Vegan Corn Fritters – the perfect crispy bite! Loaded with corn, bell peppers, and green onions, these fritters are packed with flavor and done in 25 minutes or less!
(This recipe was originally published here on March 21st, 2016. I refreshed the photos and simplified the recipe)
If you love crispy food and anything with corn, you're going to LOVE these Vegan Corn Fritters! They are so easy to whip up and my family goes crazy for them. You don't need any special ingredients or equipment either - just a large non-stick skillet to crisp them up.
These fritters are not deep fried, and I don't use a lot of oil either. I use just enough to coat the pan which is about 1.5 tablespoons per batch. They turn golden and crisp up beautifully! You've gotta try them!
HOW DO I SERVE FRITTERS?
You can enjoy them as an appetizer, side, or even for breakfast! They are full of flavor, so you can eat them as is or dunk them in your favorite dipping sauce.
I made a Green Onion Dip for these, but I also enjoy them with Vegan Sour Cream, Salsa, Ranch Dip, Hot Sauce, Creamy Chipotle Sauce, or a drizzle of Maple Syrup. Anything goes!
WHAT DO I NEED TO MAKE VEGAN CORN FRITTERS?
(full ingredient amounts in recipe card below)
All-purpose flour
Cornmeal
Baking powder
Granulated garlic
Salt and pepper
Unsweetened non-dairy milk
Canned or frozen corn
Red bell pepper
Green onions
Oil for frying
Feel free to add more seasoning to suit your taste buds. You can add ¼-1/2 teaspoon of cumin, chili powder, cayenne pepper, coriander, or smoked paprika.
Also, you can swap out the bell peppers for poblano peppers for mild heat or serrano peppers for spicy heat. You can also omit the peppers and substitute with more corn if you don't like them.
If you don't like green onions, you can swap them out for ⅓ cup of chopped cilantro or basil and add a sprinkle of onion powder to the mix. It all works!
HOW TO MAKE VEGAN CORN FRITTERS
- STEP 1: Add the flour, cornmeal, garlic, baking powder, salt, and pepper to a large mixing bowl. Whisk to combine.
- STEP 2: Add the milk and whisk until just combined. The batter should be thick, but if it looks dry, a few teaspoons of milk or oil to moisten.
- STEP 3: Now add the corn, bell pepper, and green onions. Fold with a Mixing Spatula to combine well.
STEP 4: Heat up a Large Non-Stick Skillet over medium heat for a few minutes. When the pan is hot, add the oil and wait until it shimmers. Using a Large Cookie Scoop place 3 tablespoons of batter into the pan (you can also use a ¼ measuring cup, but only fill ¾ of the way).
The batter should sizzle when it hits the pan. If it doesn't, let your pan heat another 30 seconds before adding more batter. Gently press down the mound to flatten the fritter. Place down more batter in a clockwise pattern until you run out of room. Don't crowd the pan or the fritters won't crisp well.
STEP 5: Cook fritters for 2-4 minutes or until golden brown. Using a Small Spatula, check under the first fritter you placed to see if it's ready, then flip and repeat on the other side. Check the rest in the same clockwise direction and flip when ready. The other side will likely cook faster so keep an eye on them. If the pan is smoking, turn down the heat.
STEP 6: Place fritters on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil. Repeat the method until all batter is gone.
CAN I BAKE FRITTERS?
Well, you can, but they won't have the same crispness that the fried does. The texture was a little different too, but they still tasted delicious. I prefer them in the pan using minimal oil, but If you want to try baking them, here's what you'll need to do:
- Preheat your oven to 400 °F (200 °C).
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly spray with oil.
- Place 3 tablespoons of batter on the sheet leaving a few inches in between each fritter (you can use a large cookie scoop or almost fill a ¼ measuring cup).
- Bake for 10-15 minutes on each side until lightly browned and crisp.
CAN I FREEZE CORN FRITTERS?
YES! They actually freeze really well. After frying, let them completely cool before placing them in an airtight container. It's best to use wax paper in between each fritter to prevent them from sticking together. Freeze for 4-5 months.
HOW DO I REHEAT THEM?
To reheat them, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 400 °F (200 °C) for 10-15 minutes until heated throughout. Keep an eye on them so they don't burn. If your oven runs hot, you may want to reduce the heat a little.
Plus, they reheat beautifully in the Air Fryer too! Just cook them at 390 °F for 5-8 minutes or until heated throughout and crispy.
LOVE CORN? HERE ARE MORE RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE:
- Avocado Black Bean and Corn Salad
- Skillet Cornbread
- Vegan Corn Chowder
- Fried Corn (recipe by Vegan in the Freezer)
I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU
If you make this recipe, let me know what you think by ★ star rating it and leaving a comment below. It would really make my day. You can also follow me on Instagram and share your creation with me. Just tag me @veganhuggs and hashtag #veganhuggs so I don’t miss it.
Vegan Corn Fritters
Ingredients
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cornmeal
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- Fresh cracked pepper , to taste
- ½ cup + 1 tablespoon soy milk , unsweetened (or any non-dairy milk)
- 1 cup corn , unsalted canned or frozen (*see note)
- ½ cup red bell pepper , diced
- 2 green onions , thinly sliced
- grapeseed oil for frying (or any high smoke point oil)
See note for optional onion dip recipe
Instructions
- Prepare a paper towel-lined plate or tray and set aside.
- To a large bowl, add the flour, cornmeal, garlic, baking powder, salt and pepper. Whisk to combine well.
- Add the milk and whisk until combined. The batter should be thick, but if looks dry, add a few teaspoons of milk or oil to moisten.
- Add the corn, bell pepper and green onions. Fold with a spatula to combine.
- Heat up a Large Non-Stick Skillet over medium heat for 1-2 minutes. When hot, drizzle oil on the bottom of the pan to coat.
- Using a Large Cookie Scoop (or ¼ measuring cup filled ¾ the way), scoop about 3 tablespoons of batter out and into the pan (you should hear the batter sizzle). Gently press down the mound to flatten. Repeat in a clockwise pattern until you run out of room. Don't crowd the pan or they won't crisp well.
- Cook fritters for 2-4 minutes or until golden brown. Using a spatula, check under the first fritter you placed to see if it's ready, then flip and repeat on the other side. Check the rest in the same clockwise direction and flip when ready. The other side will likely cook faster so keep an eye on them. If the pan is smoking, turn down the heat.
- Place fritters on paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil. Repeat method until all batter is gone. Serve with dip and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- ½ cup vegan sour cream
- ¼ cup vegan mayonnaise
- 2-3 green onions, thinly sliced
- ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
- ⅓ teaspoon granulated onion
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Nutrition
Nathan Douty
Very tasty...still trying to get the crispy texture perfect.
Melissa Huggins
Hi Nathan, so glad you liked them. Make sure to get the pan nice and hot before adding the oil. Then let the oil heat before adding the batter. It’ll start to shimmer when heated. Now add the batter and you should hear it sizzle. Let them sit for a good few minutes before turning. Try to only turn once. Also, make sure not to crowd the pan or it’ll create moisture and could prevent them from getting crisp. I hope this helps. Thank you for stopping by 😀
Alice
Found this recipe because I had left over corn from a can I had opened and didn’t want to just throw them in the bin. Super easy and quick. I left out the bell pepper and onions because I didn’t have them on hand and the recipe still came out great. Toddler approved. Also realizing these would make awesome car snacks because they don’t really crumble and make a mess. Will be making again.
Support @ Vegan Huggs
Hi Alice! So happy to hear that you and your little one loved the corn fritters, and glad they came out just as delicious without the bell peppers and onions! They would definitely make great car snacks! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Amanda
I saw the option to reheat them in an air fryer, but can you do the initial cooking in an air fryer as well?
Amy
Would I be able to substitute cornflour for the cornmeal? Looking forward to making these soon!
Melissa Huggins
Hi Amy, I haven't tried it with cornflour, but I have tried them with chickpea flour and they turned out nicely. I think the cornflour will work, I'm just not sure how the texture will turnout. I'd love to hear how they turn out if you try it. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Sheridan de Lacy
Delish!
Sydney
Absolutely delicious. Just made these for my family and we LOVE them! I used regular onions as we did not have green onions. Thanks for this awesome recipe!
Melissa Huggins
Hi Sydney, I'm so glad they worked out well for you. Thank you for making them and sharing your modifications. 🙂
Jennifer Franklin
I don't have baking powder or soda on hand. Any ideas on substitutions? Thanks!
Melissa Huggins
Hi Jennifer, you can omit the baking powder. It does add a slightly fluffy texture, but it's not needed. I hope this helps. 🙂
Mary Granger
What can I substitute for the cornmeal? We are "sheltering in place" and I don't have any. Looks delicious!
Melissa Huggins
Hi Mary, do you have chickpea flour? It works really well to bind and yields a nice texture! If not, you can use all-purpose flour, but I'm not sure how well it will bind. You may need a flax egg in the recipe (ground flax and water). I'd love to hear how they turn out for you. Stay safe <3
Mary Granger
I have some tapioca flour, whole wheat flour, I can grind up some rolled oats, or wait until I get my grocery order next Friday night. Thanks for writing back.
Melissa Huggins
I think it will work well with the oat flour. It has nice binding power! If you think it'll be too oaty tasting, you can use a blend of that and whole wheat. 🙂
Linda Nisbett
Super delicious and reminds me of the south. Only thing I did differently was add lemon and lime juice, cilantro and cayenne for a more spicier patty. Thanks so much for this. That's it... I am gonna try everything on you're website haha. Everything I try is super good!
Melissa Huggins
This is such a nice compliment! Thank you for giving it a try and sharing your modifications. 🙂
jaide
these are amazing! i added red curry paste!
Melissa Huggins
Yum! Sounds perfect with the red curry paste! Thank you for making them 🙂
April
Made these to accompany vegan hoppin' john for NYE. Really easy, delicious and satisfying!
Melissa Huggins
Hi April, I'm so glad you like them! Thank you! Happy New Year! 🙂
Amy
These were wonderful! Quick, easy, and very tasty! Great with chili and then for breakfast the next morning. I followed the recipe as written except that I added a crushed clove of garlic in with the veggies instead of using granulated
Melissa Huggins
I'm so glad you liked them! The fresh garlic sounds delish! Thank you for giving them a try. 🙂
Louis
This was great! I used frozen and canned veggies (just heated up the frozen ones first) and it came out great! Cheap, filling, and delicious. : )
Melissa Huggins
Hi Louis, I'm so glad they worked out for you! Thank you for giving them a try 🙂
suzi
These were just perfect in every way!! We had roasted red peppers I needed to use up so those went in and onion granules in place of green onions this time round. I used fresh organic corn I cut off the cob!! DEEEE LISH!! Dipped in a cashew based salad dressing I had leftover with some worcesterchire in it. Super good together!!
Melissa Huggins
Hi Suzi, thank you for giving them a try! They sound amazing with the roasted peppers and fresh corn! Have a nice weekend! 🙂
David M Golding
First time I've tried one of your recipes (I was waiting for one for which I had all the ingredients on hand). Super easy to follow your detailed instructions and delicious result! Will try again with some variations - oh and thank you for including metric! Greetings from sunny Sydney, Australia.
Melissa Huggins
Hi David, thank you for giving them a try! I'm so glad you had all the ingredients. I love when that happens! I've heard Sydney is beautiful! Enjoy out there! 🙂
Alice
Delicious
Melissa Huggins
Thank you so much! 🙂
Sydney
I LOVE THIS RECIPE!! Took a while because I don't have a shredder or a dicer, but they look, smell, and taste delicious! Dipping sauce is delicious and easy too!
mhuggs
Hi Sydney, thank you for making this recipe and for your feedback. It's always nice to hear. I'm so glad you liked them. 🙂