In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, eggs, and milk.
Stir the cheese, garlic, sage, salt and pepper into the batter. Then, fold in the shredded butternut squash until everything is well combined.
Heat 1-2 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, drop spoonfuls of the butternut squash mixture into the pan and gently flatten them with the back of the spoon to form small fritters.
Cook each butternut squash fritter for about 3-4 minutes on each side until they are golden brown and cooked through.
Be careful not to overcrowd the pan. Cook in batches if necessary.
Notes
Use a box grater or food processor: If grating by hand, use the large holes of a box grater. A food processor with a shredding disc makes this step even quicker.
Remove excess moisture: If your butternut squash seems watery, squeeze it gently with a clean kitchen towel before mixing it into the batter.
Preheat the oil properly: The oil should be hot but not smoking before adding the fritters to ensure they crisp up nicely.
Avoid overcrowding the pan: Cook in batches to prevent steaming and ensure even browning.
Test one first: Fry a single fritter first to check seasoning and adjust as needed before cooking the rest.