Zucchini, corn and haloumi fritters

Boost your veggie intake with zucchini and corn fritters

Crispy on the outside and a little soft on the inside, but not soggy, there’s something about corn and haloumi fritters that can get even the most stubborn veggie avoiders to try something new. Whether it's the tasty batter that makes them somewhat resemble a pancake or that kids love anything they can pick up and eat with their fingers, fabulous fritters for kids hit the spot. When the kids’ school holidays come to an end, these are great ones to add to the lunchbox rotation, along with these easy back to school menu ideas. 

The main defining feature between zucchini fritters and zucchini slice (another popular veggie vessel) is the ratio of egg to flour. While both are made with eggs, flour, zucchini and other additions, fritters work with more of a pancake-like batter, including milk as well, while the slice has a higher egg-to-flour ratio. 

Set your kids up for a great day at school with our hit list of healthy lunch box recipes. There's lots of nutritious variety and clever ideas to keep even the fussiest of eaters satisfied.

The essential ingredients you need to make the best zucchini fritters recipe

You can’t make zucchini and corn fritters without zucchini… and corn, of course. Fresh zucchinis come into season in summer and through autumn, and if you’ve ever tried to grow them you’ll know they can go wild quite quickly, so keep an eye on them so you know when they’re ready to be picked.

The best zucchinis should be around 15-20cm long and 5cm in diameter with bright, shiny green skin and firm flesh. Avoid zucchinis with spongy flesh, pitted skin or ends that look wrinkled or soft. 

Can you make these corn fritters using frozen corn? 

Yes! This recipe uses frozen corn that has been defrosted before adding it to the batter for fritters, but the great thing about corn is that it holds its form well whether tinned, frozen or fresh, so you can use whichever type you prefer or the one that you have on hand. 

Why cook plain corn and zucchini fritters when you can add haloumi and make them extra special? The famous Cypriot cheese that only improves when cooked raises these fritters from good to great. Haloumi was traditionally made with sheep's milk but now is often made with cow's milk; it has a lovely saltiness and gets a fabulous squeaky quality when cooked. Adding this element to your fritters is the boost you never knew you needed. 

These fabulous fried foods can be changed up to include a variety of vegetables like this vegetable patty rainbow fritters recipe. 

Tips for making zucchini and haloumi fritters the star of any meal

One of the best attributes of fritters is they can be served at any time of the day. Serve them up with eggs and bacon like these easy corn fritters for breakfast, packed in a lunch box for a snack or lunch, or for dinner with a fresh and tasty salad.

If you want to know what to serve with zucchini fritters in the kids’ lunch box, pair them with some crunchy celery, cucumber and cherry tomatoes. If the kids enjoy something to dip their fritters in, then hommus or a mixture of Greek yoghurt with dill and lemon juice makes a great choice – and you can dip your veggies in as well. In need of more inspiration? Try these new and improved lunch box recipe ideas that you’ll love making and the kids will love eating! Follow our tips for healthier alternatives, too.