving as a snack or appetizer. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce, such as tzatziki, hummus, pesto, or sour cream.
They also make a great side dish for any meal! Pair it with some grilled or air fried vegetables and quinoa for a complete and balanced dinner.
Storage
Leftover fritters can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat, pop them into your air fryer for a few minutes until warm and crispy. 370F for 2-4 minutes.
Place the fritters on a baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes in the oven at 350°F. Or microwave for 1-2 minutes until warm.
How to find out if zucchini fritters are done?
The zucchini fritters are done when they're golden and crispy on the outside. Insert a toothpick or a skewer into the center of one of the fritters, and it should come out clean with no raw batter sticking to it.
If your vegan zucchini fritter is still too soft in the middle or tastes raw, put them back in the air fryer for a few minutes until they are cooked through.
Top tips
- If you don't have an air fryer, the fritters can be cooked in a skillet with oil over medium heat.
- Make sure your zucchini is extra dry before adding to the mix. Too much moisture can ruin the patties.
- Squeeze out any excess liquid before forming the patties. Adding bread crumbs can help if you have too much moisture.
- Be sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if needed. I can usually do 2-4 at a time, depending on air fryer size.
- Be sure to adjust the cooking time depending on the air fryer size.
- To make them extra crispy, spray lightly with oil before cooking in the air fryer.
- Optionally, use parchment paper to line the air fryer basket so it's easier to remove the fritters after cooking.
Recipe FAQ
No, you can leave the skin on. It cooks easily, and it contains fiber.
The mixture could be too wet. Try adding more flour or nutritional yeast and recheck the consistency of the batter. Or your patties are too thick, and the center is not cooked. Make flat and thin patties and lower down your heat.
You can squeeze the shredded zucchini with your hands to remove excess moisture. A cheesecloth or a cotton towel also works well for this. Place the grated zucchini in the cloth, twist it up into a bundle, and then squeeze out all of the liquid.
Another great way to do is to put the grated zucchini in a colander, sprinkle salt, and let it sit for 5 minutes. This will pull out naturally and then squeeze out the excess water.
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📖 Recipe
Easy Vegan Zucchini Fritters Air Fryer
Equipment
Process Shot
Check above for step-by-step pictures (most of my recipes include pictures)
Ingredients
- 2 zucchini - grated
- 2 tablespoon rice flour
- 2 tablespoon chickpea flour
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder - medium spice
- ½ teaspoon black pepper powder
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- salt to taste
- oil for spraying
Instructions
- Wash and grate the zucchini with a food processor into a large bowl. Squeeze out the excess liquid with a cheesecloth, paper towel, or clean kitchen towel.2 zucchini
- Add chickpea flour, rice flour, nutritional yeast, and spices. Mix until everything is well combined.2 tablespoon rice flour, 2 tablespoon chickpea flour, ½ teaspoon red chili powder, ½ teaspoon black pepper powder, ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast, salt to taste
- Form the mixture into patties by hand or with an ice cream scoop (for best results).
- Place the patties in your preheated air fryer basket in a single layer. Coat them with a thin layer of cooking spray (olive oil).oil for spraying
- Air fry at 380°F for 15 minutes, flipping the zucchini fritters halfway through.
- Let it cool after they are cooked through and look crispy on the outside.
- Enjoy your vegan zucchini fritters hot with a delicious dipping sauce!
Notes
-
- If you don't have an air fryer, the fritters can be cooked in a skillet with oil over medium heat.
-
- Make sure your zucchini is extra dry before adding to the mix. Too much moisture can ruin the patties.
-
- Squeeze out any excess liquid before forming the patties. Adding bread crumbs can help if you have too much moisture.
-
- Be sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if needed. I can usually do 2-4 at a time, depending on air fryer size.
-
- Be sure to adjust the cooking time depending on the air fryer size.
-
- To make them extra crispy, spray lightly with oil before cooking in the air fryer.
-
- Optionally, use parchment paper to line the air fryer basket so it's easier to remove the fritters after cooking.
YOUR OWN NOTES
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimation only.
Experience the best results with this recipe in the Cosori Air Fryer. Please note that cooking times may vary depending on the size and model of your air fryer.
Celine Dorothy Rivera says
Hi! How much is 2 zucchinis (roughly). How many cups? Same for the carrot
Uma Raghupathi says
2 cups each
SFerd says
What's the best substitute for the rice flour? Can I use all chickpea flour? Or, white WW flour for that portion?
Uma Raghupathi says
HI, you can use all chickpea flour or add other flours for that portion. I made this using oat flour as well. Experiment with your combo and let me know how it turned out!