Zucchini sticks become way more munchable when they’re cooked under a crispy coating of breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese. The cheese adds plenty of savory flavor, so you’ll only need a pinch of salt. Make sure to use plain dry breadcrumbs; seasoned ones contain much more sodium and, as a result, taste too salty in this recipe. You’ll need to cook the zucchini in batches to ensure maximum crunch; for 2-quart or larger fryers, that should equal about 3 batches.
Ingredients
12 oz uncooked zucchini, (about 1 large or 2 small)
1 large egg
¼ cup dried plain breadcrumbs
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
½ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
1 pinch kosher salt
4 sprays cooking spray
¼ cup jarred fat-free marinara sauce, warmed
Instructions
Cut zucchini crosswise into 3-inch-long chunks. Cut each chunk lengthwise into ½-inch-thick slices, then cut each lengthwise into ½-inch strips to form 3 x ½-inch batons.
In a large bowl, lightly beat the egg. Add zucchini and toss gently to coat. In a shallow dish or large zip-top bag, combine breadcrumbs, cheese, garlic powder, pepper, and salt. Remove zucchini from egg, allowing excess to drip off, and toss in breadcrumb mixture to coat.
Preheat air fryer, if necessary, to 400°F. Coat air fryer basket with nonstick spray. Arrange a single layer of zucchini batons in basket, leaving a little space between each. Coat zucchini batons with nonstick spray. Air-fry at 400°F until browned and crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from air fryer and keep warm. Repeat process, in batches if necessary, with remaining zucchini. Serve with marinara sauce.
Serving Size: about ⅔ cup zucchini and 1 tbsp marinara.
