Baked Lemon Zucchini Coins

Tonight I was making Lemon Pepper Panko Chicken Fingers for The Ballplayer and got to thinking...what else could I fake fry (other wise known as bake) for our meal? I looked through the frig which was pretty bare and settled on some zucchini from the garden. The Tortured Teenager and I love to nosh on fried zucchini from our favorite hamburger joint. But I am fake frying and continuing with the theme of lemon as I did in the chicken. Sounds good right?

Baked Lemon Zucchini Coins

2 medium Zucchini cut into coins
1 lemon zested
juice of 1 lemon
1 cup bread crumbs
2 eggs
1/2 cup flour
salt and pepper
cooking spray


First wash the zucchini if you just plucked it from the garden as I did and cut into coins
I am going to marinate with the chicken so dump into something. I like to use these old cake pans.
Zest one lemon. This is off my tree that is producing lemons faster than I can use them.
Not to waste the lemon, juice it into the zucchini
its ok it the pulp gets into the the dish...really
now salt and pepper

In a perfect world these would be un flavored or seasoned rather (gosh I cant think my words lately...) but like the panko in the chicken recipe, all I have is Italian. It will do..I guess
Set up your breading station so everything is close. It helps keep the breading off the whole house. Well sorta. In case you missed a step, the eggs get beat in a bowl, the flour gets dumped into a bowl and so does the bread crumbs. Foil line a cookie sheet and cover with a rack. Spray the rack with cooking spray. PLEASE do not forget this. I get blonde headed and forget and then cuss like a sailor when things stick.
So let's get this party started! Into to flour first. I am using tongs to that my fingers do not get all gummy so I can take pictures for you but if you are wanting sticky fingers feel free to not use tongs. Ok glad we covered that.
Now that they are nice and covered, into the egg!
And finally into the bread crumbs.
And onto the baking racks
Repeat until you either run out of zucchini or room on the pan. Spray with Cooking spray (or drizzle butter over them...mmm butter) and bake in a preheated 425 oven for ten minutes. Flip, re-spray and bake for another ten minutes or until golden brown.
Serve with your favorite dipping sauce and nosh down.