Zucchini and Herb Maakouda Fritters

Name: Zucchini and Herb Maakouda Fritters
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: North African
Ingredients: 1.5 lbs russet potatoes, peeled, boiled; 1 large zucchini, grated, squeezed; 2 large eggs, beaten; 1/4 cup all-purpose flour; 1 tsp ground cumin; 1/2 tsp ground coriander; 1/2 tsp ground turmeric; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped; 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped; 1 tsp kosher salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground; 6 tbsp olive oil, for frying

Golden pan-fried potato and zucchini fritters seasoned with cumin, coriander, and fresh herbs - a beloved North African street snack and mezze staple. They are crispy on the outside and tender inside, excellent with harissa or yogurt dip.

45 minEasyServes 4220 cal/serving

North AfricanAppetizerStovetopVegetarianHalal-friendlyLow-SodiumPork-FreeAlcohol-FreeCorn-Free

Cook this free in the appFree. No download, no account. The screen stays awake and each step can run its own timer.

Ingredients

1.5 lbs russet potatoes, peeled, boiled
1 large zucchini, grated, squeezed
2 large eggs, beaten
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground turmeric
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
6 tbsp olive oil, for frying

Instructions

1

Boil 1.5 lbs peeled, boiled russet potatoes until tender when pierced, about 15-20 minutes. Drain and mash while still warm until smooth. Let cool slightly.
2

Grate 1 large zucchini on the large holes of a box grater. Wrap in a clean kitchen towel and wring out as much moisture as possible.
3

In a large bowl, combine the mashed potatoes, squeezed zucchini, 2 beaten large eggs, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp ground coriander, 1/2 tsp ground turmeric, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro, 1 tsp kosher salt, and 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper. Mix well until a cohesive mixture forms.
4

Heat 6 tbsp for frying olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Scoop about 3 tablespoons of the potato mixture per fritter and flatten gently into a patty about 1/2 inch thick.
5

Fry fritters in batches without crowding, 3-4 minutes per side, until deep golden and crispy. Adjust heat as needed to prevent burning.
6

Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate. Serve warm with harissa and plain yogurt for dipping.

Cook this free in the appCooking it now? The app keeps the screen awake and times each step. Free, nothing to install.

Keep this recipe

Prints the ingredients and method only.

The North African Kitchen 30 recipes from this kitchen in one printable PDF. $5, no account.

Questions

How much time should I plan for Zucchini and Herb Maakouda Fritters?

As written, 45 minutes: 25 of prep and 20 of cooking. The longest single stretch is step 1 (20 minutes): "Boil 1.5 lbs peeled, boiled russet potatoes until tender when pierced, about 15-20 minutes."

How do I know when Zucchini and Herb Maakouda Fritters is done?

Go by the cues in the method rather than the clock. Step 5: cook until deep golden and crispy.

Why salt and drain the vegetables in Zucchini and Herb Maakouda Fritters?

Salt pulls water out. Doing it at step 3 means that water ends up in the colander rather than in the finished dish.

Is there a substitute for cilantro in Zucchini and Herb Maakouda Fritters?

The entry for Zucchini and Herb Maakouda Fritters calls for 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped. In its place: Flat-leaf parsley with a squeeze of lime, for anyone who tastes soap. The dish loses its signature note but stays fresh.

Can I make Zucchini and Herb Maakouda Fritters gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in Zucchini and Herb Maakouda Fritters is 1/4 cup all-purpose flour. Swap the flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend (where it only thickens a sauce, half as much cornstarch also works). Everything else proceeds as written.

Is Zucchini and Herb Maakouda Fritters vegan?

No, though it is vegetarian. What keeps it from vegan is 2 large eggs, beaten. For fully plant-based entries, see the vegan appetizer collection.

Serve it with

Cook this free in the app

Textual Chef is 4,544 plain-text recipes, free to read and free to cook from. No account, no paywall, no ads, no life stories. Open this one in the app and each quantity sits inside the step that uses it, so you read once and cook.

Every recipe is curated or public-domain sourced, written to one template and checked before it publishes. Nothing here is a scraped blog post.

Cook this free in the appNo download needed. It opens in your browser. The kitchen tools (planner, shopping list, pantry, import) are $5.33 a month billed annually; the first 30 days are free.