The crispy baked zucchini sticks are crispy zucchini sticks seasoned with breadcrumbs and enriched with spices and parmesan cheese, finally baked with minimal oil to make them tasty but light. One of the easiest and quickest zucchini recipes to make, these zucchini sticks can be served as an appetizer, perhaps accompanied by a tasty sauce (here you can find plenty), or as a side dish that pairs well with meat and egg dishes. There are many ways to season the baked zucchini sticks, and I invite you to experiment with different combinations of spices and herbs. Among my favorites are smoked paprika, parmesan, and oregano, but of course, you can replace these with whichever aromas you prefer: mint, marjoram, chives, garlic powder, pecorino cheese, sesame seeds… These baked zucchini sticks are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and they can be a valid alternative to try even with kids instead of the usual French fries!
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- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Very Cheap
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 4 people
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Spring, Summer, and Fall
- Energy 146.75 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 13.11 (g) of which sugars 0.79 (g)
- Proteins 6.73 (g)
- Fat 8.53 (g) of which saturated 2.08 (g)of which unsaturated 1.15 (g)
- Fibers 2.05 (g)
- Sodium 223.14 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 120 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for Baked Zucchini Sticks
For the gluten-free version, I used gluten-free breadcrumbs
- 1.1 lbs zucchini
- 3 tbsps breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp Parmesan Reggiano DOP (grated)
- 1 pinch oregano
- 2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
Tools
- 1 Chopping Board
- 1 Knife
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Baking Tray
- Parchment Paper
How to Prepare Crispy Baked Zucchini
To prepare crispy baked zucchini sticks, start by washing and trimming the zucchini. Then cut them in half and slice each half into several sticks about 1/4 inch thick (1). Place them in a bowl large enough to contain them all (2). Season with salt, oregano, and paprika (3).
Briefly mix them with your hands and add the parmesan (4) and breadcrumbs (5). Mix again with your hands until they are evenly coated; then add the oil (6).
Now that the zucchini sticks are seasoned, mix them thoroughly with your hands to distribute the seasoning on all the sticks (7). Line a baking tray with a sheet of parchment paper and spread the zucchini on it, being careful not to overlap them and without adding any oil or other condiments (8). Bake the zucchini sticks in a preheated oven at 390°F (fan-assisted) for about 15 minutes, then, if necessary, turn the grill on at maximum power until golden (9).
Serve the zucchini sticks immediately, either on their own or accompanied by a sauce (for example, this spicy one or one of the many sauces you can find here)
Notes
Storage
The crispy baked zucchini sticks are best when freshly made, so it’s not recommended to prepare them in advance. However, if there are leftovers, you can store them in the fridge for a day or two and reheat them in the oven before serving.
Tips and Variations
To achieve really crispy baked zucchini sticks, it’s essential that the zucchini dries well during cooking: for this reason, it’s better to use the fan-assisted function of the oven and a relatively high temperature. Also, try not to overlap them on the tray. The best zucchini to use for these crispy sticks are the Roman ones, which are firmer and less watery compared to other varieties.
You can decide to season these crispy zucchini with your preferred spices and herbs: mint, chives, marjoram, turmeric, cumin… but in the absence of various aromas, they are also great with just a bit of simple breadcrumbs!
If you’re looking for more zucchini cooking ideas, you can find plenty here!
What if I don’t have a fan-assisted oven?
If your oven only has a static mode, simply increase the temperature to 430°F and bake until golden.
