The sandy zucchini in air fryer are a quick, appetizing side dish perfect for any occasion. You only need ten minutes of preparation and as many for cooking to bring a crunchy and flavorful dish to the table, ideal when you come home late and have little time to cook. Cooked with very little oil, these crispy zucchini rounds win over with an aromatic breading enriched with parmesan, mint, oregano, and parsley. Before discovering the convenience of the air fryer, I used to make a similar version in the oven — the crispy zucchini sticks — a valid alternative especially when you have large quantities to cook. But if there are 2 or 3 of you, the air fryer is a practical and quick solution that saves time and electricity. If you are looking for new easy and quick zucchini recipes or tasty ideas for zucchini side dishes, the sandy zucchini in air fryer are definitely worth trying: simple, light, and tasty!
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- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very cheap
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 2People
- Cooking methods: Air frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
- Energy 181.23 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 11.74 (g) of which sugars 0.52 (g)
- Proteins 8.67 (g)
- Fat 12.75 (g) of which saturated 3.06 (g)of which unsaturated 1.39 (g)
- Fibers 2.69 (g)
- Sodium 300.15 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 115 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 crispy zucchini in air fryer
To prepare the gluten-free sandy zucchini I mixed two types of breadcrumbs, a finer one and a coarser one.
- 0.88 lbs zucchini
- 2 tbsps breadcrumbs (gluten-free for me)
- 0.53 oz Parmigiano Reggiano DOP (grated)
- 1 pinch salt
- A few leaves mint
- 1 pinch oregano
- 1 bunch parsley
- 2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
Tools
- 1 Cutting board
- 1 Knife
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Air fryer
- Air fryer paper
How to cook crispy zucchini in the air fryer
To prepare the sandy zucchini in air fryer, start by washing and trimming the zucchini; then cut them into rounds about 0.2 inches thick (1). Do not make them too thin or they will burn. Put them in a bowl and season with a pinch of salt, the chopped mint and parsley, oregano, and 2 tablespoons of oil (2). Mix briefly with your hands to evenly coat all the zucchini, then add the breadcrumbs and parmesan (3).
Mix carefully, still using your hands, until the breading is evenly distributed over all the zucchini (4). Line the basket of the air fryer with the appropriate paper and distribute the sandy zucchini, trying to overlap them as little as possible (5). Cook them at 356°F for about 10 minutes, stirring halfway, until they are golden (6).
Check them often and adjust according to the power of your air fryer because small variations in cooking times can depend on the model. Serve the sandy zucchini immediately as a side dish for meat or egg-based main courses.
Storage
The sandy zucchini in air fryer are best served freshly made, but if there are leftovers, you can store them at room temperature for 4-5 hours, or in the refrigerator for a couple of days.
Tips and Variations
For an extra crunchy breading, choose breadcrumbs that are not too fine, or mix regular breadcrumbs with panko.
