Summer Squash Fritters

I credit son, Andrew, with the idea for this recipe. Fried like a hot cake, these savory, moist, delicious fritters make a great side dish to a summer meal.

What IS a fritter, anyway? A fritter is a small "cake" made with a primary ingredient (in this case, summer squash) that is mixed with an egg and milk batter and either pan-fried or deep fried. Flour or cornmeal, or a mix of the two, may be used to bind the batter. Here's the version I made last night, cooked in the waffle iron!

Summer Squash Fritters
serves 2-3

1 cup yellow summer squash, shredded
1/4 cup sweet onion, grated
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup cheese, shredded
1/3 cup self-rising flour
salt / pepper to taste

Mix together the squash, onion, eggs, milk, and cheese. Stir in the flour and seasonings with a few quick strokes.

My preference is to cook the fritters in the waffle iron. Don't worry about the runny batter. Close the lid and all is good. The batter will cook perfectly into a full, tender waffle. But if you prefer, you can fry them up as you would a pancake. Serve as a "bread-y" side dish.

Last night I served these fritters with our first batch of pan fried okra, caprese salad (tomato, fresh mozzarella and basil, drizzled with olive oil / balsamic vinegar), rattlesnake green beans, and BACON. I used my fritter-waffle as a wrap for my bacon. Very tasty, indeed!

Tonight, I prepared the gluten-free, dairy-free version. Surprisingly delicious!

Summer Squash Fritters
Gluten Free / Dairy Free Version
1 cup yellow summer squash, shredded
1/4 cup sweet onion, grated
2 eggs, beaten
2 Tablespoons almond milk
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1/3 cup Bob's Red Mill all-purpose GF baking flour
1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 Tablespoon nutritional yeast
salt / pepper to taste

Mix together the squash, onion, eggs, milk, and oil. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, xanthan gum, yeast, and seasonings. Combine the wet and dry ingredients with a few quick strokes. Cook in the waffle iron or fry like hot cakes.

Sometimes more drastic measures are called for:
Gluten Free / Dairy Free
Grain Free / no Egg Yolks Version FAIL
1 cup yellow summer squash, shredded
1/4 cup sweet onion, grated
2 egg whites, beaten (add more eggs)
2 Tablespoons almond milk
1 Tablespoon olive oil (or coconut oil)
1/3 cup Bob's Red Mill organic high-fiber coconut flour (very absorbent flour, use less)
1 Tablespoon nutritional yeast
salt / pepper to taste

Mix together the squash, onion, eggs, milk, and oil. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, yeast, and seasonings. Combine the wet and dry ingredients with a few quick strokes. Cook in the waffle iron or fry like hot cakes.