Air Fryer Zucchini Fries

There is nothing more quintessentially American than a summer BBQ with hamburgers and fries. Add in some wine and beer and you have yourself a party! One of the best things about burgers is how versatile they are. I love experimenting with different types of burgers — turkey, veggie, lamb, and one my favorites, salmon. When it’s a hot day and you are looking for a lighter yet equally satisfying dinner, try a salmon burger. They cook up quickly, are easy to make and can be eaten on top of a salad with some avocado salsa for a delicious and healthy meal.

This past week was super busy, and I found myself without a lot of time so I did take some extra help from the store. As usual, I got my weekly veggie share and found some gorgeous zucchini. Also, I got a surprise gift from a friend – a HUGE yellow squash from her garden! I knew I wanted to make crispy veggie fries, so I decided to take some help and buy pre-made salmon burgers from our fish market in town and cut down on my prep time. Remember, there is no rule that says you have to make your dinner from scratch every night! Take help from the store when you want it, that’s what it’s there for!

With the salmon burgers ready to go, I began on the zucchini fries. First I cut the zucchini and squash into thirds and then cut each section into 6-8 fry wedges.

Next set up your dredging station. Dredging is another way of saying “breading.” To do this, take 2 plates or bowls. In one, crack 2 eggs and whisk them together so they are mixed. In the other, mix together the bread crumbs, parmesan cheese and salt. NOTE: if you have breaded before, you might notice that I do not have another bowl for flour. Usually, the first step in dredging is to coat the food in flour then the egg, but in a case like these fries where I want a nice light coating, I like to skip the flour step. The egg sticks to the zucchini well and it keeps the coating thin and crunchy.

First, take the air fryer tray (seen in the right photo) and give the grate a light spray of oil so the fries don’t stick. Then, take a piece of zucchini, dip and coat in egg, then roll it in the breadcrumbs to fully coat. Now place it on the air fryer pan. Repeat with all the remaining veggie fries.

Fill up the tray, leaving some space in between each fry. Then spray lightly with olive oil spray and place in the air fryer for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through. The best part of the air fryer is there is no preheating, just pop it in when ready and let it cook.

When they are browned, they are good to go! Serve them alongside your favorite burger, and enjoy a healthier version of the classic American dish!