Description
Crispy zucchini tots deliver a delightful twist on classic potato treats, blending garden-fresh vegetables with irresistible crunch. Cheesy, golden bites promise a crowd-pleasing snack you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups zucchini, shredded and squeezed to remove excess liquid (about 2 small zucchini)
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 large egg
Binding and Coating Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs (or gluten-free breadcrumbs for GF option)
- 1/2 cup flour (or gluten-free flour for GF option)
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Warm the oven to a high temperature of 425°F, preparing a baking sheet with a light coating of oil to prevent sticking.
- Combine shredded zucchini, cheese, breadcrumbs, eggs, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper in a spacious mixing vessel, thoroughly incorporating all components until they form a cohesive mixture.
- Use clean hands to carefully craft compact, bite-sized morsels, ensuring each tot is uniformly sized and tightly packed to maintain structural integrity.
- Arrange the zucchini tots with adequate spacing on the prepared baking sheet, allowing air circulation for optimal crispiness.
- Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven, rotating the tots midway through cooking to ensure even golden-brown coloration and consistent crunchiness.
- Remove from the oven once the exterior develops a delectable crisp texture and achieves a rich, appetizing golden hue.
- Allow the tots to rest momentarily, which helps them firm up and prevents potential burns, then transfer to a serving platter.
- Accompany with your preferred dipping sauce – whether ranch, marinara, or a zesty aioli – and savor the delightful, vegetable-packed snack.
Notes
- Grate zucchini using the large holes of a box grater for the best texture and moisture retention.
- Squeeze out excess liquid from grated zucchini using a clean kitchen towel to prevent soggy tots.
- Customize by adding different herbs like basil, dill, or chives to enhance the flavor profile.
- Make these tots gluten-free by substituting breadcrumbs with almond flour or gluten-free panko crumbs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 153
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 37 mg