DISCO ZUCCHINI FRIES

Disco Zucchini Fries image

Who remembers the bliss of ordering late-night disco fries at the diner? At home, this baked zucchini twist is a bit more virtuous - but still totally hits the spot.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 1h5m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

Non-stick cooking spray
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Kosher salt
2 large eggs, beaten
2 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs (see Cook's Note)
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan
1 pound zucchini (2 to 3 small to medium zucchini) cut into 3-inch-by-1/4-inch sticks
1 cup shredded Cheddar
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella
1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) chicken gravy
4 pieces cooked bacon, crumbled
2 scallions, thinly sliced

Steps:

Adjust 2 oven racks to the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F. Put the wire racks in the baking sheets and coat each generously with cooking spray.
Combine the flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large re-sealable plastic bag. Combine the eggs and 1/2 teaspoon salt in another large plastic bag; combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a third large plastic bag.
Add about a half of the zucchini sticks to the bag with the flour and use a combination of your hands and shaking the bag to coat the zucchini. Remove the zucchini and shake off any excess flour. Transfer to the egg wash and repeat until coated. (It's less messy if you use only one hand for the dry ingredients and the other for the wet.) Let any excess egg drip off before transferring to the breadcrumb mixture; repeat until fully coated (you'll still see some green and white of the zucchini peeking through the breading). Transfer to the prepared baking sheets and coat the breaded zucchini generously with cooking spray (there's no need to turn them). Repeat with the remaining zucchini.
Bake, rotating the baking sheets from top to bottom about halfway through, until golden brown and tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
Lower the oven to 350 degrees F and let the baking sheet cool for a few minutes. Remove the rack from one of the baking sheets and line the baking sheet with foil. Slide the fries onto the baking sheet and arrange them in four equal piles. Scatter both cheeses equally over the piles and bake until melted, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, warm the gravy. When the cheese is melted, use a spatula to lift each batch of cheese fries and place it on its own plate. Drizzle the gravy over the cheese fries and top with the bacon and scallions.