Transform That Extra Homegrown Zucchini Into A Delicious Appetizer With Only 2 Other Ingredients

Zucchini, a home garden mainstay, is delicious and healthy, and we love it like crazy. There's just one problem — when you grow it successfully (maybe by planting it near peas and beans for a better harvest?), you tend to be absolutely buried under a mountain of the produce. Having way too much zucchini is such a common "problem" that it's passed into meme status. Luckily, we've discovered a great new way to burn through zucchini that requires minimal work and ingredients. You may have seen our staff writers' recipe for three-ingredient vegan air fried zucchini, and, honestly? We can't get enough. These veggie medallions are crispy, craveable, and feel like way more of an indulgence than they actually are.

Basically, you take thinly-sliced zucchini rounds, bread them using Caesar dressing as a binder, and air fry the slices until they are crisp and golden. Our writers used vegan Caesar dressing to keep the recipe suited to our plant-based readers, but that part is totally optional. Other than flipping the slices halfway through cooking for optimal texture, there's only a scant amount of prep work involved for a dish that would make a great starter for your summer parties or even the first few games of preseason football in late August. No longer do you need to dread your bumper crop of zucchini, because this recipe is going to have you dipping into your stash over and over, well into the fall.

Air frying veggies for crispiness and crunch is nothing new. We previously covered a tip for cooking store-bought frozen veggies in the air fryer, but fresh ones are a delight as well ... and that's super-relevant for zucchini. Done right, air fryer zucchini has the texture of a veggie chip and brings tons of flavor. It's also a snack you can feel positive about, as zucchini is high in fiber, vitamins A and C, and several antioxidants, among other nutrients (via Healthline). Cooked as per the Foodie recipe, these slices will pack plenty of yummy goodness, but we can also imagine some easy-peasy additions that would take them over the top.

How about enriching your panko breadcrumb breading with some grated parmesan cheese for nuttiness and bonus umami? (Keep in mind that this is not a vegan addition!) We can also see dressing up your zucchini with Italian seasoning or other herbs and spices before breading for a zing of flavor with almost zero extra effort. Want to swap out the Caesar dressing? How about Buffalo sauce for a spicy-and-tangy party-ready snack that beats the pants off Buffalo cauliflower? 

The dips that you lay out for these zucchini rounds can also make your presentation. Additional vegan Caesar dressing is the official recommendation, but there are many other options. Tzatziki, marinara, pesto, or hummus would be delightful, along with any type of ranch you prefer or even spicy queso. Lay out a dipping station on a tray to give your guests multiple options. These breaded rounds are a blank canvas for almost any flavor profile you desire!