This is a Root Formula, a simplified recipe that shows which ingredients are core and which can be changed to create different flavor combinations or use what you have on hand.
See our Variations on this Vegetable Fritters Formula below.
One of the first recipes we ever tested for Planetarian Life was a formula for vegetable fritters. How convenient to be able to use vegetables you have on hand – especially ones like carrots and sweet potatoes that last forever – and easily whip them into fritters in minutes. The original fritters were good, people enjoyed them, but they weren’t quite perfect.
We went back to the recipe and took time to perfect them, because that’s what we do – and now they’re just right. These will certainly be a regular in our house from now on. They’re good for any meal. We’ve even been enjoying them at breakfast. You can also make them ahead and reheat them in a hot skillet.
Why Chickpea Flour?
The all-purpose flour helps the fritters hold together, but we found using straight all-purpose, the fritters’ texture was slightly gummy. Thus the reason for the all-purpose-chickpea combo. If you don’t have chickpea flour, however, you can use straight all-purpose.
Chopping Veggies for Vegetable Fritters
You can chop the vegetable in one of two ways. If you have a food processor, cut the vegetable into medium chunks and pulse in a food processor until most of the vegetable is finely chopped. Dump on the counter and continue to chop until larger pieces are finely chopped. If you don’t have a food process (or don’t want to dirty one) simply hand chop.
Tester Feedback
One recipe tester said: “As much as I loved them, my mom loved them even more. She was low-key freaking out about how good they were and insisted I send her the recipe and then reminded me 30 minutes later that I hadn’t sent it yet… then she sent me two emails about them.”
Variations on Vegetable Fritters
I love them all, almost equally, but my favorite is the Curried Cauliflower Fritters. You can use this root formula with any combination of veggies/herbs/spices but here are the four Variations we created for you to try:
- Five-Spice Sweet Potato Fritters
- Curried Cauliflower Fritters
- Basil-Broccoli Fritters
- Chili Carrot Fritters
Vegetable Fritters (A Root Formula)
Recipe Notes
Ingredients
- 1 pound (about 4 cups) finely chopped Vegetable
- 1/2 cup each: all-purpose and chickpea flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon Spice Blend
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced scallions or finely diced onion
- 1/4 cup packed Chopped Fresh Herbs`
- 1/2 cup plant milk, your choice
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Heat a large (12-inch) skillet or 2 medium (10-inch) nonstick skillets over low heat. Prepare Vegetable.
- Mix flours, baking powder, salt and Spice Blend and add to Vegetable, along with scallions and Herbs; toss to coat. Add milk; mix with hands to combine. Using wet hands, divide mixture into 12 equal mounds and set on a baking sheet.
- Before forming fritters, increase heat to medium-low and add 2 tablespoons of the oil to the large skillet (or 1 tablespoon each to the medium skillets). Reading note above, add the fritters and cook until impressively brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Turn fritters and continue cooking until second side is impressively brown, another 4 to 5 minutes, adding a little drizzle of oil after turning them to keep them gently sizzling. Serve with sauce of choice.
