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Copyright 2021 - All Right Reserved
DinnerFood/RecipesLunchNatural IngredientsRecipesVegan/Vegetarian

Healthy Crispy Parmesan Zucchini Fries

by Mark Feldman July 2, 2021
written by Mark Feldman July 2, 2021
Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
baked zucchini fries

I don’t know of anything more delicious than baked zucchini fries for a special appetizer or party snack. They’re crispy, they’re tender, and they’re a healthy alternative to the fried version.

I was first introduced to zucchini fries at Maggiano’s restaurant in downtown Chicago when it opened in the ’90s. We’d go for an Italian dinner and always start off with those crispy fried zucchini. And they were so good — not very healthy, but delicious.

On a Quest For a Healthy Crunch

I’m on a quest to remake the experience with a healthier version — not fried zucchini sticks, but baked zucchini fries. Bring it up a few notches in the health department. I think I’ve come pretty close to making them deliciously crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. (We also have a terrific vegan eggplant parmesan, since we’re talking Italian!)

Baked zucchini fries not only taste great but they have lots of nutrients. They’re definitely our friend. Here are some of the nutrition highlights in one cup of zucchini:

  • Calories 17
  • Protein (1 g)
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin K
  • Vitamin B6
  • Potassium
  • Magnesium
  • Phosphorus

Zucchini also contains small amounts of iron, calcium and zinc, and several other B vitamins. It’s a real powerhouse.


FAQs About Zucchini Fries

What are zucchini fries?

Zucchini sliced into sticks, lightly battered and baked or fried.

Can I make zucchini fries healthy?

Yes, baking them cuts down on the fat from frying in oil.

How can I make zucchini fries crispy in the oven?

Dip the sticks in an egg bath (or Just Eggs for a vegan version) and coat with flavored Panko breadcrumbs and a little parmesan cheese. Tossing the fries halfway into baking helps crisp them up. Bake at 450 degrees.


Here are quick steps for making delicious crispy baked zucchini fries:

4 medium zucchini
Start with three to four medium zucchini.
3 to 4 medium zucchini sliced in half
Cut the zucchini in half and keep cutting each piece in half until they are about 1/2-inch thick.
sliced zucchini sticks
They should look something like this.
grated parmesan cheese
Gather the coating ingredients, including grated parmesan cheese.
egg wash and Panko breadcrumb coating
Whisk eggs with salt and pepper in one shallow bowl, then in another bowl, combine Panko, parmesan, salt, Aleppo pepper, and Italian herb mix for coating.
baking sheet
Dip each zucchini stick into the egg wash, shake off the excess, and place into the coating mix, covering all sides and gently pressing until the coating sticks. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 35 minutes. Toss halfway through baking to crisp up evenly.
finished plate
Serve with your favorite ranch dressing or dip (we use Bolthouse Farms ranch dressing) or marinara sauce.

OK, you’ve got the quick steps above. Now let’s get into the recipe for the real cooks!

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
baked zucchini fries

Healthy Crispy Parmesan Zucchini Fries


  • Author: Mark Feldman
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 6
Print Recipe

Description

On a quest for healthy zucchini fries? This baked version, flavored with parmesan, Aleppo pepper and Italian seasoning should be on the top of the list.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 or 4 medium zucchini
  • 2 eggs or 4 oz vegan Just Eggs
  • 1 t sea salt
  • 1 t black pepper
  • 1/2 t Aleppo pepper
  • 1 t Italian seasoning
  • 1 C Panko breadcrumbs (or gluten-free Panko)
  • 1/2 C Grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment.
  2. Slice zucchini lengthwise in quarters and then cut in half both horizontally and vertically into fries (about a ½-inch thick). Make sure slices are even so they bake uniformly. See photos and captions above. Put into a large bowl.
  3. Whisk eggs with salt and black pepper in a shallow bowl (or use Just Eggs).
  4. Combine Panko, grated parmesan, Italian seasoning, Aleppo pepper, and salt in a second shallow bowl or plate.
  5. Make an assembly line: 1) zucchini sticks; 2) egg wash; 3) breadcrumb mix; 4) sheet pan with parchment.
  6. One at a time, dip the zucchini sticks first into the egg mix, shake off excess, then place into breadcrumb mixture. Be sure to cover all sides, gently pressing so the crumbs stick.
  7. Place the coated sticks onto the baking sheet as you go, about an inch apart.
  8. Bake for about 35 minutes until lightly browned and crisp. Be sure to toss fries on the sheet halfway through baking.
  9. To serve, assemble fries on a plate with a small bowl of ranch dressing or marinara sauce. To thicken up the dressing add a tablespoon of sour cream or your favorite plain yogurt.
  10. Hit the fries with a splash of squeezed lemon for extra zing!

Notes

You can easily make this dish vegan by using “Just Eggs” for the egg wash and your favorite vegan parmesan cheese and vegan ranch dressing.

  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
  • Category: Lunch
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: Italian American

Keywords: baked zucchini fries, baked zucchini spears, baked parmesan zucchini sticks, baked zucchini sticks, parmesan zucchini fries, baked zucchini recipes healthy, zucchini sticks recipe, baked zucchini fries recipe, parmesan zucchini fries

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can’t wait to see what you’ve made!

© Photos/Health Food Radar

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Mark Feldman

Mark Feldman is an award-winning art director and designer. Mark develops custom publishing programs, including magazines, websites and digital publications, for non-profits, B2B and consumer audiences.

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