BAKED ZUCCHINI BALLS are a light and tasty option, perfect for anyone looking for a wholesome dish without giving up flavor. Made with fresh grated zucchini that are well squeezed, these balls hold the vegetable’s delicate taste, enriched with cheese, aromatic herbs and a light breadcrumb coating that becomes golden and crispy when baked.
Baking allows you to achieve a balanced consistency: the outside dries and forms an inviting crust while the inside remains soft and slightly moist, almost creamy. The aroma is that of home cooking, with fresh notes of parsley (or mint) and a gentle savory touch from the cheese.
Perfect to serve as finger food, an appetizer or a vegetarian main course, they also pair well with fresh sauces like yogurt or tzatziki, which enhance their lightness.
Versatile and easy to make, baked zucchini balls are great all year long, but particularly appreciated in warmer months when you want simple, balanced and flavorful dishes.
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- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very inexpensive
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Cooking time: 30 Minutes
- Portions: 8 pieces
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Spring, Summer
Ingredients
- 14 oz zucchini (about 3 1/2 cups grated)
- 1 egg
- 2 oz Parmesan (about 2/3 cup grated)
- 2.5 oz breadcrumbs (about 2/3 cup)
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
- 1 bunch parsley
- 2 leaves mint
- breadcrumbs
- extra virgin olive oil
For the baked zucchini balls you will need
- 2 Bowls
- 1 Grater
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
Preparation of baked zucchini balls
Wash, dry and trim the zucchini. Then grate them using a coarse grater. Squeeze them well to remove excess water (this step is essential).
In a bowl, place the squeezed zucchini, the egg, the Parmesan, the breadcrumbs, the chopped parsley and mint.
Season with salt and pepper and mix until you obtain a compact mixture.
If the mixture is too soft, add more breadcrumbs.
Take small portions of the mixture and form balls. Roll them in breadcrumbs to make them crunchier.
Arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and drizzle with some oil.
Bake the zucchini balls in a preheated conventional oven at 374°F for 30 minutes, turning them halfway through.
Remove from the oven and serve hot or warm, accompanied by: yogurt sauce, mayonnaise or tzatziki.
Alternative cooking methods
In a skillet: cook them with a drizzle of oil for 8–10 minutes, turning until golden.
Air fryer: 356°F for 15 minutes
