Fried Zucchini with Citrus Sauce

Zucchini is an ingredient that I generally feel slightly indifferent about.

Sure, I’ll pick one out of my produce drawer when I need some extra veggies for an omelet or I’m making a Hibachi-inspired stir-fry. But I don’t often seek them out as the star of a dish.

That is, until a pile of fritters fell into my lap.

Not literally. That would hurt if they were freshly fried.

Several years ago, my dad shared a recipe he discovered for zucchini fritters. Most of his culinary creations came from inside of his head (or Julia Child’s), so when he passed along something he found online, I was all ears.

And forks.

The method called for succulent shreds of zucchini to be tossed with oniony scallions, briny feta, flour, and fresh dill. The salty fritters were served with a simple, creamy citrus sauce. And I couldn’t get enough of them.

Although these made a lovely landing pad for fried eggs and a superb side for a simple chicken dinner, they didn’t satisfy that “poppable” craving that, for lack of a better word, often popped into my head.

When my college roommate and I would visit her parents in South Carolina, we were always greeted with warm hugs and steaming plates of fried yellow squash.

It must’ve been a Southern tradition, because my family would welcome us into their North Carolina home with love and lox.

Yep. Love and Lox is definitely going to be the name of my next cookbook. But I digress…

In South Carolina, those sunny-colored circles were simply dusted in flour, fried in oil, and sprinkled with salt. After enjoying them on a dozen of those road trips, they had flown to the top of my “poppable” list.

This fried zucchini takes my dad’s favorite fritters and those mouthwatering college memories, and melds them together to create one addictive appetizer.

For starters, the batter has a secret.

Shh, it’s not beer.

It could be beer, if you’re feeling frisky and want to add a hoppy kick to your veggies. But no, this batter’s superpower is soda water.

While the panko breadcrumbs give the exterior of the fried zucchini its crackly crust, the carbonated beverage in the batter gives each salty slice a light, airy bite.

Zucchini’s mellow, delicate flavor pairs wonderfully with a zippy citrus sauce. My dad’s go-to fritters call for a sour cream and lemon duo, but these fried rounds get a lift from lime and some creamy thickness from mayo. (And okay, there’s a little sour cream in there too, because why not?)

Fried food doesn’t have a reputation for being the healthiest cooking preparation on the block, but look at it this way:

You could have lowered a beignet, a stick of cheese, or even a candy bar into that bubbling vat of oil.

But instead, you chose a vegetable. You win!

Whether you pop every one of these crispy morsels in your own mouth (no judgment here) or share them as a finger food starter at your next holiday party, one thing is certain.

You’ll look at zucchini in a whole different light… And that light is deep-fried.

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Cooking By the Numbers…

Step 1 – Make the Citrus Sauce

First, measure out and prep all of your ingredients. Zest and juice the citrus, and chop the parsley with a sharp knife on a sturdy cutting board. Slice the zucchini into 1/2-inch-thick rounds.

In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise (learn how to make mayo from scratch!), sour cream, mustard, lime zest and juice, parsley, cayenne, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors meld.

You can also substitute in another citrus fruit like orange or lemon. The lemon will make a sauce that’s more tart, and the orange will be sweeter.

Step 2 – Make the Batter and Place the Panko Breadcrumbs in a Bowl

In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper.

Slowly add the soda water, whisking as you pour to make sure there aren’t any lumps, until the mixture resembles a thin pancake batter.

Place the panko into a deep, wide bowl.

Step 3 – Prep the Zucchini for Frying

A few at a time, dip the zucchini rounds into the wet batter and then into the breadcrumbs, pressing to adhere. Keep one hand wet and one hand dry so that you don’t get large, wet crumbs in the dry panko.

Repeat with the remaining rounds, and set the prepared zucchini aside on a plate.

Step 4 – Heat the Oil

Prepare a paper towel-lined plate near the stovetop.

Heat about 1 inch of oil over medium heat in a heavy-bottomed saucepot or Dutch oven until it reaches 350°F. You could also use your deep fryer to make this recipe.

We use vegetable oil in this recipe, but if you want to try a different option, review our top recommended oils for deep frying.

You’ll know the oil is ready when you drip in a small amount of the batter, or a couple of the breaded slices as testers, and it bubbles immediately.

Step 5 – Fry and Serve

Working in batches so you don’t crowd the pan and lower the temperature of the oil, carefully drop in several of the zucchini rounds at a time. When the bottoms turn golden brown, in about 30-45 seconds, flip them over and cook on the other side until golden. The second side will usually take less time to brown.

Using a slotted spoon, remove the fried zucchini and place them on the paper towel-lined plate to absorb any excess oil.

While they’re still hot, sprinkle them with the remaining salt. Serve warm, with the citrus sauce on the side for dipping.

You can reheat these in the oven, but they don’t crisp up as nicely when they’re served as leftovers, so eat as many as you can while they’re freshly fried!