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I PROMISE NOT TO MAKE ANYTHING ELSE WITH ZUCCHINI IN 2015 ! But it’s been a very good year for these vegetables. People haven’t stopped dropping off their little summer harvests so obviously I couldn’t waste them, because it’s wonderful to share food, especially when you grow it yourself ! So far this year, I’ve made a marinated-pickled version (see recipe here), a roasted pie version (see recipe here), an omelet version (see recipe here), a stuffed version (see recipe here) and used them in other oven-baked dishes too, like moussaka and ratatouille (feel free to do a search by ingredient) … This zucchini fritter recipe is something usually prepared in small two-bite sizes but a larger and easy to hold meal-sized hamburger and/or sandwich version is also quicker to make and a great way to take a break from eating meat and be a little more vegetarian (this is good and healthy for all of us) ! I sometimes oven-bake them when I’ve eaten too much fried foods during the week (which is why it is a good idea to brush them generously with olive oil and add some extra olive oil in the mix if you do) or fry them in a pan for a moister (on the inside) and crunchier (on the outside) zucchini fritter. The hamburger version is excellent with some thin cucumber slices, salad leaves and some yogurt tzatziki sauce (see recipe here) but that’s up to you. Bye-bye my lovely ZUCCHINI, see you again next year ! Promises, promises, we’ll see ! Enjoy … :)

vegetarian zucchini burgers

12.09.2015

4 large (or 6 medium or 12 small)

ingredients

  • 1,2 kg zucchinis (about 1 ½ cups or 400 grams, after grating and straining)
  • 100 grams green onions (4-6)
  • 150 grams breadcrumbs (3/4 - 1 cup)
  • 200 grams feta cheese (1 cup)
  • 2 eggs (100 grams)
  • 1/8 cup fresh dill
  • 1/8 cup fresh mint
  • 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 2 tbsp oilive oil (+ extra for baking or frying)
  • 1 tbsp coarse or regular salt
  • sea salt & ground black pepper (to your taste)
  • + some english muffins, tzatziki sauce, lettuce and cucumber slices to make the burgers

instructions

  • wash and grate the zucchini, then toss with 1 tbsp salt and place in a strainer inside a kitchen towel and let sit to lose its water for at least 1 hour
  • after 1 hour, squeeze to remove any remaining water (usually, there will be 2/3 water loss for 1/3 of grated strained zucchini)
  • finely chop the green onions and fresh herbs and combine in a large mixing bowl with the 2 eggs, olive oil, crumbled feta cheese and grated zucchini and mix well and then add bread crumbs, some salt & pepper and remix until you can form a compact firmer ball (add more breadcrumbs if necessary)
  • test for salt & pepper by frying up a small fritter and then adjust to your taste with more fresh herbs and/or spices
  • divide the larger ball into 4 large or more medium or smaller-sized balls and place inside the refrigerator to firm up for at least 30 minutes
  • flatten the balls into patties (i used metal rings to keep their shapes round and uniform) and fry them in olive oil for about 5-7 minutes on each side at med-high heat or bake in a preheated 200°C oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown (brush them generously with olive oil if you oven-bake them or they will be drier than the pan-fried version) and flip them over once half-way through
  • serve warm as is with some bread and salad or in a burger form with some toasted english muffin or hamburger buns, lettuce, sliced cucumbers and tzatziki sauce.