Greek Tomato Feta Fritters (Domatokeftethes)

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Servings: 4
Yield: 4 servings

Description

Chef John's take on domatokeftethes, or Greek tomato feta fritters, provides the ultimate fried appetizer for summertime.

Ingredients

2 cups diced fresh tomatoes with juices
1/2 cup packed grated zucchini
1/3 cup sliced green onions
2 teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon white sugar
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
3 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
3/4 cup all-purpose flour, or more as needed
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
vegetable oil for frying

Directions

1 Gather all ingredients.
2 Stir together tomatoes, zucchini, green onions, kosher salt, sugar, black pepper, oregano, and cayenne in a bowl to combine. Let sit for 15 minutes for the sugar and salt to draw out liquids from the vegetables.
3 Stir the tomato mixture; add parsley, mint, and basil. Crumble in feta cheese. Add flour and baking powder; mix with a spoon until combined. Batter should be relatively loose but will hold its shape on a spoon. If too loose, add more flour; if too dry, add some water until desired consistency is reached. Wrap the bowl in plastic wrap and let chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
4 Heat 1 inch of vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), or use a deep fryer.
5 Place heaping tablespoonfuls of batter in the hot oil; reduce heat to medium. Fry until golden brown and cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
6 Flip once more and fry for an additional 30 seconds, if desired.
7 Serve warm or at room temperature.