Ricotta fritters are wonderfully light and airy on the inside, while golden and crispy on the outside. Made with fresh vegetables and soft ricotta, this dish carries that natural Mediterranean character — perfect as a snack, starter, lunch or dinner, or even as a party bite.
PREP 35
MIN COOK 30 MIN
SERVES 8
Jump to Ingredients
Ricotta Fritters Ingredients
- 120g baby spinach leaves
- 1 cup (150g) frozen peas, thawed and lightly mashed
- 1 medium zucchini (175g), grated
- 2 green onions, finely sliced
- 4 eggs
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 cup (125g) grated parmesan
- ¾ cup self-raising flour
- 250g ricotta
- olive oil for shallow frying
- tomato-chive salad with balsamic
Ricotta fritters method
- Pour boiling water over the spinach, drain well and squeeze out moisture. Do the same with grated zucchini — this step is essential for proper texture.
- Mix spinach, peas, zucchini, green onion, eggs, garlic and parmesan in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add the flour and gently incorporate. Fold in half of the ricotta without overmixing.
- Heat olive oil in a pan. Scoop portions of batter, flatten slightly and fry for 3–4 minutes on each side until golden and firm.
- Serve warm with extra ricotta and tomato salad.
Tips for perfect fritters
- Removing moisture from vegetables ensures stability
- Medium heat guarantees even browning
- Don’t overwork the batter — fluffy texture comes from gentle mixing
Variations and flavor options
- Lemon zest for a bright citrus lift
- Fresh basil, dill, parsley or chives
- Chili flakes or jalapeño for heat
- Sweet corn for a hint of sweetness
- Almond flour for gluten-friendly variation
Nutritional value
Approx. per ~3 fritters:
- 260–290 kcal
- 14–18 g protein
- 20 g carbs
- 12 g fat
- 3 g fiber
Ricotta provides high-quality protein, spinach supports vitamin intake, and peas add fiber and slow-release energy.
Serving ideas
- As an appetizer or brunch element
- As finger-food in small bite format
- In wraps or sandwiches
- With grilled fish or chicken
- With lemon-yogurt dip or extra ricotta
Storage & reheating
- Fridge: up to 3 days
- Freezer: up to 3 months
- Oven: 160°C / 8–10 minutes — crisps back up nicely
- Pan reheating: 3–4 min per side with a touch of oil
- Microwave: acceptable but softens the exterior
To freeze without sticking, layer fritters separated by parchment.
A touch of Italian culinary tradition
Ricotta, meaning “re-cooked,” has deep roots in the Italian kitchen. It was historically a humble cheese, created from leftover whey. Fritters like these evolved as efficient, flavorful solutions for using available ingredients — now elevated from rustic home dish to popular modern dining choice.
Elegant plating suggestions
- Place the fritters stacked or slightly overlapping
- Top with a small dollop of ricotta
- Drizzle with lemon olive oil
- Garnish with microgreens
- Present on a clean, bright plate for visual emphasis
Everything you need to know about ricotta fritters
Ricotta fritters are versatile and adaptable, so it’s useful to answer a few common questions. They can be baked instead of fried by cooking them at 180°C for about 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway, though frying gives a crispier exterior. They can easily be made gluten-free by using almond flour or cornstarch instead of regular flour. Low-fat ricotta works, but the texture will be slightly drier.
The batter can be prepared up to a day in advance and kept in the fridge, and you can swap in other vegetables such as grated carrot, chopped broccoli or corn. To achieve the best texture and flavor, avoid common mistakes like frying on too high a heat, skipping the moisture-squeezing step, over-compressing the batter, flipping too early or overcrowding the pan. Ingredient substitutions work well too: parmesan can be replaced with pecorino or grana padano, spinach with kale or arugula, green onions with shallots, and peas with edamame or chickpeas.
The fritters can also take on different cultural flavor profiles such as an Italian style with basil and lemon zest, a Greek style with feta and dill, or a Mexican style with chili and lime. They pair beautifully with sides such as arugula salad, garlic yogurt sauce, pesto, marinara, grilled vegetables or even salmon or chicken. These fritters are well suited for many occasions including brunch gatherings, casual dinners, picnics, parties and weekly meal prep.
Conclusion
Ricotta fritters are the ultimate balance of comfort and sophistication: golden outside, soft inside, fresh in flavor and satisfying in texture. They are versatile, easy to prepare and universally appealing — a dish worth adding to any kitchen repertoire.
If you’re looking for more simple cooking guides, check out our Quinoa Bowl Recipe tutorial..