Air Fryer Zucchini Tots
As the summer sun blazed down, our vegetable garden, transformed into a lush tapestry of green, with zucchinis taking center stage. The joy of harvesting zucchinis was palpable; each day, I would step into the garden and discover another plump, green delight waiting to be picked. It was almost magical to witness these vegetables thrive, a testament to hard work and patience. However, with the abundance of zucchinis came the challenge of finding creative ways to incorporate them into meals.
I decided it was time to experiment with my fresh zucchinis. Testing different recipes, I started to envision a healthier dish that could appeal to both my palate and my family’s tastes. Swapping out traditional frying methods in favor of the air fryer, promised a tasty alternative while reducing the overall fat content, aligning perfectly with my goals of healthier eating. The concept of creating zucchini tots sparked a sense of excitement in my kitchen, as I envisioned these crispy appetizers made from fresh garden-harvested zucchinis. Ultimately, the joy of harvesting zucchinis was only amplified by my quest to create satisfying meals that honored the bounty of our garden. This personal exploration led to discovering why zucchini is not only a versatile vegetable but also one that brings warmth and joy to the kitchen table.
The Step-by-Step Cooking Guide
Starting with spiralizer zucchini, is essential for creating the perfect texture for your air fryer zucchini tots. To use a handheld spiralize, cut off one end of zucchini to create a flat surface, then insert the zucchini with open end into the device. Press the zucchini into the device while twisting clockwise to produce thin strands, using 2-3 inch long strands for easy handling.
After spiralizing the zucchini, toss with salt to extract moisture. Place the zucchini strands on a clean cheesecloth. Gather the edges of the cheesecloth and twist to form a pouch. Squeeze the cheesecloth tightly to extract as much liquid as you can. This step may require a bit of effort, but the outcome is worth it. Once drained, the zucchini should be slightly firm and dry to touch. This step ensures the zucchini tots will hold together during cooking, thus enhancing their final texture and flavor in the air fryer.
Transfer the zucchini to a mixing bowl, incorporating breadcrumbs, cheese, spices and eggs.
After combining the ingredients, form the mixture into small, oval-shaped tots, typically around 2 teaspoons per tot.
Place the formed zucchini tots in a single layer in the air fryer, ensuring that they are not overcrowded to allow for even cooking. Spray the tots with avocado oil. Depending on the size of your air fryer, this could mean cooking in batches. Cook the zucchini tots for approximately ten minutes before carefully flipping each one to ensure both sides achieve that golden-brown crispiness.
After flipping, cook the tots for an additional five minutes.
Air Fryer Zucchini Tots
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Wash and spiralize the zucchini into short strings (See Notes 1)2-3 Zucchini (1 lb)
- Put Zucchinis in a bowl and add 1/4 tsp of salt and toss. Let zucchini rest for 15 mins.1/4 tsp pink salt
- Meanwhile, add 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, 1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning, 1/4 tsp pink salt and 1 tbsp avocado oil in a large bowl and combine.1/2 cup plain panko breadcrumbs, 1/2 tbsp Italian Seasoning, 1/4 tsp pink salt, 1 tbsp avocado oil
- Use cheese cloth to squeeze the water out of zucchinis as much as possible. Then add the zucchinis to the seasoned breadcrumbs
- Add 1/2 cup grated 2% milk cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, 1/2 tsp pink salt, 1/4 tsp ground black pepper, 1/2 tsp dried dill, 1/2 tsp garlic powder and 1 egg into the zucchini breadcrumb mixture. Combine well.1/2 cup grated 2% milk cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, 1/4 tsp pink salt, 1/4 tsp ground black pepper, 1/2 tsp dried dill, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 egg
- Scoop out 2 tsp full of mixture to form a zucchini tot. Repeat with the rest of the zucchini breadcrumb mixture
- Lay parchment paper in the air fryer to cover the bottom, then add the zucchini tots into the air fryer. Cook the tots at 390℉ for 10 mins and flip for another 5 mins.
Notes
- No spiralizer? Just use the coarse side of a box grater to make zucchini noodles.
- Each air fryer performs slightly different. If the tots are lightly browned after 10 minutes, give them another 2-3 minutes before flipping them.
