Intro

5451530018_bb5f101f6c_b

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.

5450919695_eab726cd98_b

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.

5450918417_ab4f0096d3_b

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.


5450918753_a08ae3682e_b


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!

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

 

24 Responses to “Zucchini fritters (with bacon and pepper) and Tarragon aioli”

  1. Nicole

    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.

  2. Alexandra Rogers

    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.

  3. Prerna@IndianSimmer

    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.

  4. kms

    umm, yes please. i’ll have…20 or so?? 🙂 your photos are simply lovely, ashley! xo.

  5. Kelly

    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.

  6. Amy Baron

    Can you please please make these for our next Sunday gathering, please please!

  7. The Texas Peach

    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!

  8. Le Man and Wife

    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!