Keftedesare a type of Greek or Cypriot fritter. They are popular all over, although the main ingredient varies depending on where you are. In Santorini, you’ll find sweet, sun-drenched tomato keftedes; in Sifnos, there are fantastic, falafel-esque chickpea keftedes. And in Cyprus they are predominantly meat-based, but now that our family includes so many vegetarians, my grandma often makes meatless versions using our favourite Cypriot ingredient as the base – halloumi. These have now become a permanent fixture in our lives, and during the summer she adds grated courgette to lighten them.
These keftedes are fantastic as part of a meze or bigger spread – great for lunchboxes or party food, and I particularly like them for breakfast or brunch. The eggs aren’t essential, but I think they elevate the meal, while the sweet and spicy chilli jam complements the salty halloumi perfectly.
Prep20 minCook10 minMakes12 (serves 4)
2-3 courgettes, coarsely grated (500g)Sea salt andblack pepper50g plain flour1 tsp baking powder3 tbsp fine breadcrumbs1 bunch spring onions, trimmed and finely sliced½ bunch mint, leaves picked and finely chopped1 block halloumi(about 225g), coarsely grated2 large eggs, beaten (plus 4 extra if serving with poached eggs)Olive oil,for fryingChilli jam, to serve
Put the grated courgettes in a colander in the sink, toss them with a teaspoon of salt and leave for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, put the plain flour, baking powder and breadcrumbs in a large bowl, add ground black pepper to taste and mix to combine.
When the courgettes have had their 10 minutes, squeeze them really well to get rid of the excess water, then transfer to the bowl with the flour mix. Toss to combine, making sure the courgettes are well coated. Add the sliced spring onions, chopped mint and grated halloumi, and stir well. Mix in the eggs and stir again.
If serving with eggs, put a pan of water on to boil for the poached or boiled eggs, and cook to your liking.
Divide the fritter mixture into 12: each should roughly be the size of one heaped tablespoon. Put a large frying pan on a medium heat, add a few tablespoons of olive oil, then fry the fritters, in batches if need be, for about four minutes on each side. Serve topped with a generous dollop of chilli jam and a poached egg or a peeled and halved boiled egg, if you like.
Discover more recipes from your favourite cooks in the new Guardian Feast app, with smart features to make everyday cooking easier and more fun. Start yourfree trialtoday.