A couple of years ago we found a bag of seasoned “vegetable chips” at a roadside stand and it changed the way we thought about our summer harvest. Certainly, kale chips are incredible and we make them when we can, but just like you can make chips out of any kind of green (as we write here), you can make chips from a whole lot of vegetables. If you can slice it thin and it stays intact, you ought to try to make a chip out of it. Zucchini certainly fits the requirement.
Pick the zucchini tender and young, about five inches long. Younger zucchini are not full of water, so once they are dehydrated, there is still fiber and flavor on your dehydrator tray or cookie sheet. In a food processor, these younger zucchini will also likely fit whole into your machine, leaving you with a cute round chip.
If you can use a food processor to slice your zucchini, that is your best bet. They will be a uniform size and will dry evenly. However, the slices do tend to stick together. When you toss in the oil and seasonings, use your hands to loosen the slices and integrate the oil onto your zucchini rounds.
Another thing to consider with homemade chips is that as they are exposed to air after being dehydrated, they lose their crisp. If you end up with a chewy chip, you can always pop it back in the dehydrator or oven to re-crisp it.
The steps are simple. Adapt the technique to your own needs. This recipe fills our five tray Excalibur dehydrator, with about one young zucchini per tray.
The chips don’t store particularly well. Bits of moisture will re-accumulate in them as they sit on your kitchen counter and they will lose their “crisp.” Store them in an air-tight container if you intend to hold them over.
Enjoy the chips by themselves or with a dip. Five zucchini did not last long here.
A: If you are in a pinch and need to buy the zucchini, it is hard to find quality zucchini chips but you can buy good-quality dehydrated zucchini from our Amazon partner (here).
A: Store them in a jar with a tight-fitting lid in a cool, dark pantry.
A: The zucchini will last about two years if it was dried and stored properly.
A: Yes, in those households where the chips actually last more than a few hours, the zucchini will take on moisture, particularly if it is just left out on the counter top. It is not as if they get soggy but they do lose that satisfying “crunch” that they have when they come right out of the dehydrator.
A: Really, use any seasoning that sounds good — a single flavor or a blend. Cajun, taco seasoning, zataar, etc.
A: The zucchini chips can mold if they were not completely dehydrated. If so, they will smell moldy and will probably appear moldy as well. Discard them.
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Brilliant, just brilliant. Thank you! You will be featured on my first “101 Dehydrator Recipes” post debuting on Thursday. If you have more, please add them Thursday!
These zucchini chips are awesome!
What a great idea, I just have to try
Thanks so much for sharing
what a good use of zucchini. I found this through Turning the Clock Back’s What’s Cooking Wednesday. I have linked in an attempt at meatballs. Have a lovely week.
it sounds fantastic!
I have seen chips made with root vegetables, but never zucchini. What a delicious healthy snack!
We have a bountiful supply of Zucchini from our garden right now and this is a perfect recipe for us to try. Hope you are having a great week and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Oh my! These look so good, and what a great way to use all that zucchini!
I would love it if you would share this at the Smart Solutions linky party. You can link up here:
http://theprudentpantryblog.blogspot.com/2012/07/prudent-projects-and-smart-solutions.html
Have a great day!
These sound wonderful..I adore courgettes fried and I’ve been looking at dehydrators this morning! I must get one soon..
Thank you for your submission on Nourishing Treasures’ Make Your Own! Monday link-up.
Check back later tonight when the new link-up is running to see if you were one of the top 3 featured posts! 🙂
My son is on the GAPS diet. This would be legal, and I’m sure he would enjoy them. Thanks for the great idea!
Hey there,
I don’t have a dehydrator. Is there a way I can do this in an oven? And how would I need to do it?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Kat
If you put your oven on the lowest setting (or 140 if possible) and leave the door ajar you have the same effect as a dehydrator. Ooooor you can use a box fan and furnace filters.. put your food on a furnace filter and stack another on top, then place it on a box fan that has been put horizontally (make sure it has air flow)
These look great. What a great way to use garden zucchini. I don’t have a dehydrator but might try it in the oven. Thanks for sharing this at Gluten Free Wednesdays!
I’ll be featuring YOU this afternoon over on my blog. Thank you so much for linking up with {wow me} wednesday.
Ginger @ gingersnapcrafts.com
My family loves zucchini. What a wonderful twist!! I’d love to have you link this up to Tasty Thursdays on The Mandatory Mooch. It’s a new linky party starting today. Hope to see you there. Thanks, Nichi
http://mandatorymooch.blogspot.com/2012/07/tasty-thursdays-1.html
Liquid sauces and marinades are another great way to make zucchini
chips with interesting flavor variations. Pickle flavored zucchini chips are surprisingly good, but my favorites so far are the spicy hot zucchini chips.
I never thought that zucchinis were good for chips. Brilliant recipe. I must try this one at home.
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