Description
Savory zucchini garlic bites combine crisp vegetables with rich parmesan cheese for an irresistible appetizer. Mediterranean flavors shine through, tempting hungry guests to indulge without restraint.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup shredded zucchini, drained well
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
- ⅓ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 clove garlic, grated fine
- 2 tbsps fresh chives, chopped (or 1 tbsp dried chives)
- 1 tsp fresh basil, chopped (or ½ tsp dried basil)
- 1 pinch fresh oregano, chopped (or ½ tsp dried)
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch pepper
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tsp dried parsley)
- Tomato sauce for dipping
Instructions
- Preparation: Heat oven to 400°F (204°C) and thoroughly grease a baking sheet with cooking spray or butter to prevent adherence.
- Zucchini Processing: Grate zucchini using a box grater, then squeeze out excess moisture in a clean kitchen towel to ensure crisp texture during baking.
- Mixture Creation: Blend drained zucchini with minced garlic, beaten egg, seasoned breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, chopped basil and parsley, kosher salt, and black pepper in a large mixing bowl until uniformly combined.
- Forming Bites: Craft compact, rounded balls approximately 1 inch in diameter using hands or a small cookie scoop, ensuring consistent size for even cooking.
- Baking Process: Position zucchini balls on the prepared baking sheet with adequate spacing, then roast in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes, rotating midway to achieve uniform golden-brown coloration.
- Finishing Touch: Extract from oven when exterior appears crisp and deeply golden, allowing 2-3 minutes of cooling before serving with warm marinara or tomato sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Moisture Removal: Squeezing excess water from zucchini is critical to prevent soggy bites and ensure a crispy texture.
- Size Consistency: Use a cookie scoop or uniform hand-rolling technique to create evenly sized bites for consistent cooking and professional appearance.
- Seasoning Balance: Fresh herbs and parmesan cheese elevate flavor complexity, so use high-quality ingredients for maximum taste impact.
- Serving Recommendation: Serve immediately after cooling to maintain optimal crispiness and enjoy the best temperature and texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 17
- Calories: 44
- Sugar: 0.6 g
- Sodium: 65 mg
- Fat: 1.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 0.8 g
- Protein: 2.3 g
- Cholesterol: 24 mg