Zucchini Pancakes

Ok. YUM. This is a delicious treat. Thank you to Lane Gold for writing “Vegan Junk Food” and providing us with this treasure. Check this out:

Ingredients:

2 medium zucchini

1 tsp salt

Oil (for frying – any vegetable oil will do)

1 tsp ground flaxseeds

1 Tbsp water

4 Tbsp grated onion

¼ cup cornmeal

¼ cup flour

½ tsp black pepper

Vegan sour cream (for dipping – optional)

Grate the zucchini, add salt and toss together and set aside in a colander to drain. (Be careful – this process can produce a good amount of water drainage, so maybe put the colander in the sink or with a bowl/plate under it on the counter).

In a small bowl, combine ground flaxseeds with water and set aside. (Some call this a "flax egg").

**Important note** I read somewhere that pre-ground flaxseeds that you purchase in the store have lost much of their nutrition by the time they are added to your recipe. For that reason, I always buy whole flaxseeds and grind them in a coffee grinder right before I use them.

After the grated zucchini has bathed in that salt for about 20 minutes, start squeezing out the excess water from both the zucchini and the onion. You can do this by grabbing handfuls and squeezing over the sink (my preferred method), or by placing the grated onion and zucchini in a clean kitchen towel and squeezing the extra moisture out.

Once you have gotten out much of the moisture, combine the zucchini, onion, flaxseed mixture, cornmeal, flour and pepper in a large bowl.

Prepare that oil: Get about 1” of oil heating in a pan over medium to medium-high heat (to about 360 degrees).

Place a heaping spoonful of the mixture in the heated oil and lightly press down on the mixture with the back of a spatula to flatten.

Fry 3-4 minutes on each side until a lovely golden brown. Drain on a wire rack or a plate lined with paper towel. Serve while warm, optionally with a side of vegan sour cream. (I also lightly sprinkled with salt).

Simplicity rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Although the process of grating and squeezing water out of the zucchini and onion is somewhat time consuming, it is not a tough process, and well worth It in my opinion!

Vegan rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is truly delicious! A great treat and something I would definitely serve as an appetizer for any gathering!

Carnivore rating: ⭐⭐⭐ “They’re ok. Not bad.”

Kid rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I’m having that with my dinner.”

Definitely adding this to my repertoire of appetizers for company! (Or for any weeknight I need a treat!)