Zucchini "Fries"

Hello, everyone, and welcome to my blog! I want to start out by sharing a few of the recipes that got a lot of attention when I first posted them on facebook, because it’s thanks to the buzz they generated that I decided to start posting here! Bear with me while I figure out how to do this whole blogging thing! Enjoy!

ps: I will eventually have step by step pictures, but since I am going back a few months I wasn't anticipating blog posts when I first started taking pictures of my food! 

I made these “fries” for family dinner one Friday night, and they were gone before the dinner was even served! Besides being a healthy alternative to deep fried starch, the great thing about this recipe is that you can use any vegetable you like (or that you have in your fridge)! There aren’t exact measurements for this one, just eyeball the quantities for the amount of vegetables you have and adjust to your liking!

Step 1: Cut your vegetables into sticks. For round vegetables like zucchini I cut off a thin strip from all four “sides,” so that I am left with a rectangle. This makes it easier to cut sticks, and prevents your food from rolling around as you cut it!

Step 2: Make sure to pat your vegetables dry. This will ensure maximum crunchiness, which is clearly a must!

Step 3: Combine Italian seasoned bread crumbs, a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, and a few shakes of garlic powder. 

NOW, here’s your chance to shake things up a little bit. If you like spicy, add some heat. If you like herbs, chop some up and mix them in. If you like a punch, add a little of your favorite curry powder or other seasoning blend. There’s no wrong way to season a fry!

Step 4: Beat some egg whites. I always start with two, and if I need more I just add them one at a time as I go.

Step 5: Dip your vegetables in the egg whites, and then in the crumb mixture.

Step 6: Place a cooling rack on top of a baking sheet. Spread your breaded vegetables in an even layer on the cooling rack. Vegetables give off liquid when they cook, so by raising them above the pan you are allowing them to reach their crispiest potential since they won’t be baking in moisture.

Step 7: Spray the tops with olive oil cooking spray (or whatever you have on hand) so they get nice and golden.

Step 8: Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until desired crispiness is reached!

Step 9: Serve with your favorite dipping sauce, and enjoy!

XO,

Erica