The secret to crispy zucchini fries? A little patience, a good pat dry, and a dip in Nellie’s Free Range Eggs. These golden veggie fries are coated in panko, parmesan, and savory seasoning, then baked or air fried until crunchy on the outside and tender inside. Serve them with marinara or ranch for a snack, side, or kid-approved way to make zucchini disappear from the plate.

To make the veggie fries:

1. If using the oven, preheat to 425°F and line a wire rack into a baking sheet. If using an air fryer, preheat to 350°. 
2. Trim the ends of each zucchini or squash and slice in half lengthwise. Scrape out the seeds using a small spoon and discard. Arrange the zucchini cut-side up on a cutting board or large platter, and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon kosher salt. Let the salt sit undisturbed for 10 minutes to pull out moisture. 
3. Meanwhile, gather three shallow bowls and prepare the breading station (cake or pie tins are great for this!). Place flour into one. Combine the egg and water in a second bowl and whisk until very well combined. In the third, stir together the panko bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic or onion powder, and 2 teaspoons kosher salt.  
4. Pat the zucchini and/or squash very dry with paper towels, and slice into even “fry” shapes and sizes. 
5. Place several pieces of zucchini into the flour and turn until coated on all sides. Remove from the flour and transfer to the egg mixture; turn to coat the zucchini pieces on all sides. Remove the zucchini from the egg and dip into the bread crumb mixture; gently press to help the breadcrumbs and cheese adhere and turn several times to ensure even coverage. (It helps to use one ‘wet’ hand in the flour & egg and one ‘dry’ hand for the breadcrumbs. This will help keep clumping down and keep things more manageable.) 
6. Arrange the breaded zucchini/squash on the wire rack or air fryer basket in a single, even layer with a bit of space between each piece. 
7. Lightly mist with cooking spray and bake 22-25 minutes if using the oven or airfry for 6-10 minutes until the breading is golden brown all over. 

To serve:

Serve warm with marinara sauce or ranch dressing/dip. Yum!