Zucchini Lentil Fritters With Lemony Yogurt Food

ZUCCHINI-LENTIL FRITTERS WITH LEMONY YOGURT

Steps:

• Lemony yogurt:
• Whisk yogurt, lemon juice, and sugar in a small bowl to combine. Season with salt.
• Do Ahead: Yogurt can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
• Fritters:
• Rinse lentils, then soak in 2 cups water at room temperature at least 1 hour and up to 12 hours. (Soaking the lentils makes them tender and a lot easier to blend.)
• Meanwhile, trim ends of zucchini and cut crosswise into 3 pieces about 2" long. Cut each piece lengthwise into ¼"-thick planks. Stack a few planks and slice lengthwise into ¼"-thick matchsticks (about the size of a skinny french fry). Transfer zucchini to a colander set in a medium bowl. Add onion and 1 tsp. salt and toss to combine. Let sit until vegetables look wilted and softened and about 1 Tbsp. liquid has released into bowl, 30 minutes to 2 hours. Gently pat dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture.
• Drain lentils and transfer to a food processor. Add chile powder, turmeric, and ¾ tsp. salt. Pulse, scraping down sides, until a purée forms. Transfer to a medium bowl and add zucchini and onion, parsley, and lemon zest. Toss with a rubber spatula to combine.
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with paper towels; set a wire rack inside. Heat ghee in a medium cast-iron skillet over medium-high until a pinch of batter added to the pan sizzles and sputters. Using a large spoon, scoop out about ¼ cup batter, then use a second large spoon dipped in the hot ghee to carefully scrape into pan; flatten with ghee-coated spoon. Repeat to make 3 more fritters. Fry until deep golden brown underneath, about 3 minutes. Turn over with a wide slotted spatula and fry until deep golden brown on the second side, about 3 minutes. Transfer fritters to prepared rack to drain; season immediately with salt. Repeat with remaining batter (you end up with 8-10 fritters total).
• Transfer fritters to a platter. Serve with lemony yogurt alongside.

ZUCCHINI-LENTIL FRITTERS WITH LEMONY YOGURT

Steps:

• PreparationLemony yogurt: Whisk yogurt, lemon juice, and sugar in a small bowl to combine. Season with salt. Do Ahead: Yogurt can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Fritters: Rinse lentils, then soak in 2 cups water at room temperature at least 1 hour and up to 12 hours. (Soaking the lentils makes them tender and a lot easier to blend.) Meanwhile, trim ends of zucchini and cut crosswise into 3 pieces about 2" long. Cut each piece lengthwise into ¼"-thick planks. Stack a few planks and slice lengthwise into ¼"-thick matchsticks (about the size of a skinny french fry). Transfer zucchini to a colander set in a medium bowl. Add onion and 1 tsp. salt and toss to combine. Let sit until vegetables look wilted and softened and about 1 Tbsp. liquid has released into bowl, 30 minutes to 2 hours. Gently pat dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture. Drain lentils and transfer to a food processor. Add chile powder, turmeric, and ¾ tsp. salt. Pulse, scraping down sides, until a purée forms. Transfer to a medium bowl and add zucchini and onion, parsley, and lemon zest. Toss with a rubber spatula to combine. Line a rimmed baking sheet with paper towels; set a wire rack inside. Heat ghee in a medium cast-iron skillet over medium-high until a pinch of batter added to the pan sizzles and sputters. Using a large spoon, scoop out about ¼ cup batter, then use a second large spoon dipped in the hot ghee to carefully scrape into pan; flatten with ghee-coated spoon. Repeat to make 3 more fritters. Fry until deep golden brown underneath, about 3 minutes. Turn over with a wide slotted spatula and fry until deep golden brown on the second side, about 3 minutes. Transfer fritters to prepared rack to drain; season immediately with salt. Repeat with remaining batter (you end up with 8-10 fritters total). Transfer fritters to a platter. Serve with lemony yogurt alongside.

MEDITERRANEAN ZUCCHINI FRITTERS WITH SENSATIONAL YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• For Sensational Dipping Sauce: Combine all ingredients in a mini-processor and whiz to combine. Check for seasoning and add salt and pepper to suit your taste. Thin with a little more water, if necessary. The sauce should be made first to allow flavours to blend and mingle and cool in the refrigerator. (can be made up to 2 days ahead).
• For Zucchini Fritters: Lightly salt the grated zucchini and put in a colander to drain excess water for ½ an hour to 45 minutes. Squeeze out excess water by pressing on handfuls of zucchini at the end of this time.
• Wilt the onion and garlic in the 1 tblsp olive oil, in a small saucepan, for 4-5 minutes, or until translucent and softened.
• Combine all the fritter ingredients in a large bowl to make a uniform mixture (this includes the zucchini and wilted onion mixture). Season to suit your taste with salt and pepper (careful - the feta cheese will already be quite salty, and there will also be salt in the zucchini from the initial draining). The mixture will be soft and sticky.
• Take a generous tablespoonful of the dough and form (delicately) into a patty. Dredge in flour. Repeat, using up all zucchini mixture.
• Heat oil in large skillet, over medium-high heat, and shallow-fry patties until they are golden brown. Flip over and repeat on other side. Remove as they are fried to paper towels to drain while you continue with remaining patties in the same manner, topping up oil, if necessary.
• Serve the patties with the dipping sauce and enjoy!