Savory Baked Zucchini Cakes
This is based--very loosely!--on the tomato-zucchini fritter recipe from the Veganomicon cookbook. You can probably make it without a food processor, but it will definitely be easier to grate everything with one. You can either fry these cakes or bake them; fried will result in an oilier texture, but a crisper crust. An egg could probably be added to make the cakes firmer, if you like a firmer cake. This recipe would also benefit from fresh herbs; just remember you need more fresh herbs to get the same flavor punch. You could prepare the cakes through the roll-in-bread crumbs stage a day ahead, and refrigerate them until you're ready to cook, if need be. They'd be delicious served with a green-olive tapenade.
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READY IN: 25mins
SERVES: 2-4
YIELD: 21 2-inch cakes
UNITS: US
INGREDIENTS
Nutrition- 1 1⁄2
- 2
- 4
- 1⁄2
- 1tablespoon mixed Italian herbs
- 1teaspoon dried parsley
- salt and pepper
- 3⁄4cup breadcrumbs
- 2tablespoons oil (for frying or baking, olive oil is good)
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DIRECTIONS
- Grate the zucchini, toss with salt (1-2 shakes) and let sit in a colander while you prep the other ingredients.
- Grate the onions. Let the onion juice drain away.
- Process the garlic and walnuts until very finely chopped.
- Press as much liquid from the onions and zucchini as possible, then combine with the garlic, walnuts, herbs, and cheese in a medium-sized bowl.
- IF BAKING: preheat oven to 350°F Lightly oil a baking sheet.
- Shape zucchini mixture into smallish balls (about two tbsp each, or about 2 inches across when slightly flattened) and roll in bread crumbs and flatten slightly. If baking, you can arrange them on the baking sheet; if frying, arrange them on a plate but be sure to leave space between the cakes so they don't stick together.
- To fry: heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. When a drop of water sizzles, add the cakes and fry over medium heat until the outside is crispy and brown (about 5-7 minutes per side). Be gentle in flipping the cakes.
- To bake: space on lightly oiled pan, and bake at 350°F for about 35 minutes, flipping about halfway through the baking. (This method won't get them as crispy around the edges, but if you're already baking something and/or you want a lower-fat option, the result is just as tasty.) Again, be gentle in flipping the cakes.
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