Zucchini Ricotta Fritters
on Aug 30, 2022, Updated May 08, 2024
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My mom’s Zucchini Ricotta Fritters are wildly delicious! These are pillowy soft and so very easy to prepare. You simply combine the ingredients, form them into patties, and ♨️ air fry. This dish is on rotation in my household and requires no fuss or mess at all when using the air fryer. These pair perfectly with a refreshing yogurt sauce or a nice 🥗 green salad on the side.
Why You’ll Love Zucchini Ricotta Fritters
These Zucchini Ricotta Fritters are ridiculously easy to prepare, and a hit with everyone who tries them 😋. They’re a great way to use up all of that garden zucchini and the ricotta cheese is such a great addition! They’re not heavy at all, and by squeezing out all the excess 💧 water you will always get a fluffy and delicious bite.
How to Prepare
👩🍳 Start by using a box grater to grate your zucchini (you should have about 1 cup total).
🥒 Then, place the zucchini into a nut milk bag or cheesecloth (or use your clean hands).
💧Squeeze out as much water as you can.
🥣 Now, add the ricotta, egg, salt, grated zucchini, parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, and basil to a bowl. Mix well until fully combined.
🌀 Using a 1/4 cup measure, scoop out a portion of the mixture into your hands and then roll into a ball and flatten into a disc. Repeat this step for the rest of the mixture; you should have 6-7 discs in total.
♨️ Spray the discs with cooking spray and cook in a 400F (200F) air fryer for about 10 minutes, or until lightly browned all over.
Nonna’s Tip 🧑🍳
Make sure your fritters are light and fluffy by removing as much moisture as possible from the grated zucchini. I like to squeeze the zucchini by hand, using cheesecloth, a nut milk bag or even a clean kitchen cloth.
Variations and Substitutions for Zucchini Ricotta Fritters
- Instead of 🧀 Parmesan cheese, you can use any low-moisture cheese, such as pecorino Romano, grated Manchego, or gruyere.
- You can substitute basil with fresh 🌿 dill, parsley, or any herb of your choosing.
- Make these Zucchini Ricotta Fritters by using your favorite gluten-free breadcrumb instead of regular breadcrumbs.
Similar Recipes
Zucchini Cakes
20 mins
Zucchini Rolls
1 hr
Grilled Zucchini Recipe
10 mins
Fried Zucchini Flowers
15 mins
Zucchini Fritters Recipe
15 mins
Zucchini Pizza Boats
25 mins
Best Served With
- A big, fresh 🥗 salad like my Wedge Salad or Simple Green Salad.
- Try these Zucchini Ricotta Fritters topped with a 🍳 poached or fried egg.
- A creamy yogurt-based dip, like a garlic sauce or even a Tzatziki would be nice!
Common Questions
Instead of Parmesan cheese, you can use any low-moisture cheese, such as pecorino romano, grated manchego, or gruyere. You can also use your favorite non-dairy Parm substitute.
You can substitute basil with fresh dill, parsley, or any herb of your choosing.
I use this COSORI Pro II Air Fryer which I absolutely love! If you have another brand, please use their recommended temperature and cooking time as each appliance will vary.
Yes, these fritters can also be baked in a 400F (200C) standard kitchen oven. They will likely take more time to cook than in the air fryer, so watch them carefully to ensure they do not burn, checking on them every 5 minutes or so.
To make these on the stovetop, cover a skillet in a thin layer of neutral oil, such as avocado oil, and warm over medium-high heat. Cook the fritters for about 5 minutes on each side, or until lightly browned all over.
Yes, you certainly can freeze these fritters. I like to make a double batch and freeze for another meal.
Yes, feel free to use your favorite gluten-free breadcrumb to make these gluten-free.
Make sure your fritters are light and fluffy by trying to remove as much moisture as possible from the grated zucchini. I like to squeeze the zucchini by hand either in cheesecloth, a nut milk bag or even a clean kitchen cloth.
Zucchini Ricotta Fritters
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 medium zucchini
- ¾ cup ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- pinch of salt
- ½ cup grated parmigiano reggiano
- ½ cup Italian breadcrumbs
- few basil leaves, sliced, ripped or chopped
Instructions
- Grate the zucchini; you should have about 1 cup. Place the zucchini into a nut milk bag, cheesecloth (or use your clean hands) and squeeze out as much water as you can. You can save the zucchini water for smoothies if you wish.
- In a bowl, add the ricotta, egg, salt, grated zucchini, parm, breadcrumbs, and basil. Mix well until fully combined.
- Using a 1/4 cup measure, scoop out a portion of the mixture into your hands. Roll the mixture into a ball and then flatten into a disc. Repeat this step for the rest of the mixture; you should have 6 discs in total.
- Spray the discs with cooking spray and cook in a 400F (200C) air fryer for about 10 minutes, or until lightly browned all over. Be sure to preheat the air fryer first, if you have that setting, and make sure you check on the fritters around the 6 minute mark. Serve and enjoy.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
The flavor was very good, they took longer than expected to cook and needed to be flipped more than once. I recommend making them pretty thin.
Hi Nancy, thank you 🙂
The breadcrumbs alone add 36g carbs. Divide by 6 patties, and that’s 6g carbs in each patty from only the breadcrumbs. Plus the carbs from all the other ingredients (numbers you don’t provide). Is there something I can use as a substitute for the breadcrumbs?!
Hi Michelle, this may not be the right recipe for you if you don’t want to consume carbs. The breadcrumbs are necessary for binding and balancing moisture.
Hi! Any suggestions for a dipping sauce to serve these with?
Tzatziki would be delicious with these! https://themodernnonna.com/easiest-most-delicious-tzatziki/
Thank you, AWESOMENESS !
Do you know which is better air fryer/convection oven fry pan for most crispy and golden brown fritters? What type of air fryer do you use? Can you deep fry them too? Can you also use butternut squash? Love it!!
These would be incredible deep-fried; you just need to be super careful about slowly suspending the fritters into the oil. Maybe try making them small and bite-size so you don’t risk a piece of batter falling off and splashing in the oil. I have not tried butternut squash, but since it’s more dense than zucchini, it may not cook at the same rate.
Zucchini from my garden 6-7 inches long made 2 cups.
Sooooo Good. Drizzled a little sour cream on them. Delish!!!
Thank you! Air Fryer was quick and they were crispy just the way I like them.
Forgot to spray my basket even though I sprayed the discs…they got a little stuck!
Love it! Perfect way to use up all the fresh zucchini!
Could I use cottage cheese instead of ricotta?
Yes, absolutely!
So how many CUPS of zucchini is 1 med zucchini ? How many cups is 100 g ?
One medium zucchini should produce about 1 cup of grated zucchini. 100 grams is 1/4 pound, so try weighing the zucchini at the market and aim for purchasing one 1/4-pound zucchini or two 1/8-pound zucchini.
I had a zucchini from my garden that was about 7in long. It made 2cups.
Delicious fritters !!! Can I prepare and then freeze for future consumption ?
Hi Susan, I don’t think these will freeze well. They are best made and enjoyed fresh the same day.
Made them as a main course. I used the air fryer at 400 for 10 minutes, flipped them after 5 min. Quick and easy to make. I doubled the recipe.
Bake in oven if don’t have an air fryer? And how long?
I would shallow fry them in a pan