Vegan Corn Fritters with Cilantro Tomatillo Salsa

At the height of fresh corn season, these vegan corn fritters can be served as a tasty side dish or better yet, as an out-of-the-ordinary appetizer. Made with cornmeal or chickpea flour, they’re good served warm or at room temperature and enhanced with a tasty cilantro and tomatillo salsa.

These corn fritters go down easy, especially if you wash them down with margaritas or mojitos!

About tomatillos and tomatillo salsa

Tomatillos are members of the berry family that resemble small green tomatoes. They’re not tomatoes, though, even though they’re sometimes called “husk tomatoes.” 

They’re the main ingredient in salsa verde, or fresh tomatillo salsa, their flavor is distinctive but not hot. If your CSA or local farm market is bursting with tomatillos (their season is roughly mid-summer to early fall, depending on where you live) you can start by making fresh tomatillo salsa (salsa verde).

However,  since the sauce for this recipe calls for just 1/2 cup of it to enhance the corn fritters, feel free to start with salsa verde from a jar. It’s available anywhere you’d find tomato salsa — the supermarket, natural foods stores and specialty groceries.

See lots more (including tips and recipes) in our Guide to Tomatillos.

Recipe adapted from Vegan Holiday Kitchen by Nava Atlas. Photos by Susan Voisin, FatFreeVegan.com.

Explore more …

• Easy Cold & Hot Vegan Appetizers
• Vegan Crab Cakes with Classic Cocktail Sauce
• Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer & Early Fall

Continue to Content

Yield: Makes about 24, 6 to 8 serving

Corn Fritters with Cilantro Tomatillo Salsa

Print

At the height of fresh corn season, these vegan corn fritters can be served as a tasty side dish or as an appetizer. 

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

Cilantro tomatillo salsa

• 1/2 cup tomatillo salsa, homemade (see link in Notes) or from a jar
• 1/2 cup cilantro leaves, very finely chopped
• Juice of 1/2 to 1 lime, to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Fritters

• 5 medium ears fresh uncooked corn
• 1/2 cup light spelt or almond flour
• 1/2 cup cornmeal or chickpea flour
• 2 scallions, chopped
• 1 cup unsweetened nondairy milk
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
• 1 small fresh hot chili pepper, seeded and minced, optional
• Oil for frying

Instructions

1. Place the ingredients for the sauce in a small serving bowl and stir together.
2. Break each ear of corn in half; stand on the flat end, and scrape the kernels off with a sharp knife.
3. Combine the corn kernels with the remaining ingredients except the oil in a food processor. Pulse on and off until the corn is finely minced but not pureed.
4. Heat enough oil to coat a large skillet or griddle. When really hot, ladle the corn batter onto the skillet to form 2 1/2 to 3 inch rounds (this will be a scant 1/4 cup of batter). Cook over medium heat until golden brown on each side. Transfer each batch to a  paper towel-lined plate. Repeat until all the batter is used up.
5. To serve, place the sauce in the center of a platter and surround with the fritters. Place a small spoon in the sauce so that everyone can spread a bit on their fritters.

Notes

Here's a recipe for Fresh Tomatillo Salsa.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 227Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 182mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 5gSugar: 7gProtein: 8g

Nutrition data is always an estimate depending on program used to calculate and exact products used. This is given for informational purposes only and accuracy cannot be guaranteed.

If you like this fresh appetizer, you might also enjoy …

See more appetizers & snacks and sauces and dressings.