Vegan Breaded Zucchini Sticks

These Vegan Breaded Zucchini Sticks are the perfect guilt-free appetizer or snack, crispy on the outside but tender on the inside. Because they are baked or air-fried rather than deep-fried, you can get that delicious crunch with less oil. Breadcrumbs, herbs, and spices provide a flavorful coating that makes each bite of these Vegan Breaded Zucchini Sticks bursting with savory goodness. For a healthy and delicious snack, dip them in vegan ranch, marinara, or spicy mayonnaise.

NUMERICAL FACTS

• Diet: Vegan, purely plant-based
• Course: Snack, side dish. appetizer
• Cuisine: American
• Time for prep: Fifteen minutes
• Cooking time: 20 minutes
• Working time (in total): Thirty-five(35) minutes
• Size/serving: Six to eight sticks per person
• Total yield: 04 servings
• Mode of cooking: Simple and easy
• Level of complexity: Simple and easier

EQUIPMENTS

• A fork or whisk
• Mixing bowls (2-3)
• Tongs or a spatula
• Sharp knife
• Parchment liner or baking mat (silicone)
• Cutting board
• Airfryer basket or baking sheet
• An oven or air fryer

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 tsp. of salt
• Cornstarch, one tbsp.
• 2 zucchinis
• Flour, two tbsp.
• 3/4 cup of breadcrumbs
• Vegan milk, three-fourths cup
• 1 tsp. of garlic powder
• Black pepper, one-fourth tsp.
• 1/2 tsp. of onion powder
• Smoked paprika, half a tsp.
• 1/4 cup of nutritional yeast
• Spray of olive oil

INGREDIENT NOTES

CORNSTARCH AND FLOUR

• Both flour and corn starch help the batter stay attached to the zucchini sticks. Use chickpea flour or rice flour instead to go gluten-free.

ZUCCHINI

• Medium-sized ripe but firm zucchini works well. As the larger ones contain too much water content, that will give you soggy results.

NUTRITIONAL YEAST

• It adds a delicious cheesy goodness to the foods in which dairy cheese is prohibited. You may use vegan Parmesan instead or simply skip the cheese.

BREADCRUMBS

• Here we are using Panko’s bread crumbs for the best crunch. Use rice or corn-based bread crumbs for the gluten-free version. You can roast your own gluten-free bread and pulse it to have homemade bread crumbs.

SPICES

• Using onion and garlic powder along with smoked paprika will let you have the flavorful sticks.

MILK

• You can use any plant-derived unsweetened milk, like almond, soy, coconut, oat milk, etc., to coat the sticks smoothly.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat your empty oven to 220 °C or air fryer to 200 °C before proceeding to work.
2. Spread a parchment liner on a baking sheet and keep it away.
3. Slice the zucchini into sticks three-fourths of an inch in length and half an inch in thickness.
4. Dry each one of them using a paper towel.
5. Whisk the vegan milk, cornstarch, and flour in a bowl till smooth.
6. Combine salt, breadcrumbs, black pepper, nutritional yeast, onion, and garlic powder in another bowl.
7. Dip each zucchini stick first in the wet mixture and shake to remove extra liquid.
8. Then, coat each stick with the breadcrumb mix properly.

OVEN-BAKING

1. As each stick gets coated, arrange them on a tray in one layer.
2. Lightly spray them with oil and insert the tray into the oven.
3. Turn them after 15-18 minutes and wait so the other side will also get cooked.
4. Shift the baked, crisp, and golden zucchini sticks to the kitchen counter.

AIR-FRYING

1. Once coated, put these sticks in basket.
2. Lightly spray with oil and re-attach the basket to the air fryer(pre-heated).
3. Turning all of them after 5-6 minutes.
4. Dish them out after twelve minutes, and they are perfectly golden and crisp.
5. Serve your delicious Vegan Breaded Zucchini Sticks with spicy mayo, vegan ranch, marinara dipping sauce, etc.

TIPS

• Dry the sliced sticks of zucchini with a kitchen towel so they crisp well.
• Chill them in the refrigerator for ten minutes before baking to have extra crispness.
• Recoat the sticks the same as you coat them once to double the crispy coating.
• Whether you are placing the coated sticks in an air fryer’s basket or baking tray, arrange them with a particular distance so air has the space to circulate while making each stick crisp up properly.

STORAGE DIRECTION

FRIDGE

• Pack the zucchini sticks upon cooling in an airtight box and consume them for 3-4 days while keeping them safe in the fridge.

FREEZER

• Upon cooling, put the zucchini sticks in a tray & freeze the sticks. Once solid, move them all to a freezer-friendly bag. Defrost, recrisp, and enjoy them any time within the next 60-70 days.

FAQs

Will almond flour work in place of bread crumbs?

• Almond flour will give you a softer crunch. If using almond flour, mix it with crushed cornflakes for proper crunch.

How to prevent soggy sticks?

• Properly dry each stick using a paper towel before coating. Never stack up the coated sticks while baking. These tricks will prevent your sticks from going soggy.

Can I lower the calories further?

• Yes, omit the olive oil spray; they will still be properly crispy after baking or air frying, but will be light golden in color.

Can the other vegetables be used this way?

• Yes, you can bake or air fry the carrots, eggplant, asparagus, etc., using this method.

NUTRITIONAL FACTS PER SERVE

Calories per portion: ~180 kcal per serve
Total carbs: 24 g
Fiber: Four grams
Net carbs: Twenty grams
Proteins: 06 g
Fats: Six grams
Sodium: 280 mg
Size of a portion: 06-08 sticks
Sugar: Four grams