As much as I love to indulge in all-things potato, I like to dip my hands into a pile of crispy, baked zucchini fries.
It’s a great side or snack recipe that’s naturally low-carb and keto-friendly. In addition to being low-carb, zucchini (also known as courgette or summer squash), are rich in antioxidants and rich in many nutrients including vitamin A, vitamin C, manganese, and potassium.
Like potatoes, zucchini has a mild flavor, which allows us the opportunity to flavor it up however we like them.
Speaking of flavor, they pair perfectly with your favorite creamy sauce. I like to use a cashew-base sauce, which I dress up with whatever flavors I am in the mood for (spicy, smoky, garlicky).
Other sauces that pair well with zucchini fries include ranch dressing, dijon mustard, old-fashioned ketchup, hot sauce, BBQ sauce, marinara sauce, or sriracha mayo - all of which can be found in vegan or plant-based alternatives.
Don’t forget to pile on the baked zucchini fries with your favorite burgers or sandwiches - we enjoy them with tofu black bean burgers, cannellini bean veggie burgers, and chickpea salad sandwiches. Or, go for pan-fried tofu.
Or, check out our list of plant-based burgers.
Why You’ll Love This
- Thanks to baking powder, we are creating a crispy batch of zucchini fries without the need for panko or flour. This a trick that I’ve learned and applied to my homemade tofu nuggets.
- We’re not holding back on flavor! Although we’re only using a handful of ingredients, the nutritional yeast, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning will bring these zucchini fries to life. If you want to mix your spices up - feel free. Other spices to consider include garam masala, onion powder, cumin, paprika, garlic salt, black pepper.
- Gluten-Free & keto/paleo-friendly.
- A lower carb alternative.
- No oil or frying necessary! We’re baking these bad boys in the oven. They’ll crisp up just fine. I suggest using a baking tray lined with parchment paper - to prevent any sticking. If you want, you can use non-stick cooking spray, but it’s fine to opt-out.
Recipe FAQs
How To Slice Into Fries or Wedges
Feel free to slice the zucchini in a fry, wedge, or coin shape. I recommend cutting or slicing them thin to get them crispy. We'll talk about that later.
Either way, you’ll want them to be around the same thickness.
- First, give the zucchinis a quick rinse and cut off their ends.
- With a sharp knife, cut the zucchini in half. Next, slice the zucchinis vertically or lengthwise about ½-inch thick. This will yield about 4-5 pieces.
- Lay the piece flat and slice about 3 fries from each, depending on the desired thickness/size.
How To Make Zucchini Fries Crispy
Because zucchini has high water content, there are a few things you need to do to achieve a crispy texture.
Similarly to eggplants, we need to salt or and rest the zucchini to pull as much water as we can from then. Also known as “sweating” zucchini.
Once the zucchini has been cut into fries or wedges, place them in a colander over a bowl. Salt them generously and allow them to “sweat” for 30 minutes. Next, blot them as dry as possible with a paper towel or a tea towel.
Now you’re ready to bake these bad boys up.
How To Store
Zucchini fries are best consumed fresh. However, you can save it for later and store it in an air-tight container or reusable silicone bag.
To reheat, arrange the cooked zucchini fries onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Warm the fries in the oven at 375 degrees F for a few minutes.
I don’t recommend heating them in the microwave - they will not rebuild their crispy texture.
Baked Zucchini Fries
Ingredients
- 4 zucchinis
- ¼ cup soy milk
- ½ cup nutritional yeast
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 4 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt (adjust to your liking)
- Red chili flakes optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a large baking pan with parchment paper.
- Cut off ends of the zucchini and cut into wedges or fries, about ¼-inch thick.
- Place the zucchini fries in a large colander over a bowl. Salt them generously and allow them to “sweat” for 30 minutes. Next, drain and blot them as dry as possible with a paper towel or a tea towel.
- In a small bowl, pour the soymilk. In a separate medium-sized mixing bowl, combine nutritional yeast, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, baking powder, and salt.
- Dip and roll the zucchini strip into the vegan milk. Then, toss evenly with the seasoning/breading mix. Repeat for all strips and place into a baking pan in a single layer.
- Bake for 30 minutes, flipping halfway. Broil for about 2 minutes.
Notes
- If your baking sheet is not large enough to fit all of the fries, work in batches. Alternatively, you can cut the servings in half and adjust ingredient measurements accordingly.
- You can choose to use different seasonings. Like traditional french fries, you can add any flavors you enjoy.
- For an extra crispy result, dip the zucchini fries into a flour + water mixture. Then, roll them into panko.
Nutrition
Did you try out this Baked Zucchini Fries recipe?
Please leave a comment below, share it, rate it, or tag a picture @plantbasedandbroke on Instagram and hashtag it #plantbasedandbroke. Show off that creation with us.
Harriet
I would like to try this, but maybe not slice them into wedges (I was thinking more just thin slices like you mention for your mushroom bacon?) I have trouble with my hands and think a larger shape would be easier for me to handle.
I really enjoy looking at your recipes and try as many as I can. Keep up the great work.
Aly Michell
Hi Harriet! Yes, you can cut the zucchini into any shape you like (wedges, fries, or even coins).
Christina
What is the dipping sauce in this picture? Looks yummy
Aly Michell
If I recall correctly, it was vegan sriracha mayo!
Christina
Oh that sounds yummy too..I picked up some cayenne and it has a nice smokiness to it so I thought I would make an aoili with it.
Christina
Oops not cayenne..I meant chipolte..SOOOO yummy
Aly Michell
I love chipotle aioli!!! Definitely a good dipping sauce.
Katie
OH YUM! I've made these before without the dried basil leaves (although that would be delicious too).. and they are sooo good! Ate them all up within 10 minutes 😉
40andfeelinit
These look sooooo good!