Zucchini fritters with tomato kasundi

1.Toast the cumin, coriander and fennel seeds in a dry frying pan over a medium heat for a few minutes, just until they smell fragrant. Transfer to a liquidiser with the ginger and garlic. Whiz to a paste, adding a little of the diced tomato if the mixture is too stiff for the liquidiser.

2.Put the sugar and vinegar in a large saucepan and stir over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved. Add the remaining ingredients, including the spice paste, stir well, then bring to the boil. Lower the heat and cook gently for 1½ hours, stirring often, or until the mixture is thick, shiny and pulpy. Stir often with a long-handled wooden spoon during the last 15 minutes of cooking to prevent it catching on the bottom of the pan. Don’t reduce it to a thick, sticky paste or it will set like a jam when it cools.

3.Ladle kasundi into hot sterilised jars, then run a sterilised knife through each jar to knock out air bubbles. Cover with preserving lids and put the screw bands in place but don’t tighten them. Leave until cool, check that the lids have ‘popped’ and gone down, then tighten the screw bands. Refrigerate when completely cool.

4.Grate zucchini coarsely and transfer to a colander. Sprinkle with salt, run your hands through to distribute the salt, then drain zucchini for 30 minutes. Squeeze out moisture by hand then wrap in a clean cloth and wring out excess moisture. The zucchini can be prepared 1-2 hours before making the fritters (or up to 12 hours ahead if covered and refrigerated).

5.Transfer zucchini to a bowl and add spring onions, mint, feta, eggs, salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Blend in flour.

6.Heat oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. When the oil is hot, but before it starts hazing, drop spoonfuls of the mixture into the hot oil. Fry until golden on both sides. Drain briefly on a cake rack (I usually put a baking sheet lined with paper towels underneath the rack to catch oily drips). Transfer fritters to a plate and serve hot with kasundi on the side.