Fried Zucchini Grandma's Recipe

Wednesday, August 12, 2020
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.







these are fried zucchini chips breaded












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.







these are fried zucchini chips draining on paper towels






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.






these are sliced zucchini rounds breaded and frying in canola oil







Other Vegetables You Can Use



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








these are raw breaded zucchini frying in oil







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







these are zucchini sliced in egg







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







this is sliced zucchini in breadcrumbs







Other Zucchini Recipes We Love





Zucchini Bread Sticks

Baked Chicken Zucchini Tomato Casserole

Banana Zucchini Bread

Easy Baked Zucchini Lasagna

Zucchini Almond Poppy Bundt Cake








fried zucchini in a glass pie plate







Pin for later











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.









Fried Zucchini Grandma's Recipe
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.
fried zucchini chips, deep fried zucchini, zucchini breaded and fried, bread fried zucchini, grandma's fried zucchini recipe, recipes with zucchin
vegetable recipes, fresh zucchini recipes, old fashioned recipes, fried vegetable recipes
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.

14 comments

  1. The very first time I had zucchini was at my grandma's and this is how she made it. At the time, I was probably 6 or 7 this was the only way I would eat squash. Now I hardly ever eat fried food of any kind, funny how tastes change over the years.

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  2. Nice and simple... Good for quick snacks.

    I read your homemade breadcrumb post. How long can you keep the breadcrumbs in a air-tight container?

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  3. Fried zucchini is one of my absolute favorites! Love your Grandma's recipe - looks just like my Grandma's!

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  4. your way for fried zucchini is like my way for wiena schnitzel ,so tasty !

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  5. Grandma knows best! What a lovely memory.

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  6. I love zucchini in fritters. I still think of those zucchini fritter fingers that I ate at jamie's Italian restaurant...delicious served with hummus as dip. Have a lovely weekend.

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  7. lovin' all that seasoned crust ... these are just perfect. haven't been frying much lately, but looking at these, thinking about fried squash, okra, pickles... all the good eats..

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  8. These fried zucchinis are scrumptious!

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  9. And that's exactly how you get kids to eat their vegetables. Perfect!

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  10. These look delicious! I use garlic powder instead of fresh... less chance of it burning when you are frying.

    Simple, and delicious!

    Ciao!

    L

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  11. Gosh, I love fried zucchini! These look beautiful Claudia! Aren't Italian grandmothers just the best? Ciao, Roz

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  12. Claudia...it's no secret that I try to non-fry as many recipes as follows. I, do at times make the exception...especially if you served me these scrumptious crispy zucchinis.
    BTW...yes, I was also brought up on my Grandma's fried delights ;o)

    Have a great day and flavourful wishes,
    Claudia

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  13. Nicely crunchy and perfect for the zucchini season now! Fried stuff is always good :-))

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  14. Thanks for this delicious recipe

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