Crispy Veggie Patties Packed With Fresh Flavor

Veggie patties are a perfect solution for anyone looking for a tasty, easy-to-make dish packed with fresh vegetables. They work for lunch or dinner, kids love them, and they let you combine a variety of veggies in a smart, appealing way. The mix of carrot, zucchini, onion, and spices creates patties that are soft on the inside and crispy on the outside—the kind that get snatched off the plate before you even manage to serve.

Ingredients: 

1. 2 peeled carrots 
2. 2 peeled zucchini 
3. 2 eggs
4. 1 cup bread crumbs
5. A handful of parsley and cilantro
6. 1 onion, diced
7. 4 cloves garlic, crushed
8. 1 cup shredded yellow cheese
9. 1/2 cup self-rising flour
10. Spices: salt, cumin, and pepper to taste

Directions:

To make the patties, start by grating a generous amount of carrot and zucchini. After grating, transfer them to a clean kitchen towel and squeeze out all the liquid - This step is especially important, because vegetables contain a lot of liquid. This, by the way, is the secret to keeping the patties stable so they won’t fall apart during frying. 

Then transfer the squeezed vegetables to a large bowl and add finely chopped onion and crushed garlic. Add the remaining ingredients to the mixture, and mix. 

To improve the texture, it’s recommended to cover the bowl and refrigerate for about half an hour. This step helps the ingredients come together and set even more. When the mixture is ready, with damp hands form small, round, medium-size patties, and flatten them slightly. 

If the mixture feels too soft, you can add a bit more bread crumbs until you get a workable texture.

Heat oil in a skillet and fry the patties over medium to medium-high heat. It’s important not to flip them too soon; give them time to brown and become golden and crispy. After frying, set the patties on paper towels to remove excess oil. You can also bake them, but not before misting the patties with a little oil so they don’t dry out, and don’t use too high a temperature. 

Serve the patties alongside sour cream,  hummus or a fresh vegetable salad.