Zucchini Fries & Blooming Onion Dip

By arnoldh

Ingredients

• Sauce:
• 3 Medium Size Zuchinni
• 1 TBL of butter
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 TBL of Italian seasoning
• 2 large eggs
• Medium sweet onion
• 2 T cider vinegar
• 2 T honey
• 2 T Dijon mustard
• 1 cup mayonnaise

Preparation

Step 1

Cut each Zuchinni into 3" sticks about the diameter of your finger. Cutting each Zuke into 9 sticks lengthwise, then cutting into 3" lengths, works well.

Place the zucchini sticks in a colander over a bowl, and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of salt. Let them drain for 1 hour or longer.

While the zucchini are shedding their excess liquid, make the dip.

First, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a medium-sized frying pan over moderate heat, and add 1 medium sweet onion (about 1/2 pound), sliced.

Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens, then Carmelizes. This should take between 20 and 25 minutes, at medium- low heat. The lower the heat, the longer it takes, but the less likely you are to burn the onions.

When the onions are medium brown, remove them from the heat.

Place the following in a small food processor or blender:
All of the carmelized onions
2 T cider vinegar
2 T honey
2 T dijion mustard

Process until fairly smooth. Remove from the processor, and stir in 1 cup mayonnaise.
The resulting 11/2 cups dip can be used not only for these zucchini sticks, but as a tasty sandwich condiment.

Rinse them thoroughly; you want to get rid of any excess salt. Then pat them dry.

Next up: the bread and cheese coating. But first, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment, and spray the parchment with olive oil.

Combine the following:
1 cup Panko bread crumbs
Scant 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 T pizza seasoning or mixed Italian herbs

Mix until thoroughly combined.

Beat 2 large eggs; or pour 1/2 cup egg substitute into a dish. You're going to dip each Zuchinni stick in the egg. Then roll it in the crumbs. Place the sticks on the prepared baking sheet. Bake the sticks for about 12 minutes, until they're starting to brown. Remove from the oven, and turn them over; you may actually need to do this one by one, or you may be able to turn several at a time using a spatula. Bake for an additional 12 to 16 minutes or so, until golden brown and crisp.