Peixinhos da Horta
If you've got green beans, plain flour and egg, you're most of the way to this Portuguese side: about 60 minutes of cooking across 6 steps. Below: the ingredients split into pantry staples and a quick shopping list, a built-in serving scaler, and the method in 6 steps.
You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and pan. At medium difficulty across 6 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (1)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Top and tail the green beans, then blanch them in boiling salted water for 3 to 4 minutes until just tender but still bright green, drain well and pat thoroughly dry.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, egg, grated garlic and a good pinch of salt, then gradually whisk in the cold sparkling water to a smooth batter just thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Heat the sunflower oil in a deep pan to about 180°C, testing with a drop of batter that should sizzle and rise to the surface immediately.
- Dip the dried beans into the batter a few at a time, letting the excess drip off, then lower them carefully into the hot oil in small batches so the temperature does not drop.
- Fry for 2 to 3 minutes, turning once, until the batter is puffed, crisp and pale golden, then lift out with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper.
- Season the hot fritters with a little salt and serve straight away with lemon wedges for squeezing over.
You'll use: Frying pan / skillet · Pan · Saucepan · Whisk
Ingredient substitutions
- Lemon
- lime · 1 tbsp white wine vinegar per lemon
What to serve with Peixinhos da Horta
Tips & common questions
How long does Peixinhos da Horta take to make?
About 60 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 6 steps and 9 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of lemon?
Try lime. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Peixinhos da Horta vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Peixinhos da Horta is an original Portuguese recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Peixinhos da horta.jpg by Adriao, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.