Looking for a tasty appetizer to share with friends for your next gathering or brunch? Look no further than zucchini fries paired with marinara sauce! Crispy on the outside, but still moist and soft on the inside, these lightly battered zucchini fries are guaranteed to be a hit among any crowd.
They’re a great way to enjoy this satisfying summertime vegetable without feeling guilty. Serve up these fries as appetizers or side dishes and you’ll have everyone asking for seconds. The perfect way for you and your friends to start off an amazing meal together!
Crispy Zucchini Fries with Marinara Sauce is a great healthy appetizer
Crispy Zucchini Fries with Marinara Sauce is a great healthy appetizer for a friend's gathering or brunch. Made with healthy ingredients, this dish goes well as both an accompaniment to other more intense dishes and as a stand-alone light meal. It is also full of flavor, so there is no need to be concerned that it won't be enjoyed by your guests - everyone will love it! With Crispy Zucchini Fries with Marinara Sauce, you can have the pleasure of serving healthy and tasty food without compromising on flavor or texture.
This was inspired by my other recipe on this site, and pairs well with this amazing sidedish recipe.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Serves: 4
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Ingredients needed to make Crispy Zucchini Fries with Marinara Sauce
½ c. almond (or coconut) flour
½ t. garlic powder
½ t. onion powder
1 t. smoked paprika
1 t. Italian seasoning
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
2 large eggs
2 T. water
1 c. Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
2 small, firm zucchini, halved and cut into ¼-inch thick slices
Marinara Sauce:
2 T. extra virgin olive oil
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
1 t. dried oregano
½ t. red pepper flakes
2 T. tomato paste
1 8-oz can of crushed tomatoes
¼ c. fresh basil, thinly sliced
¼ c. fresh parsley, chopped
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions for making Crispy Zucchini Fries with Marinara Sauce
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and place a metal rack inside a large, rimmed baking sheet. Set aside.
- In a pie pan or shallow bowl, combine the almond flour, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and Italian seasoning. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Set aside.
- In a second pie pan or shallow bowl, gently whisk together the eggs and water until frothy and set aside.
- Add the freshly grated Parmesan cheese to a third bowl and set aside.
- Dredge zucchini pieces in the seasoned almond flour before dipping into the egg mixture. Allow excess egg to drain off each piece before transferring to the bowl with the Parmesan cheese. Turn to evenly coat each piece of zucchini before transferring to the prepared rack. Season with additional salt and black pepper, if desired.
- Place baking sheet into preheated oven and roast until golden and crisp, around 20-25 minutes. Flip the fries once halfway through the cooking time.
- While the zucchini is roasting, combine olive oil, garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, and tomato paste in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is fragrant, around 1-2 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and stir to combine.
- Reduce heat and add the crushed tomatoes and cook until bubbly and slightly reduced, around 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the fresh basil and parsley. Transfer to a serving dish and keep warm.
- When ready, remove zucchini fries from oven and serve immediately with herbed marinara sauce. Enjoy!
Variations
Who says variations to your recipes have to be complicated? When it comes to one of my favorite snacks, Crispy Zucchini Fries with Marinara Sauce, it couldn’t be easier. If you’re looking for a delicious new way to enjoy this classic veggie-dish combo, why not switch out the traditional parmesan cheese or breadcrumbs for something different like crushed taco shells or diced bacon bits? Want an extra kick? Sprinkle some chili pepper flakes into the mix! You can also use sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes and swap out red sauce with an Alfredo or garlic and herb sauce. So get creative—it’s time to upgrade your veggie snack game with variations on Crispy Zucchini Fries with Marinara Sauce!
Storage
Crispy zucchini fries with marinara sauce are a delicious snack or side dish. However, storage needs to be taken into consideration when planning to make these fries. Once prepared, they can safely be stored in the fridge for up to an hour or two. Beyond this time frame, the zucchini fries will no longer maintain their crisp exterior and soft interior due to a decrease in temperature and moisture levels. To ensure that your crisps are always at their best, try to eat them as soon as possible after preparing them!
Top tip
Craving that crispy, crunchy zucchini experience? Go for the small and firm variety to really get those addictively delightful results. And make sure you take a few minutes pre-roasting to remove some of their plentiful seeds so your dish is truly 'extra extra'. It's worth it!
Crispy Zucchini Fries with Marinara Sauce
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
½ c. almond (or coconut) flour
½ t. garlic powder
½ t. onion powder
1 t. smoked paprika
1 t. Italian seasoning
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
2 large eggs
2 T. water
1 c. Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
2 small, firm zucchini, halved and cut into ¼-inch thick slices
Marinara Sauce:
2 T. extra virgin olive oil
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
1 t. dried oregano
½ t. red pepper flakes
2 T. tomato paste
1 8-oz can crushed tomatoes
¼ c. fresh basil, thinly sliced
¼ c. fresh parsley, chopped
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
1 -Preheat the oven to 400°F and place a metal rack inside a large, rimmed baking sheet. Set aside.
2 -In a pie pan or shallow bowl, combine the almond flour, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and Italian seasoning. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Set aside.
3 -In a second pie pan or shallow bowl, gently whisk together the eggs and water until frothy and set aside.
4 -Add the freshly grated Parmesan cheese to a third bowl and set aside.
5 -Dredge zucchini pieces in the seasoned almond flour before dipping them into the egg mixture. Allow excess egg to drain off each piece before transferring to the bowl with the Parmesan cheese. Turn to evenly coat each piece of zucchini before transferring to the prepared rack. Season with additional salt and black pepper, if desired.
6 -Place baking sheet into preheated oven and roast until golden and crisp, around 20-25 minutes. Flip the fries once halfway through the cooking time.
7 -While the zucchini is roasting, combine olive oil, garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, and tomato paste in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is fragrant, around 1-2 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and stir to combine.
8 -Reduce heat and add the crushed tomatoes and cook until bubbly and slightly reduced, around 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the fresh basil and parsley. Transfer to a serving dish and keep warm.
9 - When ready, remove zucchini fries from the oven and serve immediately with herbed marinara sauce. Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 25 mins
