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These crispy zucchini strings are golden, crunchy, and seriously hard to stop eating. Lightly battered and fried until perfectly crisp, they turn simple zucchini into an addictive snack or side dish that everyone will reach for first.
The Ultimate Summer Zucchini Fix
- Ultra Crispy and Golden: These zucchini strips fry up light and crunchy on the outside while staying tender inside. They are SO good!!
- Simple Ingredients!: A few pantry staples turn fresh zucchini into a fun snack that tastes incredible.
- Endless ways to serve: Pile them on salads, tuck them into burgers, or serve with garlic aioli, ranch, or your favorite dipping sauce.
Ingredients Needed for Zucchini Strings
- Oil: Use any neutral oil for frying. Vegetable, avocado, or peanut oil will all work great.
How to Make Crispy Zucchini Strings
If you have garden zucchini to use up (or even if you don’t!), these crispy zucchini strips are a must-try! It’s a fun way to serve zucchini, turning a simple summer veggie into a crunchy snack everyone will love. Try my zucchini chips and grilled zucchini next!
- Prep: Heat the oil for frying in a deep fryer or a large, heavy-bottomed pot to 350ºF. Use a spiralizer or a mandolin to slice the zucchini into thin strips. Add the buttermilk to a medium bowl. Use tongs to dip the slices into the buttermilk.
- Toss in Flour: In another bowl, combine all-purpose flour, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Toss the zucchini in the flour mixture until evenly coated.
- Fry: Shake off any excess flour, then gently add the zucchini to the hot oil. Do this in batches, so you don’t overcrowd the pan. Fry for 3-4 minutes, until golden brown and crispy.
- Serve: Remove the zucchini strings to a paper towel-lined baking sheet and sprinkle with additional salt and pepper if desired, and serve.
Air Fryer Option
For a slightly healthier version, Crispy Zucchini Strings can be made in an air fryer, but they just won’t be as crisp.
- Add to Air Fryer: Place the breaded zucchini in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Spray: Spray lightly with oil.
- Cook: Air fry at 400°F for 10 minutes.
- Shake: Shake the basket halfway through cooking.
Must Have Tools For This Recipe
- Vegetable Spiralizer: Makes thin, even zucchini strips. A mandoline or sharp knife works too.
- Dutch Oven: Keeps the oil temperature steady while frying.
- Thermometer: Helps keep the oil at 350°F for crispy zucchini.
- Tongs: Makes coating and handling the zucchini easier.
- Spider Strainer: Quickly lifts the zucchini out while excess oil drains.
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Heat the oil for frying in a deep fryer or a large, heavy-bottomed pot to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Use a spiralizer or a mandolin to slice 2 medium zucchinis into thin strips.
Add 1 ½ cups buttermilk to a medium bowl. In another bowl, combine 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons onion powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
Use tongs to add the sliced zucchini to the buttermilk, and then into the flour mixture. Toss the zucchini so it is evenly coated in the flour.
Shake off excess flour and gently add the zucchini to the hot oil. Do this in batches, so you don’t overcrowd the pan. Fry for 3-4 minutes, until golden brown and crispy.
Remove the zucchini to a paper-towel-lined baking sheet and sprinkle with additional salt and pepper if desired, and serve.
- Leftovers: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 360ºF for 4-6 minutes.
- Make Ahead: Prep the zucchini by slicing it into thin strips and refrigerating it for up to 24 hours in advance. Mix together the flour and spices in advance and store at room temperature until ready to use.
Calories: 556kcalCarbohydrates: 57gProtein: 11gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 396mgPotassium: 474mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 346IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 134mgIron: 3mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Fun Appetizers to Try
Looking for more snack ideas? Here are a few easy appetizers that are always a hit.
