These Vegetable Fritters, made with zucchini, carrot, corn and bell pepper, are sure to be a hit with the whole family. Great as a snack, pop them in the lunchbox or serve them as part of the main meal.
Why Vegetable Fritters are Great for Kids
- Exposure to Vegetables: Exposing our children to different vegetables is key. The veggies in these fritters are in plain sight but are perhaps more appealing to children. Vegetable fritters could be a good stepping stone for getting children to accept the same veggies in a different way.
- Finger Food: Kids seem to love finger foods, add a dip for extra kid appeal.
- Easy To Adapt: Measurements don’t have to be precise and you can use different veggies.
- Easy to Make: Get the kids to help grate and mix the fritters together.
What You Need
Here are the ingredients you need to make delicious vegetable fritters.
Substitutes
- Make it Egg-Free: Swap out the eggs for flax eggs. I found the mixture a little more difficult to handle but it still held together well to make the fritters.
- Make it Dairy Free: The Parmesan cheese provides flavour but also helps to crisp up the fritters. If eliminating you may wish to add more flavour through herbs or seasoning. A little more oil, when frying, will help with crisping.
- No Chickpea Flour?: You can substitute with plain (all-purpose) flour.
How To Make Vegetable Fritters
The great thing about fritters is how easy they are to make.
- Squeeze out the liquid from the Zucchini and Carrot: When making these, you want to make sure you squeeze excess water out of the zucchini (courgette) and carrots. If you skip this step then you will change the consistency of the batter and they won’t flip properly.
- Mix all the ingredient together
- Fry: Heat 1/2 tbsp of oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Fill an ice cream scoop with the mixture and drop into the pan. Flatten slightly with a fork/spatula. Fry for 2-3 minutes on each side.
Serving Suggestions
Finger foods always seem to be a winner with kids and these are no different. You can serve them with a dip of choice or as part of a lunch or main meal. If your kids don’t mind cold food then you could also pop a couple of these into a lunch box the next day.
Storage Instructions
- Refrigerate – Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for 2-3 days.
- Freeze – Freeze on a baking tray until frozen, once frozen transfer to a freezable container/ziplock bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheat – Thaw then gently heat them through in a dry frying pan.
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Have you tried this recipe? I love receiving your feedback, please rate and leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @healthylittlefoodies
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Vegetable Fritters
Equipment
- Frying Pan
Ingredients
- 1 Medium Zucchini (Courgette), grated Approx 1 cup / 130g
- 1 Small Carrot, grated Approx 1/2 cup / 60g
- 1/2 Red Capsicum (Bell Pepper), finely diced Approx 1/2 cup / 75g
- 75g (½ cup) Corn Kernels
- 30g (¼ cup) Parmesan, grated Can be omitted for dairy free version
- 1 tbsp Parsley, finely chopped
- 2 Eggs
- 60g (½ cup) Chickpea Flour Can substitute with Plain (all-purpose) flour
- 1 tbsp Oil, for frying
Instructions
- Place the grated carrots and zucchini on a clean cloth and squeeze as much water out of them. Place in a mixing bowl.
- Add the peppers, corn, parsley and parmesan and mix until combined.
- Add the egg and stir until mixed. Finally add the flour and mix until combined.
- In a large frying pan, heat 1/2 tbsp of the oil on medium low heat. Fill up an ice cream scoop with the mixture and drop into the pan. Flatten slightly with a fork / spatula. Fry for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
Recipe Notes
*This post was originally published Nov 6th 2016. It has been updated to include new images, more recipe information and to answer FAQ.
Sandhya says
Can I freeze this precooked?
Amy says
Hi Snadhya, I always freeze them cooked and reheat. I’ve never tried freezing them precooked so can’t say how they would be, sorry.
Dani says
What age can I start giving this, my daughter is 6 months
Amy says
Hi Dani, this really depends on the baby and feeding method. I believe I first gave my youngest these around 7 months. You can blend/chop the corn and pepper up smaller.
Jenny says
These look wonderful! What kind of dips would you recommend to go with them?
Amy says
Hi Jenny, I usually whip up a yoghurt based dip. My kids love greek yoghurt mixed with fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, salt (skip if for baby) and pepper. They also love greek yoghurt with a little lime juice, smoked paprika, mayonnaise, salt and pepper. This avocado dip is also a good option
Helen says
My grandson loves these fritters. I make a batch and freeze them so I always have them ready for him. Thank you.
Amy says
So happy he likes them, Helen. 🙂
Leia says
I’ve made this recipe so many different ways and it’s always great! I’ve used egg, flax, chickpea flour, white flour, and every variation, I sometimes leave out the corn, or pepper if I don’t have on hand. It’s a regular in our rotation for my one year old!
Amy says
Great to know, thanks so much Leia 🙂
Bry says
Hey, I found your site a couple of months ago and have been loving your recipes! I have a two year old and another on the way so healthy lunch/on the go meal ideas are always great. Love this recipe, I added a few scallions and a clove of minced garlic. Two year old demolished 3 of these plus 3 chicken drumsticks for dinner tonight, couldn’t believe he ate so much! Have the veggies all chopped in the fridge ready to go for tomorrow’s lunch. Thanks for a great and adaptable recipe!
Amy says
Thanks Bry, it sounds like you have quite the little foodie! Glad you are enjoying the site and thanks for the 5 stars 🙂
Katie L says
Could I sub almond flour for these or would that change the taste too much?
Amy says
Hi Katie, I’m not sure as I haven’t tried it with this recipe. I have tried with a different vegetable fritter recipe and it didn’t work great.
Omnia says
This is amazing, baby hasn’t tried it yet but I have finished two already while making the first batch 🙂
Amy says
Ha ha! I do the same! Glad you enjoy them and hope baby does too!
Paige says
Can you use air fryer to make these?
Amy says
Hi Paige, I have never tried making these in an air fryer but I’d say it is worth a try. 🙂
Karen says
This recipe looks great. Will they freeze?
Amy says
Hi Karen, yes they freeze 🙂
Priyanka says
Hey what cn u substitute fr eggs
Amy says
Hi Priyanka, You could try a flax egg but as I haven’t tried it then I can’t say for sure how it will turn out. Here is some more info on egg substitutes. https://www.healthylittlefoodies.com/baking-substitutes-for-eggs/ Let me know how you get on 🙂
Batel says
Hey!
Will these work if you bake them as well?
Amy says
Hi Batel, I haven’t tried baking these but I have baked other fritters and they worked well. Worth a try. 🙂
Britni says
What can I substitute for the chickpea flour? It’s not available at any of our local grocery stores!
Amy says
Hi Britni, I’m so sorry for the late response. You can sub for plain (all purpose) flour 🙂
John doe says
Try a local indian grocery store. They call it besan.
Lisa says
Do you have a suggestion for making this recipe egg free?
Amy says
Hi Lisa, You could try a flax egg 🙂
Sarah says
My vegetable hater is devouring these as I type this. From the bottom of heart, I thank you!! The number of vegetables she is eating right now is incredible! We use a lot of spices in our house so I added garlic and onion powder for some added flavor. These are fantastic!!
Amy says
This comment has made my day, Sarah. I’m delighted that your veggie hater gives these the seal of approval! Thank you for taking the time to let me know 🙂
Nes says
I really want to try this recipe. My kids like fritters and I LOVE that you used chickpea flour instead of the usual. But what can I use instead of the parmesan?
Amy says
Hi Nes. I’m so sorry, I could have sworn I had already responded to your message but it has appeared in my unread comments again. You can just miss out the parmesan, maybe add some herbs for flavour. They may be less crispy without the cheese.
Amy says
Do you use cooked veg for this recipe? Is it diced or grated? Thanks for your help
Amy says
Hi Amy, no need to cook the vegetables beforehand. I use grated zucchini and carrot and finely chopped bell pepper (capsicum).
Krystle says
I absolutely love these!! So does my daughter! They are one of her favorites, I even made them for her first birthday party and they were a huge hit! Thank you!
Amy says
That is lovely to read, Krystle. So glad these are such a hit with your family 🙂
Janne says
Can’t wait to try this recipe. Just wondering if I can use unsalted sweet corn for the corn kernels? (LO is 7 months)
Amy says
Hi Janne, unsalted is perfect 🙂
Betsy says
I always have trouble with any critter containing zucchini is wet and seems uncooked in the middle despite my best efforts to squeeze the water out.
Amy says
Hi Betsy, was this the case when you tried these? Maybe you could try turning the heat down and cooking it for longer on each side?
Christy says
I often shredded my zucchini them salt and let sit in a strainer for a bit before squeezing. More effective at getting the water out.
Lindsay says
Do the corn kernels cook well? Do they soften? Or is the corn already cooked corn?
Vanessa says
Thanks for sharing! Do they keep long?
Suzanne says
This looks so good! Where can I get capsicum pepper? What else can I use it in?
Amy says
Hi Suzanne, capsicum is what we call a bell pepper in Australia. 🙂
Erin says
My son loves dipping these in yogurt for lunch, as do I! It’s a great family lunch to share. Like most little fritters and pancakes, I like to make these on the electric griddle, I can get more done at once that way. Thank you!
Amy says
Thanks Erin, I want an electric griddle now!!
Nes says
Did you use oil on the electric griddle or??
Breanna Javier says
These fritters turned out SO DELISH. Since I was super anxious to make them and didn’t have time for a grocery run, I used veggies I had just laying around (bell pepper, corn, carrots, scallion, peas, broccoli) and all purpose flour. I used some Italian seasoning and garlic / onion powder. Let’s just say it took a lot of will power for me to not gobble them up myself, and I normally hate veggies!! Oh, my 9 month old loved them too 😉
Amy says
Brilliant! Thanks, Breanna for taking the time to tell me, it really means a lot. Glad you enjoyed them 🙂
Carleen Salzman says
LOVE these fritters! My picky 20 month old really enjoyed these!!
Amy says
Thanks Carleen, so happy your little one liked them and thanks for taking the time to let me know. 🙂
Rachel says
I made these for my almost 10 month old and he demolished them! I used dairy free cheese as he has cmpa, and also added a finely chopped spring onion (scallion in some parts of the world). Hubby said they smelled lovely as I was cooking them too.
Amy says
Great, so happy they were a success 🙂
Moon says
Hey, your recipe is great! I would like to make for my 9+months and 10 years. One query, how do I freeze it? Thanks in advance.
Amy says
Hi Moon, To freeze I place them on a baking tray (so that they are not touching) and once frozen you can transfer to a freezable bag/container.
Jolene says
Looks Delish. Can I use Cheddar instead of Parmesan?
Amy says
Hi Jolene, thank you! Cheddar should work too 🙂
Carly says
Hi. I just made these for my little girl and she loved them, thanks for the recipe! Plus they were super easy and freeze…perfect for when I go back to work!
Amy says
Hi Carly, thanks for the feedback. So happy you like them and great that you are building up a freezer stash!
Sweets says
Hey, Amy just trying them now but did you add any spices?
Amy says
Hi Sweets, I haven’t added any to the recipe but they taste great with different spices or fresh herbs. Definitely go ahead and add your favourite spices for extra flavour.
Sarah says
What is chickpea flour? Can you make your own? I have a can of chickpeaa
Do I put them in the blender?
Amy says
I just buy chickpea flour but you would need to process dried chickpeas if you wanted to make your own. You can replace the chickpea flour with all-purpose.
Kim says
Can you use something other than chickpea flour. It’s not a staple in our house. Thanks
Amy says
Hi Kim, yes you can replace with plain flour 🙂
irene says
can i use plain flour or corn flour instead of chickpea flour
thanks
Amy says
Hi Irene, yes you can. Enjoy 🙂
Jamie says
Thank you! My 9 mos old loved them! About to serve them to my 3 yr old and I think we have a new favorite for our to-go snacks! So I was so anxious to try them that I had to make a few substitutions with what I already had in my pantry and they came out great so thought I would share. I used almond flour and dill (instead of chickpea flour and parsley).
Amy says
Great, thanks Jamie! I love when people leave their successful substitutions as it helps me give feedback to other readers. So happy they were a hit!
Stacey says
Amazing! I made them for my little guy in an effort to sneak more veggies into the day. I used some chopped leftover broccoli, red pepper, carrot, corn and about 2tbsp of chopped red onion. I also added some garlic powder, s/p and paprika. Best fritters ever!!!
Amy says
Thanks Stacey! So, so happy you loved them. Comments like this really do make my day 🙂
Kasia says
Hi there,
I don’t have chickpea flour. Can i use any kind of flour?
Thanks!
Amy says
Hi Kasia, yes – you can replace with all-purpose flour 🙂
Susan says
These sound perfect for my fussy 20 month old grandson, though I’m not crazy about frying. Do you think they could be baked instead? If so, what would be your recommendations for cooking them? Thanks so much!
Amy says
Hi Susan, I have never tried baking them so I can’t say for sure, sorry. I would try brushing/spraying them with a little oil before baking.
Hannah says
These look yummy and making them at the moment. Do you freeze the batter or freeze them once they have been fried? Thanks so much
Amy says
Hi Hannah, thank you! I freeze them once they have been fried. 🙂
Christine says
Hello,
Any good substitutions for the cheese? Or can it be omitted completely? My daughter has a dairy, nut, soy, egg, wheat allergy, so “cashew nut” won’t work either. Looking forward to trying these!
Thanks!
Amy says
Hi Christine, I just added the cheese for a bit more flavour. It should still hold together well with out it. Let me know how they go for you. Out of interest, have you tried nutritional yeast? It can give a cheesy flavour and I know a lot of vegans use it a lot.
Simina says
Hello, do you know it these could be fried on a non stick pan without oil or fried with butter?
Amy says
Hi Simina, I use a non stick pan but still need a little oil. You could easily replace it with butter if you prefer though. Thanks, Amy.
Tiffany says
How do you defrost if you freeze? Microwave?
Amy says
Hi Tiffany, I usually defrost overnight in the fridge
Lauren says
Delishious!
Amy says
Thank you!
MaryAnn says
Will these work as cold snacks on the go?
Amy says
Hi MaryAnn, I often pop these, cold, in my son’s lunch box and they always get eaten ??
Lauren says
My 1yo loooves these! So colourful and delicious! Kept they’re shape well and fried up beautifully. This will be a regular snack or meal at my house!
Amy says
Brilliant! So glad these were a hit, thank you for your feedback ?
Aradhna says
Is there any alternative to eggs?
Amy says
Hi Aradhna, You could try using a flax or chia “egg”. I haven’t tried it myself in this recipe so can’t guarantee how it would work. Please let me know if you try it and how it works out.
Thanks
Amy
Jay says
How long are these good in the fridge? Could you freeze them?
Amy says
Hi Jay, I haven’t stored them in the fridge for long but I have frozen them and they defrost well.
Alison says
If I freeze these, what is the best way to reheat? Could I pop them in the toaster or would they fall apart?
Amy says
Hi Alison, I think they could fall apart in the toaster. I would reheat in the oven or you could also try the microwave.
Tracey says
Hi Amy are the weights of the grated carrot and zucchini in the recipe before squeezing the water out or before?
Thank you!
Amy says
Hi Tracey, the weight is before you squeeze the liquid. Enjoy!
Tracey says
Hello
Can these be baked in the oven?
Thanks!
Amy says
I’ve never tried baked them myself but I’m sure someone wrote to me saying that they baked them and they turned out well. Let me know if you try it ?
Rachel says
Is there an alternative to chickpea flour?
Amy says
Hi Rachel, You can just use plain flour in this recipe. ?
Giulia says
Will almond flour work well? These look great!
Amy says
Thanks Giulia, I have never tried almond flour in this recipe so can’t say for sure, sorry. I have however seen some vegetable fritter recipes that use almond flour so I’m presuming it would work. Please let me know if you try it, i’d love to know how it turns out.
Emma says
Are these suitable for Baby LED Weaning at 6 months old?
Amy says
Hi Emma, you may want to reduce the amount of cheese, or leave it out completely to keep sodium levels down. I did BLW with my second child and really fed him what we were eating (as long as it was healthy and didn’t contain too much salt)
Hally says
These were a huge hit with my 8 month old! The fritters were easy for him to hold/eat and he proudly picked up the corn and capsicum pieces that fell out, using his new found pincer. Thank you for such a great recipe that’s easy too.
Amy says
I’m so glad they were a hit and thanks for taking the time to let me know. 🙂
Brittany Li says
Does this freeze well?
Amy says
Hi Brittany, yes you can freeze them 🙂