Best Fried Zucchini Recipe Side Dishes Noshing With the Nolands (2024)

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Enjoy some delicious crispy goodness with this Best Fried Zucchini Recipe! The zucchini is quickly sliced into fries, coated in a simple panko or bread crumbs, and then fried to a golden brown. Sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and served with marinara sauce it is the ultimate summer treat when zucchini is in season.

We all love to indulge once in a while with some golden deep-fried food like these Best Crispy Fried Pickles and these Stuffed Meatballs! This is what Fridays or game nights are for! You may also like Soft Pretzels with Cheese Sauce or Pepperoni Pizza Dip for other game day winners!!

Hi there, it’s Melanie fromBon Appét’Eat. It’s been a lot of fun to be part of the Noshing with the Nolands team. I do have some goodness like this to share on the blog too! Check my Portobello Mushroom fries, you will not regret it. And I absolutely love zucchini and so do my kids with these Zucchini Roll Ups, 4-ingredient zucchini fritters, or Delicious Stuffed zucchini.

Best Fried Zucchini Recipe Side Dishes Noshing With the Nolands (1)

Fried zucchini is easy to prepare with very few ingredients and you can adapt and vary the flavor endlessly. Make this yummy fried vegetable to enjoy as an appetizer or side dish.

Table of Contents

Helpful Items for This Recipe

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Wok for frying

Stainless steel spider for frying

Bamboo Cutting Board

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How To Make Fried Zucchini

The steps to making the best crispy fried zucchini recipe are really simple. If you have kids, they can help until it is time to deep fry the veggies, let’s leave that for the adults.

Zucchinis

Try to choose the same zucchinis for uniformity and cooking time. Wash them well and cut the ends off.

How to Cut Zucchini Fries?

Slice the zucchini in half and then cut in 2 length-wise and then in fry shape. It yields 12 fries with each vegetable. Alternatively, you can make slices like coins using the thickness of a quarter of an inch or even make thin chip treats.

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The Preparation

Place all the zucchini sticks on a plate and add some salt to it. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes. In the meantime, prepare 3 shallow plates: one for the flour, one for the beaten eggs, and one for the panko.

Your next move will be to pat dry your zucchinis as the salt released some moisture. Then, roll in the flour, shake the excess. Place your zucchini stick in the beaten eggs, make sure it is evenly covered in the egg. Lastly, coat the zucchini with panko.

How To Fry Zucchini? How Long To Fry Zucchini?

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In a pot, wok, or frying pan, pour some vegetable oil and bring it to 350 degrees Fahrenheit on medium heat. Delicately, to avoid any splash, place the coated zucchini in the oil away from you and deep fry for 2-3 minutes or until it is golden brown.

Sprinkle with sea salt or Parmesan and enjoy when hot!

Cooking Tips for Fried Zucchini

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Do you peel zucchini?

No need to peel the zucchini for this recipe in fact, the skin is thin enough to enjoy.

How do you keep fried zucchini from getting soggy?

There are 2 important tricks to avoid sogginess. The first one is to do the very first step of the recipe listed above: putting salt on the zucchinis and letting them sit for 10 minutes. The other one is to enjoy the fried zucchinis right away, they may release some moisture while cooling down. It will still be delicious but less crispy.

How do you get breading to stick to vegetables?

Again, tackling the moisture is key here, make sure to tap dry the zucchinis with paper towel before rolling them in flour.

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Help, I don’t have a thermometer!

No worries, wait a few minutes to allow the oil to warm up and throw some panko crumbs (choose some ‘wet’ ones in the shallow plate), if you see the oil cooking it right away, it is ready. If the crumbs just float, wait for a little and try again. Or buy yourself the best thermometer around for every use in the kitchen. *affiliate link.

Can I bake my zucchini fries?

Absolutely! Spread them on a baking sheet, drizzle some olive oil on each stick or use a cooking spray – for some crispiness! I would recommend to set the oven to 425F, nice and hot, and bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden.

Can I cook my fried zucchini in the air fryer?

Yes, make sure to spread them as a single layer. You will need to make a few batches.

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Variations To The Recipe

Vegetable: Any other veggie from the squash family would work for this recipe.

Shape: You can choose between zucchini slices or sticks.

Breading: You can substitute panko for bread crumbs. You can add flavour to it: Italian seasonings, garlic powder, or parmesan cheese.

Sprinkle: My sprinkle of choice is sea salt, but Parmesan would be great on these tasty fried zucchinis. Also, feel free to add some fresh or dried herbs like thyme or rosemary.

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What Goes Well With Fried Zucchini?

Marinara sauce: You can make your own or use a store bought one. This is a combo made in heaven! You can even choose cold or warm marinara, both very tasty ways to eat it.

Dip and sauce: A great Mexican dip would be a nice pairing and if you wish to stick to vegetarian food, this spinach and artichoke dip would work well too. Ultimately, my choice would be towards this buttermilk ranch dressing, a nice drizzle on the platter would be quite a success!

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Best Fried Zucchini Recipe

Yield: 36 zucchini fries

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Fried Zucchiniis a delicious treat to enjoy all of that summer zucchini from your yard or the farmer's market. Our Best Fried Zucchini Recipe has the zucchini sliced into sticks and then fried up in a light panko batter for extra crispiness!

Ingredients

  • 3 zucchinis
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup panko or bread crumbs
  • 3 cups vegetable oil
  • Sea salt
  • Dipping sauce of your choice, marinara, buttermilk ranch, etc.

Instructions

    1. Wash the zucchinis and cut the ends off.
    2. Slice the zucchini in half and then cut in 2 length-wise and then in fry shape. I made 12 fries with each.
    3. Place all the zucchini sticks on a plate and add the salt to it. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes.
    4. In the meantime, prepare 3 shallow plates: one for the flour, one for the eggs, beaten, and one for the panko.
    5. Pat dry your zucchinis as the salt released some moisture.
    6. In a pot, pour your oil and turn the stove on medium-high.
    7. One by one, roll the stick in the flour, shake the excess. Place your stick in the beaten eggs. Then, coat the zucchini with panko.
    8. Using a thermometer, check that the temperature has reached 350F.
    9. Gently place the coated zucchini in the oil and deep fry for 2-3 minutes or until it is golden brown.
    10. Sprinkle with sea salt or parmesan, enjoy!
    11. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 36Serving Size: 6 pieces
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 195Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 178mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 1g

Recipe calculation was provided by Nutritionix and is an estimation only. If you need nutritional calculations for medical reasons, please use a source that you trust.

Best Fried Zucchini Recipe Side Dishes Noshing With the Nolands (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep zucchini from getting soggy when frying? ›

Yes, you should always salt your zucchini before frying — especially if you're aiming to achieve a crispy texture. Salting your zucchini helps remove the excess moisture stuck in the zucchini that would otherwise make frying a challenge.

Is fried zucchini healthier than french fries? ›

These Zucchini Fries are a great way to use up those extra vegetables. Plus, they're delicious, easy to make and a much healthier alternative to those greasy french fries.

What to serve with fried zucchini? ›

Serve them as a side with simple roasted lemon chicken breast or juicy 15-Minute Rosemary Pork Chops for tasty, low-carb meal, or dip them into a tasty marinara sauce.

How do you cook zucchini so it doesn't get mushy? ›

The secret to zucchini with the best flavor and texture is roasting it in a 450°F oven. Roasting zucchini at a high temperature instead of baking or sautéing helps develop browning and a slight char on the outside, which keeps it from getting soggy.

Why do you soak zucchini before cooking? ›

The main problem that confronts the cook when preparing zucchini is its wateriness. Zucchini is 95 percent water (among vegetables, only lettuce contains more water) and will become soupy if it is just thrown into a hot pan.

Is Fried Zucchini good for you? ›

Is Fried Zucchini Good For You? Fried foods don't have to be unhealthy. This fried zucchini recipe is a prime example of a healthy fried snack, but it also makes a healthy side dish. The key is to use a natural, low carb breading and a healthy oil.

Why are my zucchini fries soggy? ›

It's likely that you did not get all of the moisture out of the squash, or that you cut the sticks too thickly.

Does zucchini lose nutrients when fried? ›

Boiling vegetables, for example, causes vitamin loss as some nutrients leak out into the water. Boiling and frying zucchini also lead to a loss of plant compounds called antioxidants. While cooked zucchini still has benefits, raw zucchini does, too.

How can I enhance the flavor of zucchini? ›

You can season the oil before you add the zucchini with garlic, shallots, spices, or red pepper flakes, it's totally up to you. Once the oil, butter, or combination thereof is heated, add all of the zucchini. If the pan seems crowded at first, don't worry. Season with salt and toss to begin drawing out the moisture.

How do you keep breading from falling off zucchini? ›

To help the breading stick to the zucchini, you'll need to rest them in the fridge for at least 15 minutes, but you could extend that up to 3 hours.

How to sauté zucchini without getting soggy? ›

Give the zucchini slices a light pan fry, stopping as soon as the outsides begin to turn golden. You'll be left with a nice, lightly crisp exterior, without the interior becoming soggy. Be patient as you sauté. These lip-smackin' slices are worth the wait.

Does Olive Garden have fried zucchini? ›

Olive Garden Appetizers Fried Zucchini (create A Sampler) (1 serving) contains 40g total carbs, 38g net carbs, 21g fat, 4g protein, and 370 calories.

Can you freeze zucchini to fry later? ›

Yes, you can freeze zucchini without blanching it first. However, if you blanch it first, it will help deactivate the enzymes that can make it more mushy and discolored. The thawed zucchini may be less than ideal.

How to sauté zucchini without making it soggy? ›

Slice and salt zucchini in advance of cooking to draw out some of the vegetable's excess moisture (while also seasoning it more thoroughly). To do this, cut up a pound of zucchini and toss it with ½ teaspoon of table salt. Let it drain in a colander for about 30 minutes before patting it dry and cooking it.

Why is my sauteed zucchini soggy? ›

If zucchini is overcooked, it will have a mushy, soft texture. In certain recipes, the author may recommend that zucchini be patted dry or salted and drained before cooking. Although the author may not explain why these steps are important, they shouldn't be skipped.

How do you keep spiralized zucchini from getting soggy? ›

Cooking is what really makes zucchini release moisture. However, sometimes even uncooked zucchini can get a little limp after it's cut. In this case, to reduce excess moisture, simply pat the spiralized noodles dry with paper towels or a thin kitchen rag.

How do you reduce moisture in zucchini? ›

You only need a little salt — half a teaspoon of kosher salt for one medium zucchini, say — to start pulling the water out. Use more, and the zucchini will simply taste like zucchini-flavored salt. If you try to rinse out the extra salt, you risk adding back in the water you just tried to get rid of.

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