🥒 Cretan-Inspired Vegan Zucchini Balls (Ierapetra Style)🌿

🥒 Cretan-Inspired Vegan Zucchini Balls (Ierapetra Style)

🌿 Ingredients

For the Zucchini Balls:

• 3 medium zucchinis, grated

• 1 tbsp salt (for drawing out moisture)

• 2 medium carrot, grated

• ½ onion, grated (white or red)

• 1 cup breadcrumbs (add more if needed)

• 2 tbsp chickpea flour (optional)

• 1 tbsp ground flaxseed

• 3 tbsp hot water

• 1 tsp Greek seasoning

• Pinch of salt

• Pinch of black pepper

• Olive oil, for frying

  
  

🥣 Vegan Tzatziki:

• ½ cup coconut yogurt

• ½ medium cucumber, grated

• Juice of ½ small lemon

• 1 tsp olive oil

• Pinch of salt & pepper

• Optional: 1 small clove garlic, minced

  
  

✨ Instructions

1. Prepare the flax “egg”

In a small bowl, mix:

• 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp hot water

Let sit for 10–15 minutes until thick and gel-like.

2. Remove moisture from zucchini

• Place grated zucchini in a bowl

• Add 1 tbsp salt and let sit for 5–10 minutes

• Squeeze out all excess water using your hands or a cloth👉 The drier, the crispier your fritters will be

  
  

3. Build the mixture

In a large bowl, combine:

• Zucchini

• Grated carrot

• Onion

• Breadcrumbs

• Chickpea flour

• Flax mixture

• Greek seasoning

• Salt & pepper

Mix until fully combined.

👉 If the mixture is too soft to shape:

• Add more breadcrumbs (for texture)

• Or more chickpea flour (for binding)

  
  

4. Shape

Form into small balls or patties, pressing gently so they hold together.

5. Cook

• Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat

• Add zucchini balls

• Cook until golden and crispy on all sides

👉 Don’t overcrowd the pan — this keeps them crispy

6. Make the tzatziki

Mix together:

• Coconut yogurt

• Grated cucumber (squeeze water out)

• Lemon juice

• Olive oil

• Salt & pepper

Optional: add garlic if desired

🤍 Serve

Serve warm with tzatziki on the side, a squeeze of lemon, and maybe a little fresh mint 🌿

🔥 Pro Tips (your version but elevated)

• The key step = squeezing zucchini REALLY well

• Let the mixture sit 5–10 mins before shaping → better binding

• For extra crispiness: lightly flatten into patties instead of balls

• Cook on medium (not high) so inside cooks + outside crisps