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Tortitas de calabacita (courgette and cheese fritters)
Tortitas de calabacita: Mexican courgette and cheese fritters with a quick tomato salsa
Tortitas de calabacita are a Lenten and everyday favourite in Mexican homes from Puebla to Jalisco: grated courgette, crumbled cheese and egg fried into soft little cakes, then served with a warm, thin tomato salsa spooned over, plus rice and beans. They make a meatless Friday dinner that children happily eat. The mistake is crowding the pan, which drops the oil temperature and leaves the fritters greasy and pale; fry in batches. The fresh cheeses often used are made with animal rennet, so choose a vegetarian queso fresco or a vegetarian mild Cheddar. Chef's tip: let the batter rest 2 minutes after adding the flour so it thickens and holds together in the pan.
- Total time
- 27 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 3
Ingredients
For the fritters
- 16 oz courgettescoarsely grated
- ¾ tsp salt
- 4 oz queso frescovegetarian (no animal rennet), crumbled
- 2 eggs
- 1 ¾ oz plain flour
- ¼ onionfinely chopped
- 5 tbsp vegetable oilfor frying
For the salsa
- 3 tomatoeschopped
- 1 clove garlic
- ½ jalapeñoseeded
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vegetable oil
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What you'll need
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Toss 16 oz courgettes with ¾ tsp salt in a colander and leave for 5 minutes, then squeeze out as much liquid as you can with your hands or a tea towel.
5 minStep 2: Blend 3 tomatoes, 1 clove garlic, ½ jalapeño and ¼ tsp salt until smooth. Heat 1 tsp vegetable oil in a small pan, pour in the purée and simmer for 6 minutes, until slightly thickened. Keep warm.
6 minStep 3: Mix the courgette with 4 oz queso fresco, 2 eggs, ¼ onion and 1 ¾ oz plain flour into a thick batter and leave for 2 minutes.
2 minStep 4: Heat 5 tbsp vegetable oil in a frying pan over a medium heat until shimmering. Fry heaped spoonfuls, flattened slightly, a few at a time, for 3 minutes per side until deep golden and firm when pressed.
9 minStep 5: Drain on kitchen paper and serve with the warm salsa spooned over.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 12 g
- Carbs
- 19 g
- Fat
- 23 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does tortitas de calabacita (courgette and cheese fritters) take?
- About 27 minutes in total: 12 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 3 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of courgettes?
- Cucumber, same weight (raw dishes only).
- What can I use instead of eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
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