Congratulations to Angie at The Novice gardener for hosting 52 weeks of Fiesta Friday. If you haven’t visited Fiesta Friday then do it today. Our hosts this week are Hilda@Alongthegrapevine and Juliana@ foodieonboard.com We are coming together to celebrate with appetizers and drink recipes from around the globe.
Who doesn’t love deep fried, breaded zucchini sticks? They are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, best served with a side of ranch dressing. Definitely American bar food at its finest. I’m not saying that I wouldn’t eat deep fried zuc at a Super Bowl party, because I definitely would, but my Fiesta Friday friends deserve better faire.
I bring you a healthier version of deep fried zuc with a side of low fat yogurt ranch dressing. Still crispy and soft and satisfying with the good fat and protein of almonds, no wheat and very little carbohydrate.
Paleo friendly? Yes ma’am.
I think a cave woman would have loved to snack on these while cave painting with the girls or Chairing a tribal meeting. Yes, she could organize her tribe, create lasting beauty and bake snacks for her BFFs while balancing a cave baby on her hip and letting her caveman believe that he was actually in charge.
🙂
Serve these with bubbles. A nice cold microbrew lager or amber ale, sparkling California rose or sparkling water with lime would pair well.
Grain Free Baked Zucchini Sticks
Ingredients:
2 zucchini cut into sticks, 1/4 inch thick and 3-4 inches long
1 cup almond meal
2 eggs beaten
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 425 F. Line a baking dish with parchment paper.
Dip zucchini sticks in beaten eggs followed by almond meal. Place sticks on baking dish without touching. Bake 20 minutes until golden brown. The almond meal will burn so watch closely. Serve with nonfat Greek yogurt ranch dip.
Try spicing these up with a chili blend or Moroccan seasoning mixed with the almond meal. The variations are endless.
Yogurt Dip
Combine 1 cup of nonfat plain Greek yogurt with 2 tablespoons lowfat mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon dried dill, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon dried parsley, dash of salt and pepper.
Zucchini, deep fried and with dip? Yeah, who wouldn’t love that?? These sound great for today’s big party. Happy FF!! ❤
LikeLike
I love this baked version of zucchini sticks, Tracey! They certainly lack the guilt I associate with fried foods. From the looks of yours, I bet they taste better than their fried cousins.
LikeLike
I hope so Nancy.
LikeLike
Chairing the tribe? Beats getting drug around by your hair! Ha I love it. Your Zucchini sticks look delicious with the yogurt dip! Perfect for FF!
LikeLike
Always the feminist and proud of it. But gosh darn it, I can cook too. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yea I resemble that too!
LikeLike
Oh yeah… Count me in on this one.. I love breaded zucchini.. But have never cut them in sticks before! Delicious. ❤️
LikeLike
Thanks Prudy. Have a few. It’s a party.
LikeLike
Looks delicious, I love the yogurt dip too, thanks for bringing this to the party:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is so awesome! It is so wonderful to have snacks without the guilty frying and breading! Perfect for parties like this so that we can indulge in everything else..LOL! 😉
LikeLike
Julianna you are so right. My virtual eating yesterday at FF barely left room for Julie’s chocolate martini. Thanks for hosting.
LikeLike
These are so much better than the local pub fare around here. I could happily snack on these till the cows come home. Thanks for sharing this great party treat.
LikeLike
Snack away Hilda. You won’t find these at an American sports bar either. Of course I can’t tell you the last time that I was in a pub or a bar. 🙂 This has been my favorite FF of all time. Thanks for hosting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Lily. I love using plain Greek yogurt in place of sour cream.
LikeLike
These look scrumpious and timely to make for a paleo friend!
LikeLike
Will you be cave painting? Ha ha I poke some fun at Paleo diets but I’m in favor of any diet that gets people to eat real food. I eat more of a primate diet because I eat dairy.
LikeLike
These look really yummy, the perfect party appetizer – and healthy, you can;t go wrong!
LikeLike
They were pretty tasty Michelle.
LikeLike
How funny, I debated about making some baked zucchini sticks as well, just as well I didn’t 🙂 These look great – almond flour is always a great thing to use and the dip sounds good too.
LikeLike
Great minds think alike. Glad you stopped by.
LikeLike
Tracey you make me laugh, loving the paleo cave woman thing, Yes I could see Wilma Flintstone serving these. Seriously they are wonderful, I love zucchini sticks. A healthier version definitely a very good thing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😃
LikeLike
I bake mine as well Tracey and I think they are just as good as fried, certainly healthier. I like your breading and yogurt dip – I will have to try your version 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just loved baked zucchini sticks – I normally breadcrumb them but will try the almond meal next time – I bet they stay crisper that way. Will sheepishly admit to feeling very virtuous when I order the fried ones instead of fries in a restaurant even thought there is probably very little difference between the two!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m going to try this one. I love almond meal and have used it to coat chicken pieces but didn’t think of zucchini. They look delicious.
LikeLike