The Barefoot Contessa's Zucchini Pancakes (2024)

I’ve never been a huge fan of zucchini, probably because I’ve only had it cooked a few ways that I enjoy it. This recipe, The Barefoot Contessa’s Zucchini Pancakes, changed my mind.

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The Barefoot Contessa's Zucchini Pancakes (1)

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Ingredients for The Barefoot Contessa’s Zucchini Pancakes

  • Zucchini
  • Sweet Onion
  • Eggs
  • Flour
  • Baking Powder
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Vegetable Oil

Sweet Onion Varieties

There are a few different varieties of sweet onions. Vidalia onions come from Georgia, Maui from Hawaii, Walla Walla from Washington state, and Texas Sweets are from, you guessed it, Texas.

I’ve never been a huge fan of zucchini, probably because I’ve only had it cooked a few ways that I enjoy it. My friend, Kelly, served us a zucchini medley a few years back that was delicious. I recreated a sauteed vegetables medley similar to hers but with my own twist.

Then I saw Ina Garten, aka The Barefoot Contessa, make these zucchini pancakes and I had to try them. It’s a fried zucchini recipe that’s full of flavor. In some parts of the country, they are called zucchini fritters.

Can I make additions to zucchini pancakes?

There are a lot of things you can add to this zucchini pancake recipe to make it your own.

When mixing the ingredients for the Barefoot Contessa’s zucchini pancakes, you can add red pepper flakes for a bit of heat, add some herbs such as dill or thyme, add finely minced garlic (I stress finely because no one wants to bite into a large piece of garlic.

Grated hard cheese like a Romano or Parmesan would also be delicious. Stay away from stringy cheeses like Mozzarella, Cheddar, or other soft varieties because they will create a mess when frying.

You may also try adding fresh from the garden herbs such as thyme, dill, or rosemary. I think thyme and zucchini would be a flavorful combination. Be sure to season them well with salt when they come out of the oil.

The Barefoot Contessa's Zucchini Pancakes (2)

How do you make zucchini fritters?

They are delicious and surprisingly easy to make. They cook up quickly and, although you can keep them warm in the oven, I suggest preparing the mixture and cooking them at the last minute.

If you’re serving them with an entree that needs to rest, like roast beef, roast chicken, or turkey, it’s the perfect time to make these.

They take about 5 minutes to cook. Just have the mixture ready to go and your oil heating. You can heat your vegetable oil while you mix the ingredients.

What people are saying about Zucchini Pancakes:

“YUMMY!!!!! Thanks for sharing your recipe! I’ve heard about your blog a couple of times and will now spend my afternoon reading.” ~ Rose

“I love trying new recipes with vegetables with my kids. My daughter is the master at the food processor and Kitchenaid mixer. We also love baking low carb desserts from your site!” ~ Hannah

“Grew up on these. My mom added Romano cheese, chopped fresh basil and garlic powder. So good!” ~ Gay

How can I serve zucchini pancakes?

Serve the zucchini pancakes as a side dish to go with chicken, salmon, or beef. They would be delicious topped with a dollop of sour cream, Greek yogurt, Tzatziki sauce, creme fraiche or even a drizzle of pure maple syrup. The possibilities are endless.

I have also served these zucchini pancakes as an appetizer with a dollop of sour cream and a sprig of dill.

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Can I make this recipe with other vegetables?

While I’ve not tried it, I bet using shredded carrots, potatoes or sweet potatoes, or even yellow squash would work.A combination of two might also be very good, such as zucchini and carrots.

Did you make this recipe? If so, please leave a comment and 5-star review on the recipe card below. If you really love this recipe, please share it on your social media!

The Barefoot Contessa's Zucchini Pancakes (3)

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The Barefoot Contessa’s Zucchini Pancakes

A delicious side dish made with garden fresh zucchini.

4.55 from 218 votes

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time5 minutes mins

Additional Time0 minutes mins

Total Time15 minutes mins

Course: Side Dishes

Cuisine: American

Servings: 5

2

Author: Ellen Folkman

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 medium zucchini, grated (about 1½ cups grated)
  • 2 tablespoons grated sweet onion
  • 2 large eggs, slightly beaten
  • 6 to 8 tablespoons flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Unsalted butter and vegetable oil

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 300℉. (To keep the pancakes warm)

  • Grate the zucchini into a bowl using the large side of a box grater. Immediately stir in the onion and eggs. Stir in 6 tablespoons of the flour, the baking powder, salt and pepper. (If the batter gets too thin from the liquid in the zucchini, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of flour.)

    2 medium zucchini, grated, 2 tablespoons grated sweet onion, 2 large eggs, slightly beaten, 6 to 8 tablespoons flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • Heat a large (10 – 12 inch) saute pan over medium heat and melt 1/2 tablespoon butter and ½ tablespoon oil together in the pan. When the butter is hot but not smoking, lower heat to medium-low and drop heaping soup spoons of batter into the pan. Swirl the back of the spoon around the batter to even out the pancake. Cook the pancakes about 2 minutes on each side, until golden brown.

    Unsalted butter and vegetable oil

  • If keeping the pancakes warm in the oven, place cooked pancakes on a baking sheet and keep warm in oven for up to 30 minutes.

Recipe Notes

Don’t use olive oil here. Use a neutral oil like canola or vegetable oil.

The Barefoot Contessa's Zucchini Pancakes (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in Gabila's zucchini pancakes? ›

INGREDIENTS: Fresh zucchini, potatoes, canola oil, unbleached flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin, mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid),, onion, egg whites, eggs, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper.

What to serve with vegetable fritters? ›

Potato salad, fresh chopped greens, or pasta salad are all great matches for zucchini fritters. This pairing is perfect if you're looking for a light summer lunch.

Are golden zucchini pancakes healthy? ›

Golden low-fat zucchini pancakes are made using harvest-fresh zucchini, onions and carrots seasoned to perfection with garlic, basil and salt for a delicious and healthy addition to any meal.

What are purple pancakes made of? ›

These vibrant purple pancakes get their color from a natural source: ube, also known as purple yam. This ingredient is common in Filipino desserts, but can be difficult to find in the United States.

Why do you soak zucchini before cooking? ›

The main problem that confronts the cook when preparing zucchini is its wateriness. Zucchini is 95 percent water (among vegetables, only lettuce contains more water) and will become soupy if it is just thrown into a hot pan.

What is the difference between zucchini and Italian zucchini? ›

These are the types of zucchini commonly sold in local summer markets in Italy. The fruits are long, green-striped, and distinctly ridged. The texture is less watery than the usual smooth, green zucchinis and the flavour is pleasantly nutty.

Why is zucchini soggy? ›

If zucchini is overcooked, it will have a mushy, soft texture.

Can you eat zucchini on a low carb diet? ›

A wide variety of vegetables, including bell peppers, asparagus, zucchini, and broccoli, can add important nutrients to a low carb diet.

Is zucchini a high carb food? ›

"Zucchini is a good source of vitamin C, potassium and folate. It's also low in calories and provides fiber, which can aid in digestion," she says. Additionally, since it's lower in carbs, it won't spike your blood sugar. Per the USDA, 1 cup of cooked zucchini has less than 5 grams of carbs.

Is zucchini bread high in carbs? ›

Zucchini bread (1 slice - 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" x 1/2") contains 21.7g total carbs, 21.2g net carbs, 4.3g fat, 1.8g protein, and 132 calories.

Why are my vegetable fritters falling apart? ›

Lucky for you, I've dealt with my fair share of disappointing fritters, so I've come up with some crafty ways to stop this. If your zucchini fritters are falling apart, it's likely because the fritters are sticking to the skillet or the batter was too wet.

What to eat with zucchini fritters for dinner? ›

Wondering what to serve with zucchini fritters? They're a fantastic starter for a summer meal, and they're a lovely side dish for any simply cooked protein. I also like to pair them with a hearty salad, like my panzanella, Greek salad, or chopped salad, for a light, fresh summer dinner.

What are green pancakes made of? ›

Tip: You can turn any pancake recipe into spinach pancakes! Simply blend a large handful of fresh baby spinach into the wet ingredients that the recipe calls for using a blender. Then you can pour the blended mixture into the dry ingredients to create a green pancake batter.

What do the four ingredients of pancakes represent? ›

Simple pancake recipe

It might interest you that all four ingredients represent four things of significance at Easter time. Eggs symbolise creation, flour represents the staff of life, salt is wholesomeness, and milk symbolises purity.

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