Turkish Zucchini Fritters Recipe (Mucver)

5 from 13 votes
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Mucver is a classic Turkish zucchini fritters recipe that’s ready in 30 minutes. It calls for fresh zucchini and herbs and it’s very simple to make. 

Mucver is a classic Turkish dish that's made with zucchinis.


 

I love zucchinis and many Turkish and Mediterranean recipes call for it. This delicious zucchini fritters recipe is one of the common dishes you can find in Turkey alongside lahmacun and piyaz (Turkish white bean salad). Similar to Turkish leeks, these light fritters are usually served with some yogurt on top or with some cacik (Turkish yogurt and cucumber) on the side.

Turkey trip photo

What Is Mucver?

Turkish zucchini fritters, also known as Mucver are delicious vegetarian fritters that are very economical. You can make a huge batch by using a handful of ingredients and that will feed a crowd.

Just like our delicious cauliflower fritters, these Mediterranean zucchini fritters are perfect for summer would be perfect as part of a vegetarian lunch with some Turkish vegan red lentil balls (mercimek köftesi).

Ingredients To Make Turkish Zucchini Fritters

To make zucchini fritters you need zucchinis, green onion, parsley, dill, eggs, flour and Aleppo pepper.
  • Zucchini: Green zucchinis work best for this recipe especially in summer. I have used kousa (Mexican squash) for this recipe and it works very well.
  • Eggs: You need a few eggs to bind the ingredients togethers. Start with 2 eggs but add one more if needed.
  • Herbs: We need green onions, dill and parsley for this recipe.
  • Spices: You need salt, pepper and Aleppo pepper which is a type of red pepper flakes that’s available online or at Mediterranean shops.

How To Make Zucchini Fritters

grate the zucchini, add all the herbs, add eggs, mix in the spices and flour then fry them.
  1. Peel the zucchinis and grate them in a bowl. Squeeze them very hard and discard the excess liquid. You can get rid of the excess liquid by squeezing the zucchini through a cheesecloth as well.
  2. Mix in the green onions, dill and parsley.
  3. Add in the eggs and mix well until combined. 
  4. Add in the flour and spices and mix well. 
  5. Heat some olive oil in a pan and fry the fritters on both sides until fully cooked, about 5 minutes on each side.  

Kitchen tip: I usually fry one fritter first and try it to make sure the flavors are on point and also the texture is not too soft. Then I continue with the remaining batter to fry all the fritters. 

Tips To Make Turkish Zucchini Fritters

  1. Don’t overcrowd the pan. It’s important to give the fritters enough space to fry and also be able to flip them. Overcrowded pan will result in soggy fritters. 
  2. Make sure you squeeze the shredded zucchinis hard and discard the excess water to keep the fritters intact and crispy. 
  3. Some Turkish recipes call for 1 grated carrot as well. You can add the grated carrot to the grated zucchini and squeeze all to make sure no excess liquid is left. 

Serving Suggestions

You can enjoy mucver as a nice appetizer or mezze with a side of plain or garlic yogurt. Also you can turn them into a delicious Mediterranean sandwich by stuffing them into a homemade pita or make a wrap using lavash with some tomatoes, pickles, lettuce and some homemade yogurt

Another way to serve these is with Turkish rice pilaf with orzo and some Mediterranean salad or Turkish tomato salad.

Storage And Reheating

Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat in a pan over medium heat with a teaspoon of olive oil or in the oven at 300 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes.

A stack of mucver with yogurt on top.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make these ahead of time?

Yes, you can make mucver ahead of time and simply reheat them in a hot pan with a bit of oil right before serving. I don’t recommend making the fritter batter ahead of time since the zucchinis will release more water. 

Can you freeze zucchini fritters?

Yes, these freeze very well. Let the fritters cool at room temperature and place them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for one hour until theyare solid. Place the frozen fritters in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 2 months. To reheat, take them out of the bag and let them thaw. Then fry them lightly in some oil to heat them through and have them crisp up. 

Can I bake these zucchini fritters?

Yes. Make the batter as instructed and preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat the bottom of a 9×13 baking pan with nonstick spray and transfer the batter to the pan. Bake in the oven for about 30-40 minutes until fully cooked. Let in cool at room temperature then slice it into squares. 

Why are my zucchini fritters falling apart? 

This could happen for a few reasons such as not having enough eggs in the mixture or the zucchinis still contain too much liquid. Always try with one zucchini fritter and if that falls apart, then add a tablespoon flour and try again. 

A plate of zucchini fritters topped with yogurt.

More Turkish Recipes

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Overhead shot of mucver Turkish zucchini Fritters.
5 from 13 votes

Turkish Zucchini Fritters Recipe Mucver

Mucver or zucchini fritters is a classic Turkish dish that's ready in 30 minutes. This recipe calls for fresh zucchini and herbs and it's very simple to make. 
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
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Ingredients 

  • 3 zucchinis, peeled
  • 2 large eggs
  • 6 tbsp all purpose flour
  • 4 green onions, chopped
  • 3/4 cup fresh dill, chopped
  • 1/2 cup parsley, chopped
  • 1/2 tsp Aleppo pepper
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 6 tbsp olive oil , divided

Instructions 

  • Grate the zucchinis in a large bowl and squeeze them very hard. Discard all the excess liquid.
  • Mix in the eggs, flour, green onions, dill and parsley.
  • Add in the spices and mix well.
  • Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a pan over medium heat, pour 2 tbsp of the batter into the pan and fry for about 5 minutes on one side. Flip and fry for 3 minutes on the other side.
  • Try the fritter to make sure it has the right amount of spices. If so, proceed with the remaining batter. Add more olive oil if needed.
  • Serve with plain or garlic yogurt on the side and some bread.

Video

Notes

  • Make sure not to overcrowd the pan. It’s important to give the fritters enough space to fry and also be able to flip them.
  • Make sure you squeeze the shredded zucchinis hard and discard the excess water to keep the fritters intact and crispy. 
  • Some Turkish recipes call for 1 grated carrot as well. You can add the grated carrot to the grated zucchini and squeeze all to make sure no excess liquid is left. 
  • Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. To reheat, heat a pan over medium heat and pour one teaspoon vegetable or olive oil in the pan, sear the fritters on both sides until heated through. 
  • To bake these fritters, make the batter as instructed and preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat the bottom of a 9×13 baking pan with nonstick spray and transfer the batter to the pan. Bake in the oven for about 30-40 minutes until fully cooked. Let in cool at room temperature then slice it into squares. 

Nutrition

Calories: 299kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 354mg | Potassium: 570mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1935IU | Vitamin C: 46mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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About Shadi HasanzadeNemati

I'm here to show you how to make delicious Persian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food at home. My easy to follow recipes will bring exciting new flavors to your table!

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