Zucchini Fries – Ingredient Challenge Monday

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Today’s ingredient is Zucchini.

What a versatile little veggie, that zucchini.  You can make veg only dishes, make a salsa, bread, or just chop it up and saute it in butter and garlic and it would be fantastic.

But today I decided to make a disguise for it.  A french fry disguise 😉

Hoping to spark interest in my picky daughter that won’t eat a thing, I used my Cuisinart food processor to grind up some flavored tortilla chips to dress up sticks of this wonderful little green.

High in Vitamins A and C, this well known summer squash has a history of cooling off over-heated outdoor workers.

So, at your next pool party when a sweaty guest digs a Bud Light out of your cooler you know to knock that out of their hand and hand them an ice cold zuke.

I’m kidding.  But they shouldn’t be drinking all your Bud Light anyway, right?

However, you could serve these as an appetizer….

Zucchini Fries

3 healthy sized Zucchini squashes – I don’t think squashes (plural of squash, but squash itself may be plural) sounds correct but I think it is, and since my partner happens to be a school teacher, I better be on my game 😉

2 cups tortilla chips, I used Tostitos Fire Roasted Chipotle flavor

2 eggs, whisked

Pam – or any cooking spray

Heat oven to 425º, then spray a cooking sheet with cooking spray.  In a food processor – or in a big zip lock bag – grind the chips until they are like breadcrumbs.

Slice the zucchini into french fry shapes.  Dip them into the egg, then roll in the chip crumbs.

Lay flat on the cookie sheet, and spray the tops of them with the cooking spray.  Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the tops are beginning to brown.  Remove from heat and place on paper towels.

Marinara Sauce

1 garlic clove, minced

1 tbsp olive oil

1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes

1/2 stick salted butter

1 tbsp dried basil

1 tbsp seasoned salt

1 tsp balsamic vinegar

Heat the olive oil over medium high heat in a medium sized sauce pan.  Add the garlic, and stir until fragrant.  Add the rest of the ingredients, bring to a boil, stir and cover.  Reduce heat to medium-low.  Stir occasionally, but keep it covered.  If it’s boiling over medium-low, reduce to low.  Remove from heat in about 15 minutes.

Serve the Zucchini Fries with the Marinara.

And did Katie eat them, you ask?  Yes! She did!  Huge victory in this house.

Now, visit Sunny – I have no idea what she has planned for her zucchini – but I’m sure it’s amazing.  Let us know what you plan on doing with all the zucchini growing in your gardens!!

Enjoy!

~Dixie Chik~