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Kolokithokeftedes
(Greek Courgette Balls)

Greek cuisine distinguishes itself with its lack of savoury, warm spices and abundance of fresh and dried herbs; such herbs are used as main ingredients and not garnishes. Of course, what Greek dish would be truly complete without feta cheese, the country's true pride and joy. Originating from the Greek island of Krete, kolokithokeftedes (or zucchini fritters) is a classic dish that highlights the use of these timeless ingredients.

 

Kolokithokeftedes can easily be described as a Greek summer. The tanginess of the feta with the freshness of the herbs provides a pleasant treat for those warm summer nights. Happy cooking!

You will Need

  1. 1 kg zucchinis – grated

  2. 1 red onion – grated

  3. 2 spring onions – finely chopped

  4. 2 tbsps fresh mint – finely chopped

  5. 2 eggs

  6. 1½ cup feta cheese – grated

  7. salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

  8. 2 cups powdered breadcrumbs (or 4 tbsps plain flour)

  9. 2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil

  10. 2 tbsps parsley – finely chopped

  11. oil for frying

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You will Use

  1. A grater

  2. A colander

  3. A frying pan or baking tray

How to prepare

  1. Use a grater to grate the zucchini and place them in a colander with some salt. Squeeze them with your hands to get rid of the excessive water. Leave them for 30 minutes and squeeze them again.

  2. Once all the moisture has left the zucchini, add it into a large bowl along with all the other ingredients and mix well with your hands, until combined and the mixture is firm enough to make the balls. Make balls about an inch in diameter.

  3. In a pan add enough olive oil to cover the bottom of the pan, and heat the oil to medium–high heat.

  4. Add the balls to the oil and repeat until the surface of the pan is comfortably filled. Ensure not to overcrowd the pan so as not to make the balls soggy.

  5. Fry the kolokithokeftedes for about 2–3 minutes on each side, until nicely colored. Place them on a paper towel, to absorb the extra oil.

  6. Another alternative is to bake the balls. In that case preheat the oven at 180°C and oil the bottom of a baking tray. Place the balls on the baking tray and brush the tops with some olive oil. Bake for 25 minutes. Halfway through cooking time, flip the balls and put them back into the oven.

  7. Serve hot with a fresh yogurt dip.

 

Recipe inspired by My Greek Dish.

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