These indulgent zucchini patties highlight the sweetness of this popular late summer vegetable.

If the word “fried” scares you don’t run screaming after step 3. Yes, you will need to fry these zucchini patties once they are assembled but it’s just a flash fry and most of the oil will drain off on paper towels. These patties are the perfect starter to your light late summer meal. If you’re serving a salad for dinner, start with fritters to delight your guests as they assemble individual lettuce wraps.

Use a box grater to get nice thick strands of zucchini and don’t be afraid to mix up the herb selection. I’ve used parsley and green onions in this particular version but cilantro, dill or even basil would be delicious. I serve them with a very simple yogurt sauce and wrap the patties in lettuce leaves, but they are also delicious on their own.

Zucchini Patties with Lemon-Yogurt Sauce 

Makes about 12 fritters

Ingredients

2 medium-sized zucchinis
¼ cup feta cheese
1 egg
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ cup chopped Italian parsley
3 scallion (green onion) stalks, finely chopped
1 lemon
¾ cup olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup Greek yogurt
12 baby lettuce leaves

Directions

1. On the large holes of a box grater, shred the zucchini into about 2 cups of strands. Add to a large bowl with the feta cheese, egg, scallions, flour, parsley and salt.
2. Zest the lemon and add about ½ teaspoon of the zest to the zucchini mixture. Then slice the lemon in half and squeeze half of the juice into the mixture and squeeze the other half into a small bowl and combine with the Greek yogurt. Set the yogurt mixture aside.
3. In a medium-sized skillet heat the olive oil over medium-high heat and place paper towels three layers thick on a plate within arm’s reach of the skillet.
4. Form the slider-sized patties with your hands, squeezing excess liquid out before gently placing in the hot oil. The patties should fit snugly in your palm.
5. Fry the patties, 3-4 at a time, cooking for two minutes on one side before flipping and cooking for an additional two minutes. Remove the patties from the oil carefully and drain on the paper-towels.
6. Serve the patties with a dollop of the lemon-yogurt sauce wrapped in a lettuce leaf.

Related on Eco Salon

Zucchini and Goat Cheese Sliders 

Vegan Leek and Zucchini Gratin 

Eggplant Zucchini Lasagna 

Photo credit: Ally Jane Grossan

The post Zucchini Patties Recipe with Lemon-Yogurt Sauce appeared first on EcoSalon.

The tomato comes out of the garden and into a sauce.

One of the best things about summer are the variety of fresh tomatoes that are available at the food markets right now. My favorite tomato is the local Beefsteak tomato. The may look ugly but the taste is rich and flavorful.

I can’t get enough of them so I eat tomatoes almost every day, preferably with just a simple vinaigrette on a slice of homemade sourdough bread topped with mozzarella. The tomatoes are also great in a watermelon salad with feta cheese. Another of my recent favorites is a tomato salad with red onions, celery and middle eastern string cheese. The string cheese is often spiced with black cumin (Nigella sativa) which gives this pleasant cheese an interesting flavor.

As an appetizer, a fresh tomato salsa, spiced with cilantro, chili and garlic is never wrong. If I’m starving and too lazy in the summer heat I turn pretty much the same thing into a cool tomato sauce for pasta.

Fresh Tomato Sauce
(serves two persons)

2 large tomatoes
½ red onion
Fresh chili pepper (amount depends on how spicy you want it)
Plenty of chopped fresh basil
2 garlic cloves
1 tablespoon champagne vinegar*
3 tablespoons olive oil
A dash of lime juice
One teaspoon mustard
Salt & pepper
Honey (optional)

Topping (suggestions)
Freshly grated Parmesan
Toasted sunflower seeds

Wash the tomatoes and chop them into smaller pieces. Chop the onion and the chili (adjust the strength to your own liking) into tiny tiny bits and pieces. Rinse the basil and chop the leaves roughly. Place all the prepared ingredients in a bowl and squeeze in 1-2 garlic cloves.
Mix together vinegar, olive oil and mustard. Season with lime juice, salt & pepper. If you like you can also add some honey to the dressing but if you are using a sweeter mustard that may not be necessary. Serve this cold tomato sauce on your favorite pasta topped with freshly grated parmesan and toasted sunflower seeds.
Enjoy!

* It works perfectly well with other kinds of vinegar such as balsamic, apple cider or white whine vinegar.

Illustrated Recipe by Johanna Kindvall

The post Recipe: Fresh and Summery Tomato Pasta appeared first on EcoSalon.