I have always considered myself quite a nice person. I like food of all shapes, flavours and colours. From every country and continent. I don’t discriminate, I am an equal opportunity eater. It’s only the doctors who say I’m intolerant. And certain foods who refuse to tolerate me. They certainly refuse to recognise and respect my right to eat them without major physical discomfort and distress.


Gluten and lactose are not my friends.


Despite the negative attitudes surrounding me from many of those I love best, (cakes, ice cream, hot toast) I decided to become a chef. Not always easy when you live in a bread and milk filled world. I like to think that this has helped me become a better person as I embrace my differences and refuse to let the gluten get me down. I believe InTolerance. I am the InTolerant Chef.

Food should not be about what you can’t eat, but what you can and what you enjoy eating. This blog is about my journey of cooking and eating and discovery. It’s not a definitive guide to allergy awareness nor do my intolerances make me an expert. Your body is your responsibility, not mine. I only know what works for me.


I can tell you this..... No glutens were harmed in the making of this website.

March 23, 2012

Fabulous Fritters







I'd much rather brunch than breakfast.






I need a hot cup of Earl Gray as soon as I get out of bed, then another to sip as contemplate the day ahead- but I'm just not ready for food until after an hour or so.
I'd much rather something substantial and savory than some cold cereal or a muesli bar, and anything with bacon will help sustain me well until dinner time.

With an Easter Brunch coming up and zucchini and mint vying with each other for garden domination outside my door, I sipped away at my first cup of tea for the day and slowly pieced together this recipe.

















It's not too tricky for the early morning- just lots of grating, it's not lactose free- but I can handle the goat and sheep halloumi, it tastes good and gives me an excuse to fry some bacon to go along with it- Perfect!

I sipped away at my second cup of tea as I grated and beat, mixed and folded, and in about 10 minutes had these little lovelies ready to go. I threw on some bacon, tossed some tomatoes, drizzled some oil....

and sat down to a leisurely lunch with a third cup of tea. Ahhhh...

Perfect start to the day!

















Halloumi Mint and Zucchini Fritters

1/2 cup gluten free SR Flour
1/3 cup lactose free Milk
2 Eggs- separated
1/2 cup Zucchini - coarsely shredded
1/2 cup Halloumi Cheese - coarsely shredded
1/4 cup Mint - finely cut
1 Lemon- finely grated rind and good squeeze of juice
1 tb good Olive Oil
1 clove Garlic - finely chopped

Once you've shredded your zucchini, give it a good squeeze to remove as much of its liquid as you can to avoid soggy fritters. A surprising amount will come out, and your fritters will be grateful you went to all the extra trouble.

















Put the egg yolks, milk and oil in a bowl and give them a good whisk.
















Add in the flour and mix until smooth,
















Then add in the cheese, mint, zucchini, garlic, lemon rind and squeeze of juice

















Taste for seasoning, but don't forget the cheese is pretty salty

Whisk the egg whites separately until they are softly standing up, then add about a third of them to the other mixture and stir well to combine and lighten the batter
















Carefully fold in the remaining egg whites so the batter is soft and fluffy


















Place heaped tablespoons onto a greased pan on a medium heat. Cook until bubbles form, then flip and cook until the fritter bounces back slightly when pushed with a finger
















I served my fritters for brunch drizzled with a lovely greek olive oil and some fresh tomatoes tossed with extra shredded mint and some bacon on the side to keep my strength up.
















So Dear Readers, what's your favourite brunch dish and are you doing anything special for Easter?









.

24 comments:

  1. I'm the same! I can't eat for at least an hour after I wake up, sometimes not until lunchtime. Around 11am I start to get peckish so brunch is my meal too :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. What beautiful looking fritters. And I'm like you - I'd much rather brunch than breakfast. And I much prefer savoury to sweet. I think we're staying home this Easter - here's hoping Sydney turns on some decent weather - surely it's our turn! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you get that nice weather Charlie Louie, I hope we do too! We're doing a sheep on a spit, and I don't want to do that in the garage so here's to the sunshine :)

      Delete
  3. Yummm - we love fritters in our house too! I am the same - give me an hour or two before eating first thing in the morning...I want your fritters for breakfast!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'd love to share with you Ina! As long as I can have a cuppa, I don't mind waiting :)

      Delete
  4. Oh yum! I never wake up early enough or have enough time in the mornings to cook. On weekends I can't be bothered and end up just going out.. maybe I should change my lifestyle :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'd love to go out every weekend for brunch! I don't think there's anything wronf with your lifestyle at all :)

      Delete
  5. mmmm fabulous fritters indeed!! I adore brunch. It's always a battle of sweet vs savoury for me. We're still working on our easter plans...looking forward to it though!
    Heidi xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All the 'firsts' for you this year Heidi! I hope your first Easter as a married couple is wonderful :)

      Delete
  6. Very yummy... love this, thanks so much for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. MMMMM,..;I love your tasty well-flavoured haloumi fritters a lot: they look just divine! ;)

    Things of beauty!!! I must make them tomorrow,...oooh yes!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you enjoyed them Sophie! I loved the tang of the salty cheese mixed with the mint :)

      Delete
  8. Sigh...I get up so early that by the time most of the family are having breakfast, it feels like brunch to me. And I'd happily eat your fritters at any time of the day! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Early Bird, hey Celia! I'd love to have you pop by for brunch any day :)

      Delete
  9. Dear InTolerant Chef,

    I always love the golden brown colour of fritters. Definitely looking forward to spending some time down at the Southern Highlands over Easter, love the autumn colours of the country.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Haloumi is my all time fave. Love it with zucchini!! I'm with you - brunch rocks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rocks indeed! I have still so many zucchinis to get through!

      Delete
  11. i can't deal with food upon waking either..i need a few cups of tea and plenty of thinking time before i'm ready for the world..i bought haloumi this week with a view to making something minty with it but i haven't had a light bulb moment yet..but your fritters have saved the day and would be perfect..especially because i have a very large homegrown zucchini languishing in the fridge..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Hazel! I hope they turned out nice for you, I have zucchini in the fridge, on the bench, in the garden.....
      What's your favourite cup of tea?

      Delete
  12. I'm with you on the slow start... two cups of tea (3 on weekends when I don't have to rush off to the office). I like going to a local place for brunch - where I get the classic eggs, home fries and bacon, but with GF toast. Sheer comfort food. Winter here in Canada - nothing fresh to grate yet, but your post sure made me excited about growing veggies this coming spring!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh yes, weekends are definitely 3 cups of tea mornings! I think you need comfort food for winter, and home fries sound great. What type of veggies do you grow in your garden?

    ReplyDelete