Crispy Santorini Tomato Fritters

A delightful recipe featuring the small and flavorful Santorini tomatoes, transformed into crispy fritters with a hint of mint and onion.

Ingredients

2	lbs red tomatoes, diced
1	cup yellow onion, finely diced
4	tbs fresh mint, finely chopped
2	cups all purpose flour
1 1⁄2	teaspoons teaspoons baking powder
	oil for frying, I use grape oil, it needs to be very hot and not smoking
	salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

• 1. Begin by dicing the red tomatoes and placing them in a colander set over a bowl to drain, ensuring to save the precious tomato juice.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the drained tomatoes with finely diced yellow onion, fresh mint, and half of the all-purpose flour. Create a slurry using the remaining flour and baking powder, incorporating approximately 1/2 cup of the reserved tomato juice.
  3. Incorporate the slurry into the tomato mixture until a thick, heavy batter-like consistency is achieved.
  4. Heat grape oil in a sauté pan, filling it with about 1 inch of oil. Ensure the oil is very hot before proceeding.
  5. Spoon the tomato batter into the hot oil and fry until golden and crispy. Flip the fritters and cook the other side until fully cooked through.
  6. Once cooked, drain the fritters on paper towels and lightly spritz with fresh lemon juice. Serve these crispy delights hot, optionally accompanied by Greek yogurt.
  7. Enjoy these delectable Santorini Tomato Fritters while still hot!
  8. Note: Adjust the consistency of the mixture by incorporating the reserved tomato juice as needed. The unique Santorini tomatoes, known for their intense flavor, are not overly juicy due to the arid conditions of their growth.

Jul 18, 2024