Cajun Zucchini Fries Food

CRISPY ZUCCHINI FRIES WITH BUTTERMILK RANCH DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• For the buttermilk ranch dipping sauce: In a bowl, combine the buttermilk, mayonnaise, chives, dill, celery salt, garlic powder and onion powder. Mix well. Cover and chill for 1 hour.
• For the zucchini fries: Add the flour to a shallow baking dish. In a second baking dish, lightly beat the eggs with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. In a third baking dish, combine the panko, Parmesan, garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; gently crush all the ingredients together with your hands--this will ensure an even coating on the zucchini.
• Lightly coat the zucchini sticks in the flour and then dip into egg mixture, coating evenly. Gently shake to remove excess egg and then generously coat the zucchini in the panko mixture. Transfer the breaded zucchini to a baking sheet.
• Fill a high-sided skillet with about 1 inch of oil--make sure the oil does not rise more than halfway up the side of the skillet. Heat over medium-high heat. Working in batches to avoid overcrowding, add the zucchini sticks to the pan. Cook until light golden brown, turning once, 2 to 3 minutes. Immediately remove the zucchini to a cooling rack set over a baking sheet. Keep warm in a 175-degree oven until ready to serve.
• Serve the zucchini fries with the dipping sauce on side.

RANCH ZUCCHINI FRIES

Steps:

• For the ranch seasoning: Mix together the parsley and/or dill, chives, garlic powder, onion powder, 2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
• For the zucchini fries: Adjust 2 oven racks to the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Put the wire racks in the baking sheets and coat each generously with cooking spray.
• Combine the flour with half of the ranch seasoning in a large re-sealable plastic bag. Put the eggs in another large plastic bag; put the breadcrumbs in a third large plastic bag.
• Add about a half of the zucchini rounds to the flour, and use a combination of your hands and shaking the bag to coat the zucchini. Remove the zucchini and shake off any excess flour. Transfer to the egg wash and repeat until coated. (It's less messy if you use only one hand for the dry ingredients and the other for the wet.) Let any excess egg drip off before transferring to the breadcrumb mixture; repeat until fully coated (you'll still see some green and white of the zucchini peeking through the breading). Transfer to the prepared baking sheets and coat the breaded zucchini generously with cooking spray (there's no need to turn them). Repeat with the remaining zucchini.
• Bake, rotating the baking sheets from top to bottom about halfway through, until golden brown and tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Make the ranch dressing: Whisk together the remaining ranch seasoning with the buttermilk, mayonnaise and vinegar. Serve with the Ranch Fries.

CAJUN ZUCCHINI FRIES

Steps:

• Adjust two oven racks to the top and bottom third of an oven and preheat oven to 425 F. Put the wire racks in the baking sheets and coat each generously with cooking spray.
• Combine the flour and Cajun seasoning in a large re-sealable plastic bag. Combine the eggs and 1/2 teaspoon salt in another large plastic bag; combine the cornmeal, breadcrumbs and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a third large plastic bag.
• Add about half of the zucchini sticks to the bag with the flour and use a combination of your hands and shaking the bag to coat the zucchini. Remove the zucchini and shake off any excess flour. Transfer to the egg wash and repeat until coated. (It's less messy if you use only one hand for the dry ingredients and the other for the wet.) Let any excess egg drip off before transferring to the breadcrumbs and repeat until fully coated (you'll still see some green and white of the zucchini peeking through the breading). Transfer to the prepared baking sheets and coat the breaded zucchini generously with cooking spray (there's no need to turn them). Repeat with the remaining zucchini.
• Bake, rotating the baking sheets from top to bottom about halfway through, until golden brown and tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir together the mayonnaise, mustard, pickle and hot sauce in a small bowl. Serve with the zucchini fries.

BEER-BATTERED ZUCCHINI CURLY FRIES

Steps:

• Use the widest setting on a vegetable spiral slicer and turn the zucchini into ribbons. Stop every couple of turns to cut the ribbons into 2 to3-inch pieces.
• Whisk together the flour, beer, lemon zest and 1 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl.
• Heat about 2 inches of oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Attach the deep fat fry thermometer and bring the oil to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a double layer of paper towels and keep it nearby.
• Working one small handful at a time, add the zucchini curls to the beer batter and use tongs to toss and coat (like tossing spaghetti in sauce!). Pick up the battered curls a few at a time with the tongs and let as much excess batter drip off as possible. Being careful of the hot oil, drop the battered zucchini into the hot oil. Use a second pair of tongs or a slotted spoon to turn and help move the zucchini around, separating the pieces as best you can while they fry. Fry until golden brown on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes total. Transfer to the paper-towel lined baking sheet. Continue to fry in small batches. Serve hot (you can reheat in a 325 degrees F oven if needed).

AIR-FRYER ZUCCHINI FRIES

Steps:

• Preheat air fryer to 400°. Cut each zucchini in half lengthwise and then in half crosswise. Cut each piece lengthwise into 1/4-in. slices., In a shallow bowl, mix bread crumbs, cheese and seasonings. Place flour and eggs in separate shallow bowls. Dip zucchini slices in flour, then in egg and then in crumb mixture, patting to help coating adhere. , In batches, place zucchini on greased tray in air-fryer basket; spritz with cooking spray. Cook until golden brown, 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway.