Intro
It would appear that you can make most anything taste amazing when you simply apply a bacon and pepper makeover. As is the case with zucchini – it’s not my favorite. Sure, I’ll eat it in quick bread form – I guess the butter and sugar makeover also works. I don’t mind Zucchini sliced thin and grilled but that’s mostly because it’s slathered with olive oil and usually along side something else much more delicious like steak. But I have too many tainted memories of sludgy, steamed zucchini with nothing more than a light shower of salt – if that.
Now I could eat my weight in zucchini, just add bacon, a Serrano pepper and deep fry. Oh and the Tarragon aioli helps too.
Their squid-like appearance also makes them enticing to me. I don’t like squid but apparently I like fried food that looks like them. Go figure.
When the wet batter meets the hot oil the final fritter shape is immediately set, and just like a snowflake, each is uniquely beautiful in a slimy, sea creature sort of way.
Or it is quite possibly another form of the wax and water test. I never did this myself but learned about it via The Simpsons circa 1994. Apparently your future can be predicted by the shape wax makes in cold water. In the Halloween episode Lisa’s wax droplet turned into a broom thus determining her future as a witch or housewife. Either way, she was scared.
According to my findings I am set to be a sea creature with long tentacles. Deep fried tentacles. The best kind.
Zucchini Fritters
inspired by epicurious.com and Ratio, by Michael Ruhlman
¾ cup + 1 T flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon cayenne
½ teaspoon cumin
½ cup (4 oz) milk
1 egg
1-2 Serrano (or Jalepeno) chopped, seeds removed
3 strips bacon, cooked until crisp and chopped
1 cup grated zucchini (about 1 medium)
Oil for frying
Combine flour, salt, baking powder and spices in a medium bowl. Whisk in the milk and egg until just combine. Add Serrano, bacon and Zucchini. Stir to combine. Do not over-mix or your fritters will get tough.
In a medium saucepan fill with enough oil to come up three inches on the side on the pan. (Fry oil can be reused up to three fries. Once oil is cool, strain out any floaters then put back into the oil container and save for another use. Homemade chips perhaps?!)
Heat oil to 360*
Using a spoon, drop in 1 tablespoon of the batter into the oil. The oil should bubble vigoursly but the fritters should take 2-3 minutes to develop a deep, dark golden color.
Do a test fritter first to determine the proper oil temp and cooking time. Let cool completely and make sure it is completely cooked eternally.
Proceed, cooking 3-5 fritters at one time, while maintaining the correct oil temperature.
Keep warm in an oven set to 200* on a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Don’t let the fritters touch or they may get soggy.
Sprinkle warm fritters with a fine sea salt, or Maldon and serve with Tarragon Aioli.
Makes about 20 fritters that must be eaten right away. Not a problem.
Tarragon Aioli
½ cup mayonnaise
1 T. Tarragon, finely chopped
1 small garlic clove (or ½ large), minced (I like to *carefully* grate my garlic on a microplane)
¼ teaspoon lemon zest
salt and pepper
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Taste for salt and pepper.
Chill if not using right away. Will keep tightly covered for 3 days.
*Hey! I just was named one of the top 25 Foodie moms by Circle of Moms. If you would be so kind as to give me a thumbs up that would be awesome.
Top 25 Foodie Moms – help me win!
Wow! I want to eat these right now!!! Yum!!
They do look like delicious little sea urchins 🙂 My dad always liked to put mayonnaise on his steamed zucchini and while it seemed strange, it’s quite good. I bet the tarragon, garlic and lemon are wonderful together.
These look really good, Ashley, and I don’t think I ever would have thought of them!
These look amazing! I love zucchini as they are, but these look just…amazing. I might have to make them tonight! Thank you 🙂 Anything in fritter form is delicious.
Alexandra – Oh I hope you do make them and love them as much as I do!
These look absolutely delicious! And the tarragon aioli sounds like a great combination!
This looks very similar to onion bhaji’s that we make in our kitchen! It always fascinates me how all the cuisines inspite of being supposedly different are so similar in techniques and sometimes dishes.
Prerna – Let’s do a fritter swap!
umm, yes please. i’ll have…20 or so?? 🙂 your photos are simply lovely, ashley! xo.
KMS – MY photos?! I’m in constant awe of yours. Thanks so much for the compliment. Coming from you it means the world.
These look amazing, zucchini and tarragon go so well together–oh and I agree, bacon makes everything better! I just found your blog, and am looking forward to following.
Kelly – Welcome! Thanks for reading.
These would be fantastic served with some nice cold beers. Looks fantastic!
Brian – yes they would. They weren’t too shabby with a nice bottle of Prosecco either. 🙂
Can you please please make these for our next Sunday gathering, please please!
Amy – of course!
These sound absolutely perfect. Amazing idea!
You had me at fried 🙂
Errin – that gets me too!
It has been decided. I will be making these creatures immediately. :0)
I absolutely love zucchini. I’ve thought about making zucchini fritters before, but have yet to attempt it. These look amazing, and that Tarragon Aioli sounds like it would compliment the fritters perfectly!
I just stumbled across your blog and I love it! You have great pictures and great recipes. This one in particular looks amazing, I’m excited to try it! Keep up the good work!