Description
Crispy Baked Zucchini Fries are a healthy and delicious snack option made by coating zucchini sticks in a seasoned mixture of flour, eggs, cornmeal, and Parmesan cheese, then baking them to golden perfection. These fries offer a guilt-free alternative to traditional fried snacks, delivering satisfying crunch and flavorful seasoning.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 2 medium Zucchini (sliced into sticks)
Coating
- 0.5 cup All-Purpose Flour (can substitute with gluten-free flour)
- 2 large Eggs (beaten)
- 0.5 cup Cornmeal
- 0.25 cup Parmesan Cheese (grated)
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 0.5 teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the zucchini: Begin by washing the zucchinis thoroughly. Cut each zucchini into sticks approximately the size of traditional fries, ensuring they are relatively uniform in size for even cooking.
- Set up the dredging stations: In one shallow bowl, place the all-purpose flour. In a second bowl, beat the eggs until smooth. In a third bowl, combine the cornmeal, grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper, mixing thoroughly to create the seasoned coating mixture.
- Coat the zucchini sticks: Working in batches, first dredge each zucchini stick in the flour, shaking off any excess. Then dip it into the beaten eggs, allowing any excess egg to drip off. Finally, roll it in the cornmeal-Parmesan mixture until fully coated. Place each coated stick on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a lightly greased wire rack.
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) to ensure it is hot enough to crisp the coating on the zucchini fries.
- Bake the fries: Arrange the coated zucchini sticks in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, making sure they are not touching, which helps them crisp evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, turning halfway through the cooking time to promote even browning and crispiness. The fries should be golden brown and crispy on the outside while tender on the inside.
- Serve: Remove the fries from the oven and let them cool slightly on the baking sheet. Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce for a crunchy, healthy snack.
Notes
- For gluten-free options, substitute the all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour.
- You can adjust the seasoning blend in the coating to suit your taste preferences, adding spices like paprika or cayenne for extra heat.
- Using a wire rack on the baking sheet allows air circulation and helps keep the fries crispier.
- These fries are best eaten fresh but can be stored in the fridge and reheated in the oven for a few minutes to regain crispiness.
- Feel free to experiment by swapping Parmesan for nutritional yeast to make this recipe vegan, if using vegan egg substitutes.
