Air Fryer Zucchini Fris
Crunchy, 'cheesy', tender, and delicious, these air fryer zucchini fries are a lighter, lower-carb, and delicious twist on a deep-fried classic!
Servings: 2 - 4
Ingredients
- 2-3 small zucchinis
- 2 teaspoons of salt
- 1 cup of unsweetened plain plant-based milk
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 tablespoon of garlic powder
- 3 tablespoons of cornstarch
- 1 cup of panko
- 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
- ½ cup of nutritional yeast
Instructions
- To prep the zucchinis: Trim and discard the tops and ends. Slice the zucchinis in half lengthwise and slice each half into 2 or 3 long spears (depending on how thick the zucchinis are.
- Lay them all flat on a cutting board lined with paper towel or a clean kitchen towel with the skin facing down. Evenly sprinkle the salt and set aside for 5 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, combine the plant-based milk, salt, garlic powder, and cornstarch. Mix well and set aside.
- In a large shallow dish, combine the panko, Italian seasoning, and nutritional yeast. Mix well and set aside.
- After 5 minutes, shake the zucchinis to remove any excess salt and water.
- One by one, dip them into the plant milk mixture. Allow them to quickly drip any excess plant-based milk.
- Place it on the dish with the panko mixture, dry your hands, and cover the zucchini with the panko mixture. Press the panko mixture into the zucchini and move the zucchini around to try to get as much panko, Italian seasoning, and the nutritional yeast stuck to it as possible.
- Gently lift the zucchini out of the panko and place it in the basket of an air fryer.
- Repeat the process until the air fryer basket is full. Make sure to leave a little bit of space between the zucchinis. Work in batches.
- Cool in the air fryer for 10 minutes at 400 degrees F. or until golden and crispy.
- Enjoy hot with your favorite sauce.
Notes
- Cut even pieces: To ensure even cooking. Slight differences are fine.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket: The zucchini fries require airflow to crisp up properly, so avoid overlapping them.
- For extra crispiness: Spray the fries evenly with oil/cooking spray before air frying and eat them right away.