IMG_4304

Back when I was eight, I really wanted to be a double digit age.

Then when I was 10, I was dying to be a teenager.

And then when that finally happened, I was ready and willing to be 21.

(So much so that I occasionally ignored all rhyme, reason, and New York State laws and pretended that that was the case.)

(I didn’t say that.  For the record.)

(Mom. You didn’t read this.  Mmm k?)

IMG_4277

It’s kind of the opposite for marathon training.

When you’re running eight mile long runs, 13 milers seem beyond the scope of physical possibility.

And 20-milers?  As far as my mental capacity goes at the moment, they aren’t real.  They are but a mere figment of my imagination.  They do.not.ex.ist.  Capisce?

IMG_4288

This weekend is my first double digit run of this marathon season.  (Umm, yeah I break my year up in terms of training seasons…don’t you?).

And there are exactly two things that I need in order to get through it.

The first is my physical therapist. One Dr. Josh Grahlman who is, I maintain, the BEST physical therapist in New York City.  I may bitch and moan and tell him he’s torturing me when he digs his elbow into my calf or has me do squats on these freakishly weird vibration machines that make my muscles feel like new after I use them or orders asks me nicely me to roll my IT band for the fifth time that day.

Yup, you heard it here first.  Equilibrium Physical Therapy is the place to be on a Friday night (or at least the place to get physical therapy in New York).  I mean.  That’s where I’ll be.

IMG_4306

The second.

Is food.

Good nutrition both before and after a run is critical to feeling good.  You are constantly stressing your body out, after all, and so you need to give it good fuel to heal and replenish itself with.  Cookies and cakes and brownies are not going to suffice.  (As much as I hate to admit it.)

Which leaves me with my other two food groups.

Sweet potatoes and peanut butter.  Swoon.

IMG_4420

When eaten together, they are the perfect post long run recovery combination.

Bonus fact.  They are also perfectly healthy even if the only endurance event you’ve partaken in today is the Real Housewives of New York marathon on Bravo.  (Totally legit.  At least on my Saturday afternoons.)

When Alexia Foods contacted me about the “Reinvent a Classic” challenge, the fry that immediately popped into my head was a Thai curried peanut butter sweet potato fry.

I was obsessed with it.

But I wouldn’t let myself make it unless I had a good healthy meal to accompany it.  A girl cannot live on sweet potato fries alone, after all!  (Try as though she might.)

In walked these fritters.  Which are nothing short of amazing.  If you like Thai curries, that is.  I, for one, am quite the fan.  And the sauce that goes with them?  It’s absolutely my new favorite salad dressing. Hands down.

While I didn’t use this sauce on the sweet potato fries, the sauce I did use isn’t quite perfect yet.  I just need the curry and ginger flavors to come out a teensy bit more.  So the recipe will eventually be posted…just not yet. In the meantime, you guys should definitely try the fries tossed with this peanut sauce!  I’m sure it will be delicious.

And if you’re looking for even more french fry inspiration, be sure to check out the Alexia Foods facebook page!

IMG_4280

Thai Curried Zucchini Fritters
Serves 4, adapted from Closet Cooking

2 lb zucchini, grated and squeezed to drain out as much liquid as possible
1/2-1 cup flour
1 egg
2 tbsp red curry paste
1 scallion, chopped
1 handful cilantro, chopped
1 birds eye chili, chopped
1 tbs fish sauce or soy sauce
1 tbsp lime juice

1. Mix the zucchini, flour, egg, curry paste, green onion, cilantro, chili, fish/soy sauce, and lime juice in a bowl.  Add enough flour so that the mix is about the consistency of pancake batter.

2. Spray a non-stick pan with cooking spray over medium heat.  Using a 1/4 cup, pour the batter into the pan.  Cook until golden brown on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side.  Serve with spicy peanut sauce and with a salad made of CSA romaine lettuce, diced mango and diced red, yellow, and orange bell peppers.

Thai Spicy Peanut Sauce
Makes enough for about 8 servings of fritters and salad, adapted from Closet Cooking

1 tbsp peanut oil
1 tbsp thai red curry paste
1/4 cup light coconut milk
1/4 cup veggie broth
3 tbsp fish sauce or 2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp lime juice
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp sriracha
2 tbsp peanut butter

Heat the oil in a pan.  Add the curry paste and saute until fragrant.  Add everything else and simmer until thickened.

*I am being financially compensated for my services in the “Reinvent a Classic” campaign by Alexia Foods.

IMG_4291

You are reading this post on Eats Well With Others at https://joanne-eatswellwithothers.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author and or owner of Eats Well With Others. All rights reserved by Joanne Bruno.
blog_share_subscribe
Share →

85 Responses to Thai Curried Zucchini Fritters with a Spicy Peanut Sauce, Mango Bell Pepper Salad…and Sweet Potato Fries for Alexia Foods "Reinvent a Classic" Challenge!

  1. I have made fritters before from various ingredients but the addition of the Thai flavors takes the idea of a fritter to a whole other level! I am loving it! So inventive and delicious

  2. Sam says:

    Wow! I always make my zucchini fritters with a vaugely Mediterranean flavor profile. These look amazing! I’ll definitely have to try them.

  3. Yum yum yum! You are so creative! Good luck with your upcoming continued long runs! I’m way behind on my marathon training schedule thanks to a sprained ankle. It sounds odd to say, but I can’t wait to be doing longer runs (simply because I can’t right now). Oh, and sweet potatoes and peanut butter are absolute staples in my kitchen. 🙂

  4. Wow, what a great combo. I love thai flavours and those last Symon fritters we had were really good – I can see these thai ones being even better!
    Maybe, when indulging before the tender age of 21, you were just channeling your inner Canadian. 😉

  5. I love all of this! I’m going to pretend like I’m running as much as you are and I can eat as much as you can, too:-)

  6. OohLookBel says:

    Those fritters sound amazing (though without the cilantro – ‘Coriander is Evil’ is my mantra). I think it’s great that you eat so healthily and are able to tell us how to, as well. Keep up the good work. And the double-digit marathons!

  7. Mary says:

    What a wonderful combination. This is a really new twist on an old favorite. The fritters sound delicious. Have a great weekend. Blessings…Mary

  8. sofia says:

    i would totally run 20 miles for hose sweet potato fries. true story.

  9. Nice meal! With your meal plans I guess you are aiming for triple digit age:)

  10. Candace says:

    Once again….yes! please! Best wishes on your upcoming marathon. I know you are going to rock it. Have a wonderful weekend!

  11. These fritters look awesome. I love pretty much anything with Thai spice but these look especiallyyy delightful 🙂

    Sues

  12. girlichef says:

    Very cool fusion going on here…and tasty! I could eat that plate in no time..and like it ;P

  13. WOW! I so love the added Thai spiciness to these fritters . . . and those fries! What a ‘must make’ recipe for me! YUM! I’d be so thrilled and honored if you could stop by and share this recipe post over on Fresh Food Friday or Seasonal Saturday that lasts until Monday evening (for those of us that are so crazy busy!). Again, fantastic job, Joanne!!!!

  14. Marisa says:

    Mmmmm yes, the mention of that sauce immediately had my thoughts turning to visions of food, food and more food. What? Is that a crime?

  15. Love all these flavors. I’d say it would definitely power a long run. Good luck with your training!

  16. The fritters look amazing! Love the flavors. Really looking forward to the new fry recipe, I made the last one, honey-lime, and we loved them!

  17. Love this! I want this for dinner, like now! 🙂

  18. Mmmmm! Looking at your delicious pics, I just remembered I have a bag of frozen sweet potato fries from Target somewhere buried in my freezer under the tilapia, ice cream, and bag of mystery meat . . . they won’t be as good as your fritters, but they will start to satisfy the wild craving I now have for sweet potatoes.

  19. La Liz says:

    Wow, I could eat this every night during these hot summer days. Zucchini, sweet potato and Thai Spicy Peanut Sauce — heaven! You inspire me with your training schedule!

  20. I love thai peanut sauce and now I have to try this peanut sauce for sure, may be even today 🙂

  21. Desi says:

    Look at you getting all creative! I wanted to let you know about my cookbook giveaway that is going on right now until July 16th. Stop on by to enter! Hope you are having a great week 🙂

    http://steaknpotatoeskindagurl.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-first-giveaway.html

  22. Swathi says:

    I like this thai flavored zucchini fritters, love to try them with that peanut sauce. great.

  23. Shannon says:

    love this twist on zucchini fritters!! can’t wait for more in my csa bag 🙂

  24. This sounds so so wonderful! I love zuks and thai. Wait till your in your mid30’s, then you start wishing you were younger…. so I’ve heard. 😉

  25. That’s a LONG title ;-)) Love those curry flavoured zucchini fritters. Very delicious!

  26. That Girl says:

    So funny. When I was like I didn’t think I’d live to be 16, it seemed so far off. When I turned 16 I didn’t think I’d live to be 21, and so on and so forth.

  27. Congrats on setting your sights on your first 2-digit run! That’s simply hard for me to imagine since even 1 mile is rough for me (haha I need to work on that…pronto). Good luck and love the wonderful Thai flavors in these dishes!

  28. Amy says:

    Ya. When you’re young even 1/2 ages are critical…wanting so badly to be older. Then you get older and realize you weren’t missing anything and aging sort of sucks ass.

    Oh, and…yum. On all counts.

  29. You really are an amazing woman!

  30. Lyndsey says:

    I love this with the curry paste in it! Everything looks so good! Nice work! My husband is the one who ran marathons, me just ran track in high school (before I was 21) 😀

  31. Good luck! Love the Thai seasonings in those fritters. What an inspired idea.

  32. Some pretty fantastic color on those fritters. Well done. As for running, I was up to about six miles a day, then got whacked with a head cold that put me out of commission for two weeks. God only knows how far I’ll be able to fumble down Sunset Blvd. when I start up again this weekend.

  33. Love the bold flavors in those zucchini fritters- zucchini is so adaptable to so many different flavors. And those sweet potato fries sound “out of this world” good. 🙂 Have a great double digit run! (And to think, I was patting myself on the back for my double digit cycling this week.)

  34. Viv says:

    man i wish its zucchini season over here…i haven’t seen them around for a while! if i had that for lunch, i think id feel healthy for a whole week…haha loving those nourishing and delicious meals you’re putting up 😀

  35. Corina says:

    I love Thai flavours. I’ve never tried the sweet potato and peanut butter combo after running but I’m willing to give it a try. Just a shame these are two things my husband doesn’t like. I’ll have to disguise them with lots of spices!

  36. marla says:

    Fritters and fries, oh my! Great combo of flavors. If ever in NYC & I need a physical therapist not I know who to go to 🙂 Have a BLAST at the Red Rooster.

  37. Love all of the flavors here! Also, I want to wish you good luck on the race today!

  38. Angela says:

    Why have I never thought of a sweet potato/ peanut butter combo? That’s brilliant.

  39. Lea Ann says:

    Wow, lots of wonderful flavors.

  40. l says:

    Love these fritters. I give them a double digit of 10 and the sauce sounds amazing.

  41. Sounds like your training is going well. I am really glad. Those fritters look amazing!! I have some locally grown zucchini that I bought the other day and now I know what to do with them!!

  42. Johanna GGG says:

    I thought you were going to say it was the opposite with marathons because you wished to be a bit younger for the stamina and energy of youth – just shows how old I feel that I think that way!

    Sweet potato fries with a peanut sauce sounds like an excellent reason to run a marathon – good luck with the run

  43. Sweet potatoes and peanut butter make for awesome running fuel. I’m always fueling up on peanut butter. Too much is definitely not good though too close to a run…learned that from experience, hah.

    Love the sound of fries with spicy peanut sauce!

  44. Barbara says:

    You always take things one step farther, Joanne. We love zucchini fritters, but I never thought of adding curry OR the Thai peanut sauce! And then, just to tempt me further, you added my favorite: sweet potato fries. OMG. I adore them.

  45. Kerstin says:

    These sound so flavorful and I would eat that peanut sauce on just about anything! Good luck with all your training!

  46. Peggy says:

    Definitely think you knocked this one out of the ballpark!

  47. Maria says:

    Yum! I’ll have to try that peanut sauce, it sounds so tasty! This dish is so full of flavour!

  48. Kimberley says:

    Yumyumyum! I wish your physical therapist lived here. AND I actually kind of love rolling my IT bands. It totally makes hiking long distances bearable.

  49. Miriam says:

    The meal os amazing!!! Good luck :), Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

  50. Chris says:

    Thai peanut sauce makes my taste buds do back flips. They particularly like it when it is paired with grilled beef, but zucchini is pretty good too! Nice job and good luck in the contest, Joanne! Hope your run went well today.

  51. I love zucchini fritters and this sounds like a wonderful adaptation with the peanut sauce.

    Good luck with that double digit run!

  52. All the best for your run.You know..the only form in which I like zucchini is fried..cant have it any other way :P..These fritters look mouthwatering and that peanut dipping sauce to go along is so yummy too—Love this recipe!

  53. oh wow love these I must try making fritters

  54. Zucchini fritters are a traditional staple in the lebanese kitchens, so I am very interested to see your original version with these chilies which adds a lot of oomph to an otherwise mild and rather bland dish. Love the peanut sauce and the fries, this post is an explosion of flavors, as your food usually is. Good luck on the running!

  55. Catherine says:

    Dear Joanne, Zucchini fritters are a classic. I love them. Sweet potatoes are a favorite of mine also. I think that they would be delicious prepared with the peanut sauce. Good luck Joanne. I know you will do great! Blessings my friend. Catherine xo

  56. Gloria says:

    I love zucchinis and these friters look amazing! gloria

  57. daphne says:

    what an awesome idea. I’m gonna borrow this idea for sure! The idea of red curry, spicy fritters and sauce.. oooh lala!

  58. keep teasing us with your sweet potato fry concoctions. For a minute I thought you has made some sort of blackened sweet potato pancake…

    Hey…. hmmm

    Got to go try something

  59. I’ve been wanting to try some Thai food, and this would be wonderful I’m sure! I just adore those Alexis sweet potato fries too. Congrats by the way on your double digit run! 🙂

  60. Zucchini fritters are so great. We make a very similar one made out of carrots. They’re a perfect way to bring in flavors from different countries.

  61. Raina says:

    Sweet potatoes with peanut sauce sounds amazing! I would never have thought of that combo. Glad you did. The zucchini fritters sound amazing too:)

  62. Wow, I have a feeling these fritters are way healthier than taking zucchini, dipping it in cornbread batter and frying them. Not that I did that. Ok, maybe I did…yikes.

  63. Carolyn Jung says:

    I swoon over that Thai peanut sauce. I love it on most anything. Now that you’ve given it the nutritional thumbs up, I think I’ll down a vat every time I work out. LOL

  64. Megan says:

    Wow! These sound amazing. Every time I check out one of your new recipes, I am inspired to jump into my kitchen with a new passion. Thanks for sharing these, I am def. going to give them a try!

  65. Chef Dennis says:

    what a great job with those fritters, they look so very very good, spicy and delicious! I know what you mean about the age thing, but getting older beats the alternative.

  66. Haha love that about the age. I just turned 29 but keep telling people Im 25 – its been like that for a good couple of years now. I have personally frozen my age.
    Love your fritters 🙂 The sauce sounds amazing!

  67. kankana says:

    zucchini fritters are such delicious snack or side dish on a meal. I always making these fritters.
    Keep up the awsm work … double digit marathon!

  68. Oh, this fry development process has been really fun to do and read about of course. You have a great flavor idea! No doubt, all of the bloggers are going to submit amazing ideas. Hopefully your double digit run went well this weekend!

  69. Esi says:

    I’m really not a zucchini fan..unless it’s fried so of course this sounds awesome to me.

  70. Beth says:

    The fritters look great, and the peanut sauce? Incredible!

  71. tigerfish says:

    you know what? I just made zucchini fritters for lunch using green and yellow zucchini! And that was before I came to your post 🙂 ….

  72. Reeni says:

    I know I said it before and I’ll say it again you are a pure and utter genius. Love these flavors! And in a french fry? Winner!

  73. Deborah says:

    Oh my goodness, I’d be all over this meal!!!

  74. Okay, I have to pick on you – that might just be the longest title for a blog post ever. 🙂

    I LOVE sweet potato fries! And I don’t know, I might be able to live on these fries.

  75. Claudie says:

    Lovely fritters and beautiful salad! I think the way you’ve recreated this dish is an absolute success. The fact that it’s runner-friendly too is a bonus 😉

  76. your this dies so really testy and full of energy thanks for this great post

  77. These thai fritters sound amazing and I bet they could be a way of having Mr Artichoke eating zucchini without him noticiing, hahaha !

  78. I love zucchini fritters and of course the Thai curry flavors just elevate them that much higher. Can’t wait to see the finished fries and sauce. 😉

  79. Lori says:

    Wow, must try this!

  80. This is one combo that I’ve never thought of….but whenever you have the word “Thai” or “Curry” in the title, I stop short and fast in my tracks to read and hopefully devour soon. Great creativity in this keeper recipe!!!

  81. Kevin says:

    Your fritters look great! I am so addicted to that peanut sauce! 🙂

  82. Those fritters look extremely outstanding! I need more fritters in my life. I love the sound of Thai curry paste in them and paired with the peanut sauce yumm.

  83. PL says:

    These fritters look burnt. 🙁

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *