Only 2 net carbs, these Low Carb Cheesy Zucchini Fritters with Bacon make a fantastic low-calorie starter or side dish. They are filled with veggies, cheese and bacon goodness and can be enjoyed with ranch or sour cream.

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What Is a Fritter?

Fritter derives from the Late Latin word frictura which means a fry. That word comes from the Latin word frigere which also means to fry or roast.

The sweet cakes also qualify to be called fritters. Beignets from France, bigne from Italy, and loukoumades from Greece are the most common examples. The batter frying technique was introduced to Japan by Spaniards and Portuguese during the 16th century which resulted in the dish tempura. It consists of a mix fry of shrimp, vegetables, and herbs and is now a common dish in Japan.

Another example is the Indian pakora which is a fritter with a deep fried savory cake filled with veggies, eggplant, and cauliflower. The italian dish Fritto misto consists of vegetables, meat, and seafood that are all battered and fried. A common specialty dish in different regions also includes flower fritters which can be made with daylilies, violet, and zucchini flowers.

Are Fritters Keto?

And of course, the answer would be “it depends”.

What goes into a fritter depends on whether it’s made with a fruit, veg or a type of meat and what the fritter recipe calls for as a batters.

Fritters made for keto diets are made with only low-carb veggies or fruit and avoid flour, cornstarch, or other traditional frying .

Keto fritters are now made using batters that call for almond or coconut flour, surprisingly, crushed pork rinds a true keto delicacy.

Important Step: Draining Zucchini for Crispy Fritters

The key to creating crispy veggie fritters is to get as much water out as possible from the grated veggie mixture. Zucchini is mostly water, so getting out moisture is key. If moisture is not dealt with, the anarid flour mixture will absorb the water.

leading to mushy fritters that will steam and not stay bound as they cook.
Getting moisture out is simple, but is essential to getting right:

Salting: Just sprinkling grated zuchinni with salt followed by a wait time will help get moisture out. Let the salt pull moisture out and wait for a long time of 20 minutes.

As the time is most often rushed and ending up getting less moisture out.

The squeeze test: Depending on the amount of moisture to be let out, a good technique to use is to get a clean towel or cheese cloth and twist the towel to let the liquid out.

You should be left with a crumbly mixture to then be combined with the eggs and some flour with which to hold the mixture together.

Ingredients Needed to Make Low Carb Cheesy Zucchini Fritters

Zucchini
Bacon
Superfine Almond Flour
Garlic
Cheddar cheese
Green onions
Pink sea salt
Egg
Fresh cracked black pepper
Sour cream (optional)
Fresh snipped chives (optional)

How to Make Low Carb Cheesy Zucchini Fritters With Bacon

Step 1: Place grated zucchini in a colander over the sink and sprinkle salt over. Toss it a bit and leave it for 20 min. Once the time is done, take a clean dish towel and wrap it around the zucchini. Squeeze and remove the water.

Step 2: While that sits, get a large skillet and over medium heat, cook the bacon until it’s crispy,

Then take it off the heat and let it cool on a paper towel while reserving the bacon grease. Once cool, chop it into bits.

Step 3: In a large bowl, combine zucchini, bacon, green onions, garlic and salt and pepper to taste, then add an egg and some almond flour. Mix it up.

Step 4: In a medium heat, warm the bacon fat in the skillet. Add one batter scoop into the hot skillet, and flatten it with a spatula. Do this for multiple fritters and fry for 2 minutes until they turn a golden brown and are ready to move.

Step 5: Carefully flip the fritters to fry the other side for 1-2 minutes.

Step 6: Top with fresh chives and sour cream.

Low Carb Serving Suggestions

These zucchini fritters work great as an appetizer, a side, or a light lunch. You might consider these combinations if you want to make them into a more complete low-carb meal!

For Dipping Sauce: Aside from the standard sour cream and chives, you can make a fast Avocado-Ranch Dressing (blend avocado, keto ranch, and a little lemon juice) or a quick Garlic Aioli (mix mayo with minced garlic and some pepper).

A Simple Green Salad: You can combine a big bowl of crisp sliced romaine lettuce or spring mix with some lightly dressed olive oil and apple cider vinegar to make a great side salad with the fritters.

Soup Pairing: To make the meal cozier, you could complement the fritters with a low-carb soup, like a creamy Broccoli Cheddar or a Cauliflower and Bacon Chowder.

For a Main Dish Side: It makes a great accompaniment to pan-seared meats, like with grilled salmon, baked chicken breast, or a juicy sirloin steak as a main course.

FAQS

What do you do to make the keto-friendly zucchini fritters very crispy?

Firstly, it is necessary to remove as much water from the zucchini as possible, so do not skip the 20 minutes letting water drain from the colander and make sure to wring it out in a clean dish towel.

Then, to make sure the outside is evenly fried, don’t skimp on bacon fat or oil.

Also, to avoid steaming the batter from on top of the zucchini, it is essential not to overcrowd the pan. When enlarged, the surface area allows for uniform frying, and you can make sure to serve the fritters immediately so they will stay fresh and hot.

What is the best way to save low carb zucchini fritters?

To preserve zucchini fritters, keep them sealed in a container in the fridge for 4 days.

To bring them back to freshness, heat the oven to 400 degrees F, put the fritters on a sheet pan, and heat for 10 minutes.

You can also freeze these cooked Low Carb Cheesy Zucchini Fritters with Bacon. Spread the newly made fritters on a flat surface and freeze them until solid. Afterward, you can zip them in a bag to keep for a longer period.

Final Thoughts on Low Carb Cheesy Zucchini Fritters With Bacon

I don’t know what to say, but these fritters might be the most addictive food I have ever eaten.

and this has been the case for my family and friends as well! Everybody get’s thrilled as soon as these zucchini fritters are up for preparation!

A quick tip: these Low Carb Cheesy Zucchini Fritters with Bacon may look small, and you might be tempted to make them larger, but resist the urge. They are quite delicate when flipping, and bigger fritters tend to fall apart, turning into a crumbled zucchini “hash” in the pan. Keep them small and bite-sized for the best results.