Crispy Egg Fritters (Ejjeh)

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These crispy egg fritters, also known as ejjeh in most Middle Eastern households, are fluffy deep-fried bites of goodness. If you're looking for a quick and easy customizable meal for a lazy day, then you're going to LOVE these fritters.

I love adding twists to my childhood favorites, especially when it involved vegetables. I feel like by the end of the week, everyone has a bunch of vegetables sitting in their fridge that they don't really know what to do with. So, this is my twist on this Syrian classic, which is usually made with just egg, onion, and parsley. This version with carrots is my family's favorite.

What I Love About These Crispy Egg Fritters

Egg fritters are quick and easy to whip up on a lazy day, they're easily customizable to include any vegetables you have on hand, and there are SO many ways to serve them. They're perfect as a main dish or as an appetizer/side dish, and work for breakfast lunch, or dinner.

Another reason these crispy egg fritters are my favorite is that they pair well with dips and side dishes like this tahini dressing, this fried eggplant salad, and my favorite cheese and za'atar fried spring rolls.

Ingredient Notes

Eggs: The base of this whole recipe. Everything else is pretty much customizable, as long as you have your eggs.
Parsley: Ejjeh is usually made with A LOT of fresh parsley. So get ready to chop!
Onion: You can use white or red onions, but I personally prefer white for their slightly sharper flavor.
Carrot: The vegetable component. You can use any other vegetable instead or along with the carrots, like broccoli, zucchini, spinach, cauliflower, cabbage, etc. Feel free to make this recipe yours.
Garlic: I don't think I cook anything without at least 2-3 cloves of fresh garlic.
Flour: You'll only need a couple of tablespoons of flour for this recipe. You can use all-purpose or wholewheat flour. I find all-purpose flour results in a fluffier egg fritter.
Spices: My egg fritter spice mix is: cumin, 7 spices, dried coriander, salt, and black pepper. You can also add some chili flakes, chili powder, or chili paste if you want them spicy.
Baking Soda: The secret ingredient to getting these egg fritters fluffy and airy on the inside, and unbelievably crispy on the outside.
Frying Oil: You'll need any type of oil with a high smoke point. Some options are canola oil, vegetable oil, and frying oil.

How To Make Crispy Egg Fritters

To make these crispy egg fritters, start by blitzing the onion, carrot, and garlic in your food processor. Alternatively, you could smash the garlic, chop the onion, and shred the carrot. Wash and chop the parsley.

adding the carrots to the food processor

Crack the eggs into a large bowl. To the same bowl, add your spices, flour, and baking soda. Use an electric whisk to beat the eggs until they're pale and frothy.

Then, add in the parsley along with the carrot, onion, and garlic that you blitzed in your food processor and mix until fully incorporated. Your fritters are now ready to fry.

adding the chopped parsley and carrots to the eggs

Heat your frying oil in an appropriate frying pot. You can check if the oil is hot enough by dipping the handle of the wooden spoon in the oil. It it bubbles, it's ready. Use a ladle to gently scoop a couple spoonfuls of the mixture into the hot oil. Fry until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel lined plate.

Serve these crispy egg fritters hot and enjoy!

Tips and Tricks

Don't add too many veggies. The batter should be slightly on the runnier side, a little bit like crepe batter. If it's too thick or has too many vegetables in it, the egg fritters won't fluff up while frying.
Try not to overcrowd your pot. You want to give the fritters space to expand. If they're too close, they'll stick together and come out misshapen.
Drain on paper towels as soon as they're done frying. I can't stress on how important this is. Getting rid of the excess oil in the key to fluffy, crispy egg fritters.

FAQs

Why is it called a fritter?

Fritter comes from the Latin word frictura, which means "a fry".

How to serve vegetable fritters?

You can serve these crispy egg fritters as a side dish or part of an appetizer platter with dips or sauces, throw them in a sandwich as a veggie patty substitute, or just have them on their own. It's your call.

How do you top soggy fritters?

Drain them on a paper towel as soon as they're out of the frying oil, and serve immediately. They don't reheat well and start to get soggy after sitting out for some time.

Can you make egg fritters in advance?

You can make the batter a day in advance. Place it in an airtight container or cover your bowl with plastic wrap. Let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before you start frying.

More Vegetarian Breakfasts

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