Easy Old Fashioned Squash Fritters Recipe: Southern Favorite Side Dish
Crispy, golden, and packed with Southern flavor, these Easy Old Fashioned Squash Fritters are the perfect way to enjoy fresh summer squash. Made with simple pantry ingredients and fried to perfection, this classic Southern side dish is quick to prepare and always a family favorite. Serve them up hot with your favorite meal or enjoy as a tasty snack!
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 224kcal
Ingredients
- 2 Medium/Large Yellow Summer Squash 4 cups grated
- ½ cup Sweet Onion petite diced
- 1 Large Egg
- 1 cup All Purpose Flour or more if needed
- 2 Tablespoons Cornmeal optional, but recommended
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt divided
- ¼ teaspoon Cracked Black Pepper
- 1/16 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper a pinch
- ⅓ cup Oil for frying (enough to coat bottom of your pan. I used peanut oil)
Instructions
- Prep the squash – Grate the yellow squash and place it, along with the diced onion, into a colander set over a bowl. Sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon kosher salt and let sit for at least 1 hour to draw out excess moisture. (Julia’s Tip: This step makes all the difference for crisp fritters that aren’t soggy!) This step is optional, but highly recommended.
- Drain and squeeze – After resting, press down on the squash mixture or wrap in a paper towels to squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Discard the drained liquid.
- Mix the batter – In a large mixing bowl, combine the grated squash and onion with the egg, flour, cornmeal (if using), remaining salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Stir until everything is well combined. The mixture should be thick enough to hold together.
- Heat the oil – Pour oil into a large skillet (cast iron works great) and heat over medium-high until shimmering.
- Fry the fritters – Use a small scoop for equal portions to drop the batter into the hot oil, gently pressing them down with the back of the scoop to flatten slightly. Cook 3–34 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy.
- Drain & serve – Remove the fritters with a slotted spatula and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Serve hot and enjoy!
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Notes
Serving size is approximate as appetites vary. My yield was 26 fritters using a small scoop, but that could vary depending on the size you portion your fritters.
Find more detailed steps information in the full post along with serving suggestions and variations for preparing squash fritters.
Squash fritters are delicious as a side or snack. They are great dipped in ranch or remoulade sauce. We enjoy them with a bit of hot sauce.
Nutrition
Serving: 4fritters | Calories: 224kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 401mg | Potassium: 232mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 180IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg