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Shared by Sarina Roffe

Ejjeh (Syrian Vegetable Fritters)

Yield: 6 servingsTime: 1 hour

Shared by Sarina Roffe

A large platter features small round vegetable fritters and an assortment of fresh vegetables.
Photographer: Armando Rafael. Food stylist: Judy Haubert. Prop stylist: Ashleigh Sarbone.

Ejjeh (Syrian Vegetable Fritters)

Yield: 6 servingsTime: 1 hour

Family Journey

Beirut and AleppoBrooklynGaithersburg, MD
Brooklyn

Airy, fluffy, and crispy on the outside, these latke-like fritters are a staple in Syrian kitchens. Often chock full of herbs, sometimes made simply with onions and potatoes, and occasionally with ground meat, Sarina Roffé’s vegetarian version includes carrots, celery, and zucchini. Eggs and matzah meal help bind these tasty fritters together. 

Read more about Sarina Roffe’s family story in “A Syrian Backyard Kitchen Grew in Brooklyn” and get her recipes for a bulgur and tamarind salad called bazergan, and tomatoes and eggs.

Ingredients

Ingredients:

  • 1 large yellow onion, peeled and grated
  • 2 carrots, peeled and grated
  • 3 Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and grated
  • 1 medium zucchini, grated
  • 1 celery stalk, finely diced
  • 1 tablespoon matzah meal
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon dried parsley 
  • Neutral oil, such as avocado, for frying 
EasyAppetizersSidesVegetarianPareveMiddle East

Preparation

  • Step 1

    Mix all the ingredients except for the oil together. The mixture will be soupy. Put the mixture in a cheesecloth and gently squeeze out most of the liquid, allowing a little bit to remain.

  • Step 2

    Heat 2-3” oil in a 10” skillet over medium heat. Drop the ejjeh mixture into the hot oil in tablespoon sized dollops; flatten them out using a fish spatula.

  • Step 3

    When the edges brown, after 3-4 minutes, flip the fritters and cook them on the other side. The fritters are done when they begin to puff up again, another 2-3 minutes.

  • Step 4

    Carefully remove fritters from the hot skillet and place on paper towels to absorb excess oil. Serve hot, in pita bread with chopped salad or sliced tomatoes and cucumbers.