Low-carb courgette and wild salmon fritters

Low-carb courgette and wild salmon fritters with smoked wild salmon, courgette, eggs, parmesan and lemon quark – savoury, juicy and quickly fried in ghee.

At a glance

• Serves 2
• Prep time: 15 min
• Cooking time: 15 min
• Total time: 30 min
• Calories: 360 kcal per serving
• Protein: 28 g
• Fat: 24 g
• Carbs: 6 g

Ingredients

• 100g wild salmon (smoked)
• 2 organic eggs
• 2 green courgettes
• 2 spoonfuls of full-fat quark with lemon
• 2 tbsp almond flour (for binding)
• 4 tbsp finely grated parmesan
• Ghee or clarified butter for frying
• Black pepper and salt

Method

You’ll need: frying pan · chopping board · knife · mixing bowl · grater

1. Wash the courgettes and grate them coarsely. Salt lightly, leave to stand briefly, then squeeze out well so the fritters don't turn watery.
2. Cut the wild salmon into small pieces and put in a bowl with the eggs, lemon quark, parmesan, almond flour, black pepper and a little salt. Mix in the squeezed courgette and stir everything to a mixture you can shape.
3. Heat the ghee or clarified butter gently in a frying pan. Shape small fritters from the mixture and place them in the pan.
4. Fry the courgette and wild salmon fritters over a medium heat until golden brown on both sides. Drain briefly on kitchen paper if you want to remove excess fat.
5. Check the texture and, if needed, round off with a little black pepper or a spoonful of lemon quark.
6. Serve hot, ideally straight from the pan. A fresh green salad goes well with them, or simply a little more lemon zest on top.

Good to know

These fritters are uncomplicated but still special. Golden brown outside, juicy inside, with a fine lemony note and plenty of savoury flavour.

Swaps

Smoked wild salmon → fresh wild salmon (less processed, usually less salty) Lemon quark → Greek yoghurt (10% fat) (creamy, plenty of protein, fresh acidity) Almond flour → coconut flour (still low in carbs, binds very well in small amounts) Ghee or clarified butter → grass-fed butter (good flavour, suitable for gentle heat)

Allergens

Contains fish, egg, milk and almonds (tree nuts). Generally suitable for children, but choose mindfully because of the salt and the smoked fish. In pregnancy, smoked fish is only OK cooked until steaming hot – make sure the fritters are cooked right through, eggs included.

Frequently asked questions

What fatty acids are in wild salmon?

Wild salmon mainly provides omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA. The exact amounts vary with the fishing area and season.

What does courgette bring nutritionally to this recipe?

Courgette contains lots of water, some fibre and potassium, and smaller amounts of folate and vitamin C. It makes the fritters juicy without adding many carbohydrates.

Why are eggs more than just a binder in the fritters?

Eggs provide protein as well as choline, selenium and some vitamin D. Choline is an interesting nutrient that people don't often talk about.

Is parmesan just there for flavour?

No, parmesan also contains protein and plenty of calcium. Thanks to ripening, it's usually very low in lactose.

What should I know about almond flour?

Almond flour provides fibre and some vitamin E, but it's obviously a problem with a nut allergy. With a very sensitive gut, the amount of nut flour can matter for some people.