Zucca Fritters: Crispy Italian Butternut Squash Fritters

Name: Zucca Fritters: A Classic Italian Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1.5 lbs butternut squash, cleaned, peeled, and grated; 50 g Parmigiano Reggiano, grated; 160 g 00 flour; 2 eggs; 1 tsp baking powder; Salt r_3QW$g,SB5Is)a pepper, to taste; Chives, chopped, to taste; Sunflower oil, for frying

Perfect for aperitivo or a cozy autumn snack.

By Giovanni Siracusa

@unpezzoditalia

October 01, 2025

By Giovanni Siracusa

Ingredients

1.5

lbs butternut squash, cleaned, peeled, and grated
50

g Parmigiano Reggiano, grated
160

g 00 flour
2

eggs
1

tsp baking powder
Salt & pepper, to taste
Chives, chopped, to taste
Sunflower oil, for frying

Instructions

TOTAL TIME

35 minutes

20 servings

Rustic, seasonal, and just a little indulgent, Zucca Fritters turn simple squash into a snack that’s hard to stop eating. If you love this kind of easy fried bite, our patate e pipì fritti and Italian fried meatballs are next on the list — simple, honest, and impossible to resist.

A metal pan holds butternut squash, three brown eggs in a carton, chives, a bowl of flour, and a metal grater on a wooden table with dishes and bowls in the background.

Peel & Grate the Squash

Clean and peel the butternut squash, then grate it using a box grater.

A pile of shredded cheddar cheese sits on a wooden cutting board next to a metal box grater. The background is a wooden surface.

Mix the Batter

Place the grated squash into a large mixing bowl. Add the eggs, grated Parmigiano, flour, baking powder, chives, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined. The batter will be on the wetter side, which keeps the fritters tender on the inside.

A glass bowl filled with an orange-colored batter mixed with herbs sits on a wooden surface. A wooden spoon rests in the bowl. Nearby is a glass of white wine.

Heat the Oil

Heat sunflower oil in a shallow frying pan over medium heat.

Fry the Fritters

Using two spoons, scoop and drop dollops of batter into the hot oil. Fry a few at a time, turning gently, until golden and crispy on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side. Adjust the heat as needed to prevent burning.