Summer Squash Fritters | Cookstr.com

Updated August 22, 2017

Summer Squash Fritters with Garlic Dipping Sauce

This image courtesy of Ben Fink Photography, Inc.

Just about any vegetable, seafood, or fruit can be dipped in a batter and then deep-fried to make fritters. In late summer, when zucchini and yellow squash are plentiful at farmers’ markets, I serve these crispy fritters as an appetizer or as a side dish with a super-garlicky dipping sauce.

Even though the dip calls for a lot of garlic, once the garlic is roasted, it becomes mild, nutty, and sweet.

Makes12 fritters

OccasionCasual Dinner Party, Family Get-together

Recipe Courseappetizer, hors d’oeuvre

Dietary Considerationhalal, kosher, lactose-free, peanut free, soy free, tree nut free, vegetarian

Taste and Texturecrisp, garlicky, savory

Ingredients

2 garlic heads, peeled
Extra virgin olive oil
1 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup minced fresh chives
1¼ cups all purpose flour
6 ounces (3/4 cup) shredded white Cheddar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 large eggs
1 cup cold beer
1 cup grated zucchini
1 cup grated yellow squash
1 small onion, halved and thinly sliced
1/2 cup canola oil for frying

Instructions

To make the dipping sauce, preheat the oven to 375°F.
Put the garlic cloves in a small baking dish and add enough olive oil to cover them completely.
Roast until the garlic is soft and golden, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the garlic to cool. Strain, but don’t discard, the oil from the garlic. Transfer the cooled garlic to a food processor. Add 1 tablespoon of the reserved garlic oil, the mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Pulse until the mixture is smooth. Transfer the sauce to a bowl and stir in the chives.
To make the fritters, combine the flour, cheddar, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a large bowl.
In a separate bowl, gently whisk the eggs and beer. Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture and stir until combined. Stir in the zucchini, yellow squash, and onion.
Heat the canola oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Drop about 6 individual tablespoons of batter into the oil and fry until they are golden-brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove the fritters to paper towels to drain. Repeat with the remaining batter. Serve hot with the sauce on the side.

2012 David Venable

Does summer mean being inundated with zucchini from your garden? While having too much zucchini is a happy problem to have, you might still want a few ideas on how to cook it. That’s where this recipe for Crispy Zucchini Sticks with Olive Dip comes in! The perfect alternative to a store-bought bag of chips and pre-made dip, this easy summer recipe can be ready to eat in just a bit of time. You just need to allow time for the beer and flour mixture to strain.

Pico de Gallo

Think you can only find pico de gallo in your favorite restaurant? Think again! This recipe for Pico de Gallo is quick and easy to make. You’ll love using vegetables grown in your backyard or purchased from your favorite farmer’s market to make this tasty appetizer. You can serve this dish at your next game night or other casual get-together with family and friends.Also known as salsa Mexicana and salsa cruda, this is what comes with the chips in Mexican restaurants. (Cruda means raw, not crude.) For best results, chop very finely large chunks of tomato are hard to catch on a chip.

Spaghetti Squash Fritters

Stop by almost any farmer’s market this fall, and you’re likely to encounter a bounty of spaghetti squash. While you might be more familiar using this type of squash in place of noodles, as its name suggests, you can learn how to cook squash in a different way. This recipe for Spaghetti Squash Fritters is perfect for anyone who can’t get enough squash this fall. Kid-friendly and easy to make to boot, this recipe can be prepared in less than one hour. It can’t get much better than that! You’ll also want to see the Variations below for some new ways to serve these squash fritters.