Air fryer zucchini is a delicious, healthy alternative to French fries. This quick and easy method for making zucchini fries in the air fryer means less mess, fewer calories, and just as much flavour! You can make zucchini fries or zucchini chips in the air fryer. To make zucchini fries, cut the zucchini into long, thin strips resembling fries. For zucchini chips, cut the zucchini into thin circles. Bread the zucchini with a mixture of breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and seasonings, then air fry until golden and crispy. Serve with your favourite dipping sauce, such as marinara, ranch, or garlic aioli.
What You'll Learn
Choosing the right zucchini
Size and Variety:
- Opt for small to medium-sized zucchini as they tend to be less watery and have fewer seeds, which is ideal for frying.
- Different varieties of zucchini offer unique flavours and colours. Yellow zucchini, for instance, is slightly sweeter and has a bright colour, while Zucchino Rampicante is an heirloom variety with a nutty flavour and smaller fruits.
Firmness and Freshness:
- Look for firm, heavy zucchini with vibrant skin. Avoid zucchini that feels soft or has shrivelled ends, as this may indicate overripeness.
- Choose zucchini that has a fresh appearance, especially at the ends.
Inspect for Blemishes:
Ensure the zucchini's skin is free from soft spots or blemishes, as these can affect the overall quality and taste.
Seeding:
If you're making zucchini chips, avoid using particularly large zucchini, as they tend to be too seedy and watery to make crisp chips.
Remember, selecting the right zucchini will ensure your air fryer creation has the perfect texture and taste, so take the time to choose wisely!
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Preparing the zucchini
Selecting the Right Zucchini:
- Look for firm, heavy zucchini with vibrant skin. Avoid zucchini that feels soft or has blemishes.
- Choose medium to small zucchini as they tend to be less watery and have fewer seeds, which is ideal for air frying.
- If you're making zucchini chips, opt for zucchini that will slice into nice round "chip" shapes.
Cutting the Zucchini:
- For zucchini fries, cut the zucchini into long, thin strips resembling French fries. Aim for even-sized sticks to ensure uniform cooking.
- Alternatively, for zucchini coins, cut the zucchini into round slices about 1/3 inch thick.
- If you prefer zucchini chips, slice the zucchini into thin circles; the cook time may vary for these.
Drying the Zucchini:
Before coating the zucchini, it's important to pat them dry with a paper towel or clean kitchen towel. This step helps remove excess moisture, ensuring a crispier texture and better breading adhesion.
Breading the Zucchini:
- Set up a dredging station with separate bowls for flour, beaten eggs, and the breadcrumb mixture.
- First, coat the zucchini sticks or slices with flour, shaking off any excess.
- Next, dip them into the beaten eggs.
- Finally, coat the zucchini generously with the breadcrumb mixture, ensuring they are well covered on all sides.
- The breadcrumb mixture typically includes Panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and seasonings like garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. You can also add almond flour for extra richness.
Tips for Optimal Results:
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook the zucchini in batches if needed to allow proper airflow and even cooking.
- Use a light coating of oil, such as avocado oil or olive oil, on the air fryer basket and the tops of the zucchini for a golden brown finish.
- If desired, line the air fryer basket with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Experiment with different seasonings and dips to find your favorite combinations.
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Making the coating
Firstly, prepare your dry mixture. In a medium-sized bowl, combine your breadcrumbs, panko, or flour with your choice of seasonings. For a basic coating, you can use salt and pepper, but you can also add Italian seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, or Parmesan cheese for extra flavour. Mix the dry ingredients well so that they are evenly distributed.
Next, prepare your wet mixture. In a separate bowl, whisk an egg or two, depending on the quantity you are making. You can also add a small amount of water to thin out the mixture if needed.
Now you are ready to coat your zucchini. Dip each zucchini slice or stick into the wet mixture, allowing any excess to drip off, and then coat it in the dry mixture. Make sure each piece is well covered. Place the coated zucchini on a plate or wire rack and repeat the process until all your zucchini are coated.
You can now add oil and cook your zucchini in the air fryer.
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Cooking the zucchini
Now that you have your ingredients and your air fryer is preheated to 350-400°F, it's time to cook the zucchini. Here's a step-by-step guide:
- Coat the zucchini: In a shallow bowl, whisk the eggs. In another shallow bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika (optional), salt, and pepper. Mix well. Dip the zucchini slices or sticks into the egg mixture, then coat them with the breadcrumb mixture. Make sure they are well-covered. You can also add some almond flour to the mixture for extra crunch and flavour.
- Prepare the air fryer basket: Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil or avocado oil spray. This will help achieve a golden brown crust and prevent sticking.
- Place the zucchini in the air fryer: Arrange the coated zucchini in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving some space around each piece. Work in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding, which can result in soggy zucchini.
- Air fry: Cook at 350-400°F for 7-18 minutes, depending on the thickness of your zucchini and your desired level of doneness. For thinner slices or sticks, 7-12 minutes should be enough. For thicker fries, aim for 18 minutes. Remember to flip the zucchini halfway through cooking to ensure even browning.
- Make a dipping sauce (optional): While the zucchini is cooking, you can prepare a dipping sauce. Marinara sauce, ranch dressing, or a mix of pesto and yogurt are all excellent options.
- Serve: Once the zucchini is golden brown and crispy, remove it from the air fryer and serve immediately. These zucchini fries or chips are best enjoyed fresh, as they tend to lose their crispness over time.
Tips for crispy zucchini:
- Cut the zucchini into even-sized pieces to ensure uniform cooking.
- Pat the zucchini dry with paper towels before coating to remove excess moisture and achieve a crunchier texture.
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Toss or shake the zucchini midway through cooking to ensure even browning and crispness.
- For an extra flavour boost, experiment with different seasonings like Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning, or everything bagel seasoning.
Enjoy your delicious and crispy air-fried zucchini!
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Serving suggestions
Air fryer zucchini chips are a great snack or side dish. They can be served plain, but they are even better with a sauce for dipping. Try marinara, pesto, or romesco sauce. They also go well with garlic aioli, whipped feta, or alfredo sauce.
You can serve them as a snack on their own, or as a side dish with a larger meal. They are a great accompaniment to veggie burgers or sandwiches. Try them with an easy black bean burger, a portobello mushroom burger, or BBQ jackfruit sandwiches.
If you want to make a bigger meal of them, you could serve them with a creamy zucchini soup, or with cheesy zucchini fritters, shrimp zucchini boats, or zucchini rice.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes around 15-20 minutes to cook fried zucchini in an air fryer. The time may vary depending on the thickness of the zucchini slices and the model of the air fryer.
You will need zucchini, oil (olive or avocado), and seasonings such as salt, garlic powder, and black pepper. For breaded zucchini, you will also need breadcrumbs, eggs, and Parmesan cheese.
For zucchini chips, cut the zucchini into thin rounds or circles. For zucchini fries, cut the zucchini into long, thin strips resembling French fries.