We’re kind of coming full circle here, with Budget Bytes. I started this blog as a log of what I was cooking up in my kitchen with my limited budget and over the years it has grown into a massive recipe development project. But now, with limited grocery access, I’m returning to just showcasing the things I’m cooking up in my kitchen with what I have. These Vegetable Fritters are one of the things I’ve made while isolating at home. It’s just a mish-mash of the vegetables I had on hand in my fridge and freezer, fried up with a simple batter, and served with a sour cream based Garlic Herb sauce. It’s simple, delish, and a great way to use up your leftover vegetables so they don’t go to waste!
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What Vegetables Can I Add to the Fritters?
Some other vegetables that would be excellent in these fritters include cauliflower, cabbage, spinach, mushrooms, spinach, potatoes, zucchini, eggplant, and bell pepper. For really soft, high-water-content vegetables, like eggplant, zucchini, and frozen spinach, you probably want to sauté them first to eliminate some of the excess moisture before adding to your fritters. No matter what mix of vegetables you choose, you will need about 4 cups of finely chopped or shredded vegetables for this recipe.
No matter what vegetables you plan to add to your fritters, make sure to shred them (using a large-holed cheese grater or food processor), or chop them finely so the fritters hold together better.
Other Add-ins
If you want to make these cheesy fritters, you can add some grated Parmesan (about ¼ cup) or some shredded cheddar (½ cup) to the batter. Another option is to change up the seasoning. I made my vegetable fritters super simple because I actually enjoy being able to taste the individual vegetables, but you can also experiment with adding different seasonings like ranch powder, Cajun seasoning, or a basic seasoning salt like Lawry’s. Just make sure that if you’re adding a seasoning that already contains salt that you also reduce the salt added to the batter.
How to Serve Vegetable Fritters
Vegetable fritters make a great appetizer or side dish to just about any main. I’d serve them next to something like meatloaf, Glazed Chicken Thighs, Sloppy Joes, Portobello Burgers, or just serve them right on top of a pile of creamy Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes (in place of the dipping sauce)
Can I Bake the Fritters?
No, these will not turn out well if baked. They definitely need to be fried in oil to create the correct texture.
How Are the Leftovers?
As with any fried food the fritters do not stay crispy on the edges, but I still find the leftovers to be quite flavorful and delicious! As long as you’re not expecting a crispy fritter, I think they’re quite enjoyable as leftovers. I reheated mine using a microwave, but you could also heat them in a skillet over medium-low heat until heated through.
Vegetable Fritters with Garlic Herb Dipping Sauce
Servings 3 3 fritters eachIngredients
Garlic Herb Dipping Sauce
- 1/2 cup sour cream ($0.22)
- 1/2 tsp dried parsley ($0.05)
- 1/4 tsp dried oregano ($0.03)
- 1/4 tsp dried basil ($0.03)
- 1/8 tsp garlic powder ($0.02)
- 1/8 tsp onion powder ($0.02)
- 1/8 tsp salt ($0.02)
- 1/8 tsp pepper ($0.02)
Vegetable Fritters
- 1/2 lb. frozen broccoli florets ($1.30)
- 1 cup frozen corn ($0.35)
- 1 carrot ($0.07)
- 3 green onions ($0.30)
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder ($0.02)
- 1 tsp salt ($0.05)
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour ($0.08)
- 2 large eggs ($0.47)
- 3 Tbsp cooking oil ($0.12)
Instructions
- Make the garlic herb dipping sauce first, so the flavors have some time to blend. In a small bowl, stir together the sour cream, dried parsley, dried oregano, dried basil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Refrigerate the dip until ready to eat.
- Allow the broccoli and corn to thaw, or use the defrost function on a microwave thaw to them. Finely chop the broccoli. Peel and grate the carrot using a large-holed cheese grater. Slice the green onions.
- Add the broccoli, corn, carrots, and green onion to a large bowl. Also add the flour, eggs, garlic powder, and salt. Stir until everything is evenly combined.
- Heat 1 Tbsp cooking oil in a large non-stick skillet (cast iron, ceramic, or teflon) over medium heat. Once the skillet is hot and the oil is shimmering, add the vegetable fritter batter to the skillet in ¼ cup dollops, pressing the mixture down to a flat pancake once it's in the skillet. Cook the fritters for about 3 minutes on each side, or until deep golden brown on both sides. Cook 3 or 4 fritters in the skillet at a time, adding another tablespoon of oil between batches. Transfer the cooked fritters to a paper towel lined plate.
- Once all the fritters are cooked, serve while still warm, with the garlic herb sauce for dipping.
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Notes
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @budgetbytes or tag #budgetbytes on Instagram!Scroll down for the step by step photos!
How to Make Vegetable Fritters – Step by Step Photos
Make the garlic herb dipping sauce first so the flavors have a little time to blend. This is basically just sour cream plus my All-Purpose Garlic Herb Seasoning (a half batch). It also makes a great chip dip! Stir together ½ cup sour cream, ½ tsp dried parsley, ¼ tsp dried oregano, ¼ tsp dried basil, ⅛ tsp garlic powder, ⅛ tsp onion powder, ⅛ tsp salt, and ⅛ tsp pepper. Refrigerate the dip until ready to serve.
Thaw ½ lb. frozen broccoli florets and 1 cup of frozen corn. Finely chop the broccoli florets.
Peel and shred one carrot (about 1 cup once shredded). Slice 3 green onions.
Add the broccoli, carrot, corn, and green onion to a large bowl.
Also add 2 large eggs, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp salt, and ¼ tsp garlic powder.
Stir until everything is evenly combined and coated in batter.
Cook the fritters in batches of 3 to 4 at a time, in a non-stick skillet (any type of non-stick, like cast iron, ceramic, or teflon). Add 1 Tbsp cooking oil to the skillet before each batch and heat over medium until the skillet is hot and the oil shimmering. Once hot, add the batter, ¼ cup at a time, pressing it down into a pancake once it’s in the skillet. Cook for about 3 minutes on each side or until deeply golden brown.
Transfer the cooked vegetable fritters to a paper towel-lined plate before cooking the next batch.
Once they’re all cooked, serve warm with the garlic herb sauce for dipping!
I suppose you could re-crisp the fritters if you had an air fryer, only limit how much time you do it.
Hi Beth
How many cups of finely chopped mixed veggies would I need for the recipe? Would 2 cups be too much? Thanks
Hi, Nellie! I just spoke with Beth — and we actually think it should be closer to 4 cups for the full recipe (2 cups would make a half batch). Since 1/2 lb of shredded broccoli florets would be about 2 cups, and as you can see in the step-by-step and ingredient list, there’s should be about 1 cup of shredded carrots and 1 cup of corn. We will update the blog post to clarify this point! Thanks for reaching out! ~Marion :)
Love this recipe! I use: 2.5 cups of finely chopped Trader Joe’s Cruciferous Crunch blend (it has shredded kale, cabbage, broccoli, and brussels sprouts) + half cup of finely chopped carrots + half cup of Trader Joe’s canned corn. Don’t forget to add the green onions! They add some good flavor, for sure.
Love this recipe! I too went crazy for any type of fritter during isolation. Could you or a reader update for 2022 and address using almond or another keto flour and also using the air fryer? Thanks!
I will add it to our list! Feel free to share any tips or suggestions you have! ~Marion :)
I thinned the sauce a bit with milk and then added lemon pepper and more salt to compensate. It was delicious and I would make the whole recipe again but I’d love to try it with Romano grated into the batter next time!
Great recipe! It’s my second time making it. I added frsh chopped parsley in the fritters and the sauce, delicious meal, and good way to get my vegetables in.
This is a good basic recipe. I did make a few modifications. Used half corn half peas. Added fresh finely chopped parsley, thyme, oregano and a small habanero pepper seeds removed. I do like spicy. About a 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Cooked in the waffle maker set on the most crispy setting. Just be sure to not fill too high or the edges won’t get as crispy. Was very good will make again but next time I’ll leave out the corn, not fond of the chewy kernel skins.
This is such an easy and quick weeknight dinner! And a great way to use up leftover veggies :)
Has anyone tried this with a keto-friendly flour? I’m always down for a good fritter but am expecting keto guests soon and need to plan accordingly.
If you have tried this modification, any recommendations?
Hi – these sound lovely! Do you think I could mix and form them and then freeze before cooking? Or would the moisture content get all weird?
I think your instincts are right with this one, and freezing would cause water to seep out of the vegetables, which would then thin the batter.
The taste was nice but my fritters ended up sort of soft instead of crispy, even though they browned up nicely. Any idea what I could be doing wrong?
It’s hard to say without feeling the texture of your fritters, but they won’t be as crispy as something that’s deep fried.