Zucchini and feta cheese patties are a delicious and nutritious vegetarian appetizer which can be made all year round. They are baked in the oven which makes them even healthier. These patties are so simple to make, you just mix some basic ingredients, you form 12 balls, you flatten them and you bake them at high temperature which gives the patties a crunchy crust and a soft, almost creamy center.

The recipe:

www.vespresso.cooking/en/zucchini-feta-cheese-patties

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

Ingredients (for 12 patties):

3 medium zucchini, washed and grated (about 600g grated zucchini) – about 4 cups
1 tsp sea salt
1 large red onion (100g)
2 Tbsp brandy
150g feta cheese – 1 cup
50g grated parmesan cheese – ½ cup
2 garlic cloves
20g chopped herbs (½ a handful of parsley, ½ a handful of dill and ½ Tbsp of chopped thyme)
1 chili pepper
50g almond flour – ½ cup
30g bread crumbs – ¼ cup
1 large egg
2 Tbsp olive oil
pepper to taste

for serving:

about 4 Tbsp Greek yogurt
1 Tbsp chopped fresh herbs (dill, basil, thyme, mint, oregano)

Tools:

bowl
colander
grater
clean dish towel or cheese cloth
parchment paper
tray

Abbreviations:

tsp = teaspoon
Tbsp = tablespoon

Step 2: Prepare the Grated Zucchini

Grate the zucchini and place it in a strainer, over a bowl, sprinkle with 1 tsp of salt and stir well. Let the zucchini drain for 20-30 minutes.

Step 3: Prepare the Mixture

Meanwhile, finely chop the onion and saute it in 1 Tbsp of olive oil, over low heat, for about 3 minutes. Deglaze the pan with 2 Tbsp of brandy and leave aside.

After 20-30 minutes drain the grated zucchini using a clean dish towel or cheese cloth.

In a large bowl crumble the feta cheese. Add drained zucchini, parmesan cheese, sauted onion, minced garlic, chopped herbs, chopped chilli, almond flour, bread crumbs, the egg and about ¼ tsp of freshly ground black pepper and stir until combined.

Step 4: Form the Patties

Divide the mixture into 12 balls and place them on a parchment paper-lined tray. Flatten each ball to form the patties, brush them with half of the remaining olive oil and bake them in the preheated oven at 204°C / 400°F (gas mark 6) for 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes, carefully flip them over (using a spatula), brush them with the remaining olive oil (on the baked side this time) and bake them for further 20 minutes.

Step 5: Serve

After they are baked, let them cool in the tray for about 10-15 minutes. Serve them warm with Greek yogurt mixed with your favorite chopped fresh herbs (dill, parsley, basil, thyme, mint, oregano).