Nicole MacPherson: Meatless Mummy Con Carne

Aug
24
2015

Healthy Baked Zucchini Fries

FOR THOSE OF US SUFFERING FROM POST-VACATION PANTS-SHRINKING SYNDROME

healthy low-calorie zucchini fries with lemon dill dip or marinara sauce

I am back from my annual vacation at my in-laws', and I am experiencing my annual "all my pants seem to have shrunk" phenomenon. Let's just say that averaging four drinks a day is not great for one's waistline, and leave it at that. 

Well, that's what vacation is for, am I right? I enjoyed myself thoroughly and now I am paying the price. Luckily, I am also experiencing my annual "oh my god, my mother-in-law gave me a boatload of zucchini from her garden" phenomenon. There are worse things than having a ton of zucchini at one's disposal, especially when one is struggling to fasten one's jeans and is therefore looking for low-calorie, healthy things to nosh on. 

Which leads us to these baked zucchini fries! Zucchinis make a very tasty snack, and if you have more zucchinis than you know what to do with - as I do - consider making a batch of lemon dill dip as well. Zucchinis lend themselves to making a nice creamy base for dips, and they are low-calorie and high in fibre, which is a nice bonus. Marinara or tomato sauce also goes well with these zucchini fries, so instead of throwing out leftover sauce from pasta night, save it to serve with these tasty snacks.

Healthy snack food plus a way to use up a plethora of zucchinis? Sign me up.  

Healthy Zucchini Fries

 

Ingredients

4 cups zucchini, sliced into 1/2 inch sticks
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional but strongly recommended)
2 flax eggs, or 2 regular eggs, fork beaten

 

Directions

  Preheat oven to 425 degrees; line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  Slice zucchini into 1/2 inch thick sticks. 

  Stir together bread crumbs, onion powder, garlic powder, and nutritional yeast (if using). 

  Dip zucchini sticks into the flax eggs or fork-beaten eggs, then dredge in the bread crumb mixture.

  Arrange on prepared baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes, until browned.

  Serve immediately with marinara sauce - or try this lemon dill dip!

Lemon Dill Zucchini Dip Ingredients

1 cup zucchini, cut into chunks
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast (optional)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried dill

 

Directions

  In a food processor or high-powered blender, blend together all the ingredients until smooth.

zucchini fries recipe

dipping sauce recipes

 Have you got more zucchinis than you know what to do with? Try my Dill Pickle Zucchini Chips, my Zesty Zucchini Quinoa Bowl, or my Double Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Adapted from Skinnytaste