Zucchini Cakes with Goat Cheese Mousse

These crispy zucchini fritters are super easy to make and are the perfect way to sneak some tasty veggies into your meal! 

So, how do you feel about veggies?? I have to confess, I'm not a huge fan of vegetables. So when it actually comes to veggies I like, I try to find as many ways as possible to use them.  These Zucchini Fritters are one veggie dish that I just love! Topped with a tangy goat cheese mousse they make a great side dish or a nice light, weeknight meal. And they are a great way to use up your end-of-summer zucchini!

Recipe Ingredients

Several of the ingredients for this recipe are basics you probably have on hand. Here’s what you’ll need:

Fresh zucchini: Fresh from your garden or the local farmer's market would be the best choice but I make this recipe all year round using zucchini from the grocery store.

Egg: You’ll need one large egg.

Red onion: I prefer red onion for this recipe, however, you can substitute a yellow onion (not a sweet onion).

Lemon zest: Fresh lemon zest is the best option for this recipe though you could used dried lemon peel in a pinch, just reduce the amount by at least half.

Parmigiano-Reggiano: Any type of high-quality parmesan cheese can be used, I just happen to prefer this one.

Goat cheese: You want to use the log style, soft goat cheese for this recipe. Be sure to leave time to let it come to room temperature before mix it with the other ingredients.

Cream cheese: You can use either regular or whipped cream cheese for this recipe.

Sambal: You are only using a small amount in the goat cheese mousse so if you don't have sambal in your refrigerator you can substitute a different type of hot sauce. If substituting, start with ⅛ teaspoon and add from there.

Fresh cilantro: I don’t recommend substituting dried in this recipe.

Spices: Ground black pepper, sea salt

Pantry staples: Olive oil, all-purpose flour, garlic clove, baking powder

Making Zucchini Fritters

When I think of zucchini, I usually think of summer. Since it's on my short list of favorite veggies, I like to use it all year long for these zucchini cakes. This recipe is super easy as it only has a few steps to it.

Shred the zucchini. The first step in this recipe is to grate the zucchini and then drain it. Getting as much water as possible out is an important step to making sure you don't end up with soggy fitters! Putting the grated zucchini on paper towels and pressing the water out is the most effective way to drain it.

Make the mousse. While you let the zucchini drain for a little longer, mix the mousse ingredients up in a small bowl and then refrigerate until ready to use.

Assemble the mixture. Once the zucchini is fully drained, you'll mix in the rest of the fritter ingredients.

Pan-fry the fritters. You are using a relatively small amount of oil to fry these which keeps them healthier and cuts down on the mess.

Meal prep tip: You can make the goat cheese mousse a day ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Serving Suggestions

These fritters make the perfect side dish for just about any main. You can also eat them on their own for a light lunch or dinner.

If you want to keep it simple, you could just add a piece of grilled fish or chicken for a quick weekday meal. For something a little more sophisticated, I’d serve them with this Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp or this Grilled Apricot Glazed Pork Tenderloin. For dessert, I’d finish with this Skillet Apple Crisp.

A nice wine pairing with this recipe is a crisp Sauvignon Blanc.

More unique side dish reicpes

If you are looking for more ideas for interesting side dish recipes check out these Roasted Carrots with Honey Ricotta or these Smashed Potatoes with Pancetta and Sage Sauce.

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things you may want for this recipe

This post was originally published in December 2014 and updated in September 2021 with some new information. No changes have been made to the original recipe.