#13 - Zucchini Fries

Original Source: Our Best Bites

I made a pot roast for dinner, which usually comes with a side of mashed potatoes, some rolls, gravy and green beans in our house. But, since I'm trying to make healthier choices, I went on a hunt for other sides to serve with the roast. So I chose the quinoa mac n' cheese I'd fixed before (this time adding a bit of left over yellow rice to the mix and changing the cheese to sharp cheddar which every seemed to like a lot more). And while I know "fries" aren't generally a go-to food for roast dinners, I found this recipe and it looked so yummy, I decided to give it ago.

Here's what you'll need:

2 medium sized zucchinis

2 eggs

parmesan cheese (about 1/4 cup)

1/2 cup panko Italian bread crumbs (I had Panko, but they weren't Italian, so I did half Panko, half regular Italian bread crumbs)

What to do:

The original source has great pictures of the step by step process, and you might want to check them out since mine were a last thought before I even considered posting here.

1) slice ends off zucchinis, then cut in half

2) cut each half into quarters

3) and cut each quarter into halves again

4) in a shallow bowl, beat eggs together, and in another shallow bowl, combine bread crumbs & parmesan cheese

5) Preheat oven to 425 degrees

6) line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray with no-stick spray

7) dip a few slices of zucchini into eggs, then ON A SEPARATE PLATE OR BOWL, sprinkle some of your bread mixture onto each slice and place on cookie sheet. The original source rightly warned about rolling the egg-covered slices into the main bread mix. It makes the crumbs clump and it becomes impossible to stick.

8) bake for 10-15 minutes or until crumbs are brown.

serve with dipping sauce of choice. We used ranch dressing, but honestly, I thought it was better without it.

Final thoughts:

I will DEFINITELY make these more often. My husband got seconds and my daughter ate the heck out of them. The only person it didn't impress was my 14 year old son, but if it passed the 16 year old vegetable hater daughter test... it's a win!

That's it! Have a great meal and express your saucy side!

Heather