UConn Extension’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) recently re-established connections with the CitySeed Farmer’s Market at the New Haven Dixwell Q-House to provide healthy recipe ideas. This year, CitySeed completed its 20th Anniversary of providing Connecticut farm produce to New Haven residents. EFNEP nutrition educators offer ideas about how to prepare farm market produce in fun and healthy ways. Hannah Morillo-Galindo, EFNEP Educator, prepared a zucchini burger taste testing demonstration for the last day of the CitySeed Farmer’s Market. Market attendees were pleasantly surprised and excited about how good the zucchini tasted, and many said they would try the recipe at home. 

Cheesy Zucchini Patties 

Zucchini (zu’kini) is a type of green squash, mostly eaten as a vegetable; but zucchini and all squash are a fruit because it grows as a large berry part of a flower.  Zucchini has a mild flavor and can be prepared in many different ways. Zucchini, low calories and packed with vitamins and minerals, provides antioxidants for healthy cells and fiber to help with digestion.  Zucchini can be eaten raw, stir fried, grilled, or baked. Some fun ways to prepare it are as bread, as a smoothie, or as a substitute for noodles (called zoodles!). Try this tasty, easy zucchini patty for a quick snack or a meal.

Kitchen Tools: 

1 large bowl	1 knife
1 grater	Frying pan or air fryer
1 small towel or paper towels	Cooking spoon
Aluminum foil

  Ingredients: 

2 cups grated zucchini (about 1 large zucchini)	2 eggs, beaten
½ cup all-purpose flour or instant mashed potatoes	½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese	¼ cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons vegetable oil	Salt to taste

Instructions: 

• Grate the zucchini into the large bowl. Wrap the grated zucchini in a towel and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. * Squeeze out the excess water and return the zucchini to the bowl. 

• Add the eggs, flour, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, onion, and salt into the bowl. Stir until the ingredients are well combined. 

• Stovetop: Heat the cooking oil in a frying pan on medium-high heat. Scoop tablespoons of the zucchini mixture into the pan and fry until golden brown (about 2 minutes per side). 

• Air fryer: On the air fry setting, preheat to 400° F. One heated, line the bottom of the basket with aluminum foil. Use your hands to shape the mixture into patties and put them in the air fryer, making sure they don’t touch in the basket. Cook until golden brown, checking every 4-5 minutes to flip the patties.  

This recipe yields approximately 12 patties. 

*It is important to drain as much water from the zucchini as possible, or the mixture will be too runny. 

This recipe was adapted from All Recipes https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/13941/zucchini-patties/.