Football fans at your Super Bowl, tailgating or homegating parties will cheer when you serve these Football Shaped Zucchini Fritters (aka, Mücver). Filled with zucchini, carrots, potatoes, and onions, these fun appetizers can be baked or fried.
Football Shaped Zucchini Fritters
If you are looking for a tasty Super Bowl appetizer that your friends and family will love, you've got to give these Football Shape Zucchini Fritters a try.
These crispy game-day appetizers are loaded with zucchini, carrots, onions, and potatoes and can be fried or baked.
Our exchange student introduced me to this recipe for Mücver (zucchini fritters) and I was so glad she did.
When she showed me how she shaped her fritters into patties I envisioned shaping them into other things, like footballs as I did with my
- Football Shaped Proscuitto and Asiago Rice Cake Footballs,
- Fried Taco Footballs,
- Football Chicken Nuggets, and
- Football Shaped Hamburgers.
- See all of my Football Party Food ideas, here.
It turned out to be really simple. Let me show you how.
Supplies needed to make these Zucchini Fritter Footballs
- cheese grater or food processor with the grater attachment
- football-shaped cookie cutter
- salad spinner or strainer
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These can be fried or baked. See the printable recipe below the step-by-step instructions for more details on baking the fritters.
step 1- Shred and drain your vegetables.
- Peel the zucchini, carrot, potato, and onion.
- Shred the zucchini, carrot, and potato using a cheese grater or a food processor fitted with a shredding attachment.
- Finely slice and chop the onion.
- Place the vegetables in a strainer, sprinkle and toss with salt, and let sit for 10 minutes.
- Press down on the vegetables, allowing excess water to drain off.
- I used a salad spinner and spun the vegetables dry, which worked perfectly.
- Let sit for 5 more minutes and drain again, removing as much liquid as possible.
step 2 - Toss with flour and egg.
- Pour shredded vegetables into a mixing bowl.
- Sprinkle the flour over the shredded vegetables. Toss to coat.
- Add eggs and mix until well combined.
- As you work, if you have a lot of excess moisture, drain it off.
step 3 - Use a football cookie cutter to shape fritters.
- Heat 1 cup vegetable oil in a 12" non-stick pan until it reaches 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Set your metal football-shaped cookie cutter down on a spatula/turner.
- Fill the cookie cutter with a spoonful of the zucchini mixture.
- Press down to create a ¼ inch thick football.
step 4 - Fry the zucchini fritters.
- Carefully slide the filled cookie cutter into the oil, lifting the cutter, allowing the football-shaped mixture to gently glide into the pan. I recommend using metal tongs to do this job.
- Move quickly, don't allow the cookie cutter to get really hot or it will begin to cook the filling as you create your next football fritter. Wipe the cookie-cutter clean, often.
NOTE: I also found that I could shape the football on the spatula then lift it off and slide the fritter into the oil, reshaping it as needed. The football fritters weren't as perfectly shaped, but this way you don't have to worry about lifting up a hot cookie cutter.
step 5 - Brown the fritters on both sides.
Our exchange student and I worked together; I filled the cookie cutter and slid them into the skillet while she fried them, flipping them over as they browned on each side.
You want your fritters to be nice and crispy but not burnt, so fry them to a deep golden brown. The edges of your football fritters will be a bit darker, and that is fine.
By baking them, as I did for the video version of this tutorial, the fritters stayed a bit thicker and didn't brown around the edges quite as much.
I personally preferred them fried, but they taste really good when baked too. They just aren't as crispy. Of course, the baked zucchini fritters have few calories which is always a bonus!
step 6 - Pat off the excess oil.
- Once you have fried your football-shaped zucchini fritters, set them on paper towels to drain off excess oil. I also pat the tops with paper towels to really remove as much oil as possible.
Can I make these ahead for my party?
- At this point they can be decorated and served, however, I'm guessing most of you won't want this mess in your kitchen while you have guests.
- So, make your fritters then put them in an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to a few days.
- When you are ready to serve them, place them on a baking sheet and heat them in a 350-degree oven for about 10 minutes, until heated through.
- If you just bake them then heat the oven to 400 degrees F and bake on each side for 12-15 minutes.
- You want both sides to be golden brown.
- The baked fritters will be thicker as not as much moisture will evaporate while they are cooking.
Decorate using Greek yogurt or sour cream.
- To decorate them: fill a disposable pastry bag, optionally fitted with a small round decorating tip, with plain Greek Yogurt or sour cream. You can also just use a zip-top bag with a small hole cut in one tip.
- Pipe laces and stripes onto each football fritter.
- Place on a platter and serve alongside the remaining Greek yogurt.
The Football Shaped Zucchini Fritters are great hot but are also quite good room temperature or even cold.
Can I bake these zucchini fritters instead of frying them?
- Yes, you can bake zucchini fritters instead of frying them.
- See the recipe below.
Football Fritters Video
Be sure to watch my video tutorial to see how you can make these Zucchini Football Fritters for your party. In this version, I baked my fritters.
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Super Bowl Appetizers Recipe
Recipe originally posted on January 18, 2013.
- 2 medium size zucchini
- 1 carrot
- 1 large russet potato
- 1 small onion
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ⅓ cup flour
- 2 medium eggs, lightly beaten
- if baking, olive oil spray
- if frying, 1 cup vegetable oil, plus more if needed
- serve with ½ cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
-
If baking, preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
-
Shred the zucchini, carrot, and potato using a cheese grater or food processor.
-
Finely slice and chop the onion.
-
Place the veggies in a salad spinner or strainer.
-
Sprinkle with salt and toss to evenly coat the veggies.
-
Set aside for 10 minutes to allow the moister to drain from the vegetables.
-
Spin, if using a salad spinner, or press down using paper towels if using a strainer to remove as much liquid as possible.
-
Stir then let sit another 5 minutes and repeat until the veggies are quite dry.
-
Pour into a large mixing bowl.
-
Sprinkle on the flour and toss to coat.
-
Stir in the eggs.
-
If baking, spray a non-stick baking pan with olive oil cooking spray.
-
Spoon the veggie mixture into a football shaped cookie cutter, creating a fritter that is about ¼ inch thick.
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Remove cookie cutter and repeat.
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Spray olive oil spray over top of the fritters.
-
Bake for 12 minutes, then remove and flip the fritters over.
-
Bake for another 12-15 minutes until evenly browned on both sides.
-
If frying, heat the 1 cup of oil to about 350 degrees.
-
Carefully slide the filled cookie cutter into the oil, lifting the cutter using metal tongs, allowing the football-shaped mixture to gently glide into the pan. (see the tutorial for detailed instructions)
-
Fry until golden brown on both sides.
-
Spoon 2 tablespoons of the yogurt or sour cream into a pastry bag or zip top bag.
-
Pipe laces and stripes on each of the footballs.
-
Serve immediately.
or you are looking for more game-day recipes,
be sure to check out my 50+ Football Party Food ideas.
Did you make this recipe or do you just think it is super cute? Let me know by leaving a comment and rating the recipe below. If you love the recipe, please give it a 5-star rating.
I love making fun food for parties and special occasions and sharing my creative ideas with you.
If you make this recipe and share it online be sure to link back to this post and use #hungryhappenings.
Thanks and have a sweet day! -
Beth
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Cathy and Del Wilkes says
Can't wait to try them! Go "USC Gamecocks!"
Anonymous says
Goodbye chicken nuggets forever! Yay!
Anonymous says
When I make potato pancakes, I always put the grated potatoes in an old dish towel, bring all of the corners together, and squeeze the moisture out of them. The more moisture you get out of them, the crispier the pancakes.
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Great suggestion. Thanks!
Anonymous says
I am obviously doing something wrong. I have now wasted four trying to get them off of my spatula that doesn't have holes. I followed the recipe exact, but adding my eggs made it a soupy disaster!! I cannot get the eggs to drain off. Help!!!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Drain more liquid out of the bowl. The water is coming out of your vegetables and the longer it sits the more moisture may come out. Just pour the whole thing into a strainer and allow the liquid to drain off. You'll still have enough egg to hold it together.
The be sure to press the mixture into the cookie cutter compacting it so that it holds together. Mine slid right into the pan, except when I got the cookie cutter really hot, then as I made the next one, the batter stuck to the sides of the cookie cutter. So keep the cookie cutter clean and make sure it cools down before pouring more filling into it.
I hope this helps. Let me know how things go.
Cheerios and Lattes says
Love these; so cute! 🙂
Mackenzie
Michelle says
Visiting from Mix it up Monday. This i such a fun idea. You are so sweet to include your exchange student in your Super Bowl prep.
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Thanks for stopping by, Michelle. My exchange student loves helping out in the kitchen and she finds what I do with food fascinating. She is very creative herself, so it is fun to have her help out.
Denise Otts says
What did u use for seasoning. My guys like flavor
Beth says
I only added salt but you can definitely add some heat by sprinkling in some cayenne pepper or simply add some black pepper. If you like herbal flavors you could add rosemary, Thyme, or even some parsley. I hope you enjoy them!
Veronica and Daniel says
Oh my goodness! These are adorable and a great way to sneak some veggies into the Super Bowl menue 😉 Great idea!
A to Zebra Celebrations says
YUM!!!! These looks delish! I hope you stop by to link- http://atozebracelebrations.com/2013/01/link-party-4.html
Nancy
Kathie says
Hello!
I found you from the Mop it up Mondays link up. I would love to have you come share your post with my readers over at Sassy Little Lady’s Show and Tell Saturday. Hope to see you there!
Kathie
http://www.sassylittlelady.com/blog/show-and-tell-saturday/show-and-tell-saturday
Michelle | Creative Food says
Such a brilliant idea!
Jen says
So cute! Love this idea and totally doing it! Visiting from Mom on Timeout
Stella Marie says
These are so adorable!!! Great football food idea.
The Quiet Mom says
This is such a cool idea. Love zucchini fritters!Hopping by and following your lovely blog's twitter and Pinterest. I blog @ Getting Healthy with Essential Oils I am also inviting you to join Tiddle Diddle Handmade Shoppe's first giveaway event.
Heather - Chickabug says
These are TOO cute!! I love that the recipe is healthy : )
Camille @ Growing Up Gabel says
I love it! 🙂 I wonder if I could do this with potato pancakes. 🙂 Found you at Flour Me with Love: Mix It Up Monday.
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Thanks, Camille. I'm sure potato pancakes would work just fine:)
Angie's Recipes says
These are so fun to make! Bet they are delicious too.
Chloe West says
SO CUTE! Just adorable for the Superbowl! I love themed food!
Chloe
http://rainbowsandhoneysuckle.blogspot.com/
Katrina Bahl says
Super cute and I just love zucchini fritters!
Jill @ KitchenFunWithMy3Sons.com says
I love football shaped food! Great idea and they look really good!
Jo and Sue says
Those look so tasty. I want them for breakfast. 🙂
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
We ate almost all of them yesterday afternoon, but I kept three to eat today. They are really good! I recommend them even if you don't turn them into footballs.