Zucchini and Mussel Fritters
Photography by Vanessa Wu.
These versatile fritters are packed with healthy greens. Make smaller versions for cocktail food or use as a vegetarian filling for a hamburger. Serve with roasted tomatoes and top with a poached egg for a delicious brunch.
Serves: 4
INGREDIENTS
1 1⁄2 kilograms mussels, scrubbed
Batter
3 eggs
3⁄4 cup plain flour
1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
finely grated zest 1 lemon
2 zucchini, about 250 grams, coarsely grated
2 large leaves of silver beet, well washed, stalk removed, very finely shredded
3 spring onions, finely sliced
1 cup grated tasty cheese
1⁄2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
freshly ground pepper
To cook
olive oil and butter for cooking
handful of rocket
lemon wedges and chilli sauce for serving
METHOD
Mussels: Place the mussels in a large saucepan with 1⁄2 a cup of water. Cover tightly and steam over a high heat for 4-5 minutes, transferring them to a bowl as they open. Cover and steam the remaining mussels for another 1-2 minutes. Discard any mussels that don’t open.
Cool and remove the meat from the shells, checking for any small crabs inside. Chop roughly.
Batter: Put the eggs, flour, baking powder, salt, cumin and lemon zest in a food processor and blend until smooth. Combine the zucchini, silver beet, spring onion, cheeses and parsley in a large bowl. Add the batter and chopped mussels and combine. There will not be a lot of batter. Season. Heat a sauté pan with a little oil and butter over a medium heat. Fry large spoonfuls of fritter mixture for about 3 minutes each side, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the pan, drain on paper towels and keep warm in a low oven.
To serve: Stack the fritters on serving plates and serve with rocket, lemon wedges and chilli sauce. Makes about 12 fritters.

Keep up to date with
dish weekly recipes,
food news, and events.
latest issue:
Issue #120
As the days become shorter, and the nights cooler, the latest issue is perfectly timed to deliver delicious autumn dishes. From recipes using fresh seasonal produce such as feijoas and apples, to spectacular soothing soups and super-quick after-work meals in our Food Fast section, we’ve got you covered. With Easter on the horizon, we feature recipes that will see you through breakfast, lunch and dinner over a leisurely weekend holiday, and whip up chocolatey baking treats sure to please. We round up delicious dinners for two and showcase a hot new Korean cookbook before heading south to Dunedin to check out all that’s new in food and dining.The latest issue of dish is on sale NOW at all good bookstores and supermarkets – don’t miss it!