🥦 Vegetables
Crispy Breaded Zucchini with Garlic and Lemon – Air Fryer or Oven Recipe
Golden and crispy breaded zucchini sticks, quickly cooked in an air fryer or oven, flavored with garlic and lemon.
🥘 Ingredients
zucchini — 2 (approx. 350 g / 12 oz)
salt — to taste
olive oil — 2 tablespoons
dried basil — a pinch
dried oregano — a pinch
garlic granules — 1/2 teaspoon
breadcrumbs — 2-3 tablespoons
grated lemon zest — from 1/2 lemon
👨🍳 Steps
1Wash the zucchini, dry them, cut off the ends, and cut them into sticks.
2Salt the zucchini sticks and let them drain in a colander for 15 minutes. Gently squeeze out excess water and pat dry with paper towels – moisture is the enemy of a crispy crust.
3Prepare the marinade: mix olive oil with garlic granules, oregano, basil, and a pinch of salt.
4Toss the zucchini sticks with the marinade and let them sit for 5 minutes to infuse.
5Combine breadcrumbs with grated lemon zest. Roll each stick in the breadcrumb mixture until evenly coated.
6For Air Fryer: preheat for 5 minutes at 205°C (400°F). Grease the hot basket with a little oil. Arrange the sticks in a single layer with space between them. Air fry at 180°C (350°F) for 15 minutes, then increase temperature to 200°C (400°F) for another 5 minutes, until golden and crispy.
7Oven alternative: preheat oven to 200°C (400°F). Place the breaded sticks on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for about 30 minutes.
8Serve with a green salad, slices of fresh bread, plain rice, or warm polenta.
🛒 Shopping List
1-2 zucchini (approx. 350g), salt, 2 tbsp olive or sunflower oil, a pinch of dried basil and oregano, ½ tsp garlic granules (or 1 clove garlic crushed), 2-3 tbsp breadcrumbs, grated zest of ½ lemon