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Crispy Fried Zucchini

Jenny Skrapaliori-Graves | Published: July 24, 2022 | Modified: August 18, 2023

Crispy fried zucchini is often the first dish to disappear when you are having dinner at a taverna in Greece. This recipe has a simple yet effective method for achieving the perfect crispy zucchini. Learn how to make the delicious summer appetizer and fascinate your guests!

If you love this crispy fried zucchini, you will also love the crispy fried potatoes, crispy fried eggplant or the zucchini fritters with feta!

Fried crispy zucchini on parchment paper, a bowl with olives, a plate with potato fritters and a tomato.

Why this recipe sings

This crispy fried zucchini recipe has few ingredients and significant crisp results. The zucchini is first immersed in a water brine and then covered with a combination of flours and spices. Next step, each slice is dipped in water and finally in the frier. This method seems strange, yet it achieves the best crispy zucchini. Another benefit is the zucchini does not absorb too much oil and doesn’t cook too much. As a result, the flesh stays crisp and fresh.

Here is what you need

All the ingredients for crispy zucchini on a wooden board.

Zucchini. Any size zucchini will do. You can slice it in coins or strips.
All-purpose flour, corn flour, semolina flour. The combination of all three flour is great for achieving the crispiest veggies.
Sweet paprika, dried oregano, chili flakes and sea salt. Substitute the oregano with za’atar, dried Mediterranean spice mix, or Italian seasoning, and Aleppo pepper, freshly ground black pepper, in place of sweet paprika. This recipe is versatile and allows to season with your favorites spices.
Sunflower oil for frying. Many Greeks fry their vegetables in olive oil. It can be costly so any neutral oil is good for frying.

Here is how you make it

Zucchini coins in water. — Cut the zucchini into thin slices.
Fill a large bowl with water, add two tablespoons of sea salt and stir to dilute. Add the zucchini to the water.

Zucchini slices breaded in flour. — In a large bowl, mix the flours with the dried oregano, sea salt, and sweet paprika. Mix well.
Add in the zucchini slices and toss with your hands so the slices are coated with the flour mix.

A hand dipping a zucchini slice into water. — Heat the oil in your fryer. Fill another bowl with water.
When the oil is hot, take a zucchini slice, and dip it into the water…

A pair of tongs dropping a zucchini slice into hot oil. — and immediately, very carefully, drop it into the hot oil. You can use tongs to hold the zucchini slice if you prefer. I usually start using my hands, but as the oil gets hotter, I switch to tongs.
Repeat for another three-four slices.

Fry zucchini until they are golden brown. Remove from hot oil with a slotted spoon and place on a wire rack over a paper towel to drain any oil (or drain in the fryer wire basket).

Continue the process until all zucchini coins are fried.

Crispy zucchini on parchment paper next to a bowl with tzatziki, some cut up tomatoes and olives.

Serve the crispy zucchini family style with tzatziki dip, keftedes (Greek meatballs), crispy fries, a spicy feta dip, and your favorite summer dishes.