Golden fritters with tender shrimp, cheddar, and zucchini. Great appetizer or light meal, simple steps, ready fast.
# Components:
→ Vegetables
01 - 2 medium zucchinis, coarsely grated (about 2 cups)
02 - 2 green onions, finely sliced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Seafood
04 - 7 ounces raw shrimp, peeled, deveined, and chopped
→ Dairy
05 - 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
06 - 2 large eggs
→ Dry Ingredients
07 - 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
08 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
→ Seasonings
09 - 1 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
11 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
→ For Frying
12 - 3 to 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
# Directions:
01 - Place the grated zucchini in a clean kitchen towel and firmly squeeze out excess liquid until nearly dry.
02 - In a large bowl, mix the squeezed zucchini, chopped shrimp, grated cheddar, sliced green onions, and minced garlic thoroughly.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, then add all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika. Stir until a smooth batter forms.
04 - Fold the egg-flour mixture into the zucchini-shrimp mixture, stirring gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing for tender fritters.
05 - Pour vegetable oil into a large non-stick skillet and preheat over medium heat.
06 - Drop two heaping tablespoons of mixture per fritter into the skillet, flatten gently with a spatula. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes per side, turning once, until deeply golden and cooked through.
07 - Transfer cooked fritters to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb extra oil. Serve hot with preferred dipping sauce.
