Fried Zucchini Grandma's Recipe

This is the old fashioned back in the 1960s on how Grandma and her mom made freshly picked fried zucchini.

Grandma always fried everything!

She would make these when we had a huge abundance from dad's garden in our Upstate Utica New York home in the summer.

As time went on through the years we have Baked Zucchini Fries, Air Fried, and still have to make them Grandma's way once in a while for a treat on the stovetop fried.

Zucchini is one of those favorite vegetable Italians love because it's so versatile.

From sweet zucchini bread like Chocolate and Regular Zucchini Bread to savory zucchini recipes like Zucchini Rollatini, you sure can use up zucchini in many wonderful and delicious ways.

These fried zucchini chips are so simple to make and really like eating popcorn, they're truly addicting and our family never has enough.

If you happen to have any leftovers, just layer the rest of the marinara sauce you may have dipped them in with some mozzarella and make a sandwich!


Scroll down to my printable recipe card for this simple recipe.

Old Fashioned Recipes

Ok, back in the 1960s, this is how they were served, on paper towels, no fancy dish, all dressed up we just ate them so fast, sometimes we even burned the roof of our mouth!

I still make them the same way and very rarely transfer them to another dish unless we are going to dip them in marinara sauce and sprinkle with the cheese.

If we had company I certainly would make a nice presentation of fried zucchini.

Growing up were the best memories, and I wanted to share Grandma's recipe just the way we had them, simple easy times without off the food styling.

Ingredients You Will Need

Scroll to the recipe card for exact measurements

• Vegetable oil, or Canola for frying
• zucchini
• Italian homemade breadcrumbs or Italian flavored store-bought
• finely mince garlic
• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• granulated garlic around
• 2 eggs
• water
• Optional: grated cheese and more for garnishing, Marinara for dipping or other dipping sauce you prefer, freshly chopped basil, dried oregano.

Other Vegetables You Can Use

1. Sliced Onions
2. Sliced Eggplant
3. Broccoli Florets
4. Cauliflower Florets
5. Thickly Sliced Beefsteak or Green Tomatoes

Tips

• If they start to cook too fast, turn down the heat
• If you love breading, dip in the egg mixture and breadcrumbs twice for double-coated
• Always heat the oil first
• Make sure you slice them at least 1/2 inch or thicker
• These can also be cut into long sticks 
• Always drain on paper towels to absorb the grease
• Serve with hot marinara sauce, or dip in your favorite dressing like ranch or blue cheese

Other Ingredient Suggestions:

• Use panko breadcrumbs
• Use cracker crumbs
• All-purpose flour instead of breadcrumbs
• For diabetic use almond flour, coconut flour or pork rinds crushed
• Add hot sauce to the egg mixture for heat or cayenne pepper

Other Zucchini Recipes We Love

Zucchini Bread Sticks

Baked Chicken Zucchini Tomato Casserole

Easy Baked Zucchini Lasagna

Zucchini Almond Poppy Bundt Cake

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Summer Vegetables

We just love fresh farmers market vegetables, and some of us are lucky to have our own garden.



This is one treat we wait for in  Grandma's memory every year to make and they sure fly off the plates.



If you're not fond of zucchini, try the coating with your favorite vegetable.



Try this simple fried zucchini recipe, they really are a great blast from the past.

Print

Fried Zucchini Grandma's Recipe

Yield: 40

Author: Claudia Lamascolo

Prep time: 10 MCook time: 7 MTotal time: 17 M

This is the old fashioned way my Italian grandmother made fried zucchini back in the 1960s and throughout my childhood. A very simple breadcrumb coated zucchini chip fried on the stovetop.

Ingredients:

• Vegetable oil, or Canola for frying
• 2 to 3 large zucchini or 3 to 4 small zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch rounds or thicker
• 2 cups Italian homemade breadcrumbs or Italian flavored store-bought
• 2 cloves finely mince garlic
• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon of granulated garlic around
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons grated cheese and more for garnishing

Instructions:

1. In a pie plate combine crumbs, minced garlic,  grated cheese, granulated garlic and salt, pepper, to taste.
2. On another pie plate beat eggs and water together until blended.
3. Dredge the zucchini in the egg wash then into the crumbs.
4. Press crumbs into the zucchini rounds.
5. Heat around 1 inch of oil in a deep frying pan on medium heat.
6. Working in small batches, place the breaded zucchini slices in the hot oil and fry until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes.
7. Place on paper towels to drain.
8. Serve with marinara sauce and grated cheese on top if you prefer and sprinkle the top with red pepper flakes.
9. Optional serving suggestion: Sprinkle the fried zucchini with grated cheese, dried oregano, chopped fresh basil, red pepper flakes after frying, and dip them in marinara sauce.

https://www.whatscookinitalianstylecuisine.com/2010/09/fried-zucchini-grandmas-recipe.html

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Italian

Created using The Recipes Generator

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A Few More Recipes To Try:

Zucchini Pizza Crust
Zucchini Rollatini
Zucchini Fritters
Zucchini Cranberry Muffins
Zucchini Christmas Bread
Zucchini Tips and Tricks
Stuffed Zucchini


Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2010. It was edited and re-published in 2020.