This dish is like fried zucchini—minus the actual frying, but just as delicious. The zucchini are super simple to prepare, and you don’t have to worry about last-minute preparation because once they come out of the oven, they’re finished. I especially love the recipe we came up with for the sauce. It really tastes like what you would get in a restaurant.

　　

Ingredients

makes about 60 sticks

　　

Zucchini Sticks

Cooking spray or oil

　　3 zucchini

　　1/2 cup flour

　　Salt and pepper

　　1 1/2 cups breadcrumbs

　　2 eggs

　　2 tablespoons water

　　

Sauce

1/2 cup mayonnaise

　　1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

　　2 tablespoons honey

　　

Step 1

To make the zucchini sticks: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray or oil.

　　

Step 2

Trim and discard the ends of the zucchini. Cut the zucchini in half crosswise, then cut each half into 1/4-inch-thick sticks.

　　

Step 3

Place the flour in a resealable bag and season with salt and pepper. Place the breadcrumbs in a shallow bowl. Combine the eggs and water in another shallow bowl and beat well.

　　

Step 4

Place the zucchini in the bag with the flour and shake well to coat. Dip a piece of the floured zucchini in the egg and then the breadcrumbs, then place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining zucchini. Generously spray the zucchini with cooking spray and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until golden brown.

　　

Step 5

To make the sauce: Combine the mayonnaise, mustard, and honey in a small bowl and stir until smooth.

　　

Step 6

Serve the zucchini hot out of the oven with the sauce alongside as a dip.

　　

food for thought

Step 7

Here is an appetizer you can dig into without blowing your calorie budget. If you make the sauce with low-fat mayonnaise, 10 zucchini sticks with 2 tablespoons of sauce adds up to less than 240 calories.

　　College Vegetarian Cooking