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Instructions:
Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet
Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent the fries from sticking and ensure they bake evenly. Lightly coat the baking sheet with cooking spray to give the fries an extra crispy texture.
Step 2: Prepare the Zucchini
Cut the zucchini into thin fries. You can slice them into rounds if you prefer, but fries are more traditional. Make sure they’re all about the same size so they cook evenly.
Step 3: Set Up the Breading Station
In a shallow dish, place the flour. In another dish, beat the eggs. In a third dish, combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano. Add a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. This will be your breading mixture.
Step 4: Coat the Zucchini Fries
First, dip each zucchini slice into the flour, ensuring it’s coated evenly. Then, dip it into the egg, letting any excess drip off. Finally, coat the zucchini in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to make sure it sticks. Repeat for all zucchini fries.
Step 5: Arrange on the Baking Sheet
Place the coated zucchini fries in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Make sure they are not overlapping, as this will ensure they cook evenly and become nice and crispy. If you want them extra crispy, you can lightly spray them with a bit of olive oil.
Step 6: Bake
Bake the zucchini fries in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes, or until they’re golden brown and crispy. Halfway through the cooking time, flip the fries to ensure they cook evenly on both sides.
Step 7: Serve and Enjoy!
Once they’re baked, remove the fries from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauces, such as ranch dressing, marinara sauce, or a homemade garlic aioli. Garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or a sprinkle of Parmesan if desired.
Tips for Perfect Zucchini Fries
- Cut Evenly: For the best results, try to cut the zucchini into even pieces so they cook at the same rate. It’ll help all the fries crisp up at the same time.
- Don’t Skip the Parchment Paper: Parchment paper or a silicone mat helps the fries crisp up and prevents them from sticking to the pan. If you don’t have parchment paper, a light coating of cooking spray on the baking sheet will also do the trick.
- For Extra Crispiness: If you want your fries to be extra crispy, try using panko breadcrumbs instead of regular breadcrumbs. They provide an even crunchier texture.
- Make It Gluten-Free: For a gluten-free version, swap out the flour for almond flour and use gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed gluten-free crackers.
- Add Some Spice: If you like a bit of heat, sprinkle some red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper into the breadcrumb mixture for a kick of spice.
Why These Zucchini Fries Are Irresistible
There’s something undeniably satisfying about sinking your teeth into a crispy, crunchy zucchini fry. The light and tender zucchini inside provides the perfect contrast to the golden, seasoned coating, making each bite an experience you’ll want to repeat.
- A Healthier Alternative: Unlike deep-fried fries, these baked zucchini fries are light and filled with nutrients. Zucchini is low in calories, packed with fiber, and rich in vitamins, making it a great choice for a healthy snack or appetizer.
- Crispy Without the Guilt: These zucchini fries are baked, not fried, which means they have a fraction of the oil and calories of traditional fries. You can enjoy the crispy texture you love without the added fat.
- Great for Entertaining: These fries are perfect for sharing. Whether you’re serving them at a party, a casual family dinner, or a weeknight snack, they’re sure to please everyone. Serve them with an assortment of dips for even more flavor options.
- Kid-Approved: Zucchini fries are a fun and tasty way to get your kids to eat more vegetables. The crispy coating makes them feel more like a treat, while the zucchini inside is mild and soft enough to please picky eaters.
Conclusion
There’s no question about it—Crispy Baked Zucchini Fries are hands down my favorite appetizer of all time. They’re easy to make, full of flavor, and perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re craving a light snack, need an appetizer for a party, or simply want to enjoy a healthier alternative to regular fries, these zucchini fries will quickly become your go-to recipe.
The combination of crispy, crunchy coating and tender zucchini inside is simply irresistible, and the variety of dipping sauces just makes them even more fun to eat. If you haven’t tried them yet, give them a try—you’ll quickly see why they’re my favorite appetizer and why they’ll soon become yours too!
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