Fried Zucchini Sticks with Pink Sauce

Another football weekend is headed our way, our last week before college football starts, yay! This is pretty much preseason for tailgatin'. I can't wait to share all my favorite appetizers & snacks. Anyway, this is recipe is a great dipping classic. And it's fried. You can't get better than fried food. These zucchini sticks are perfectly crunchy on the outside, but still soft in the center. I also love dipping them into pink sauce instead of marinara (which is what it is typically served with). Go dirty birds!! Enjoy :)

Fried Zucchini Sticks with Pink Sauce

For the Pink Sauce:

2C Prepared Leftover Marinara Sauce

½C Light Cream

½t Red Pepper Flakes 

For the Fried Zucchini Sticks:

1 Large Zucchini, Cut into Sticks & Patted Dry

2C AP Flour

2 Eggs

¼C Milk

3C Panko Breadcrumbs

1C Parmesan, Grated

Salt, For Sprinkling

Olive Oil, For Frying

Directions:

1. To Make the Pink Sauce: In a large saucepan, heat the leftover marinara over medium heat. Whisk in the cream until smooth. Add in the red pepper flakes. Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer while you make the zucchini sticks.
2. To Make the Fried Zucchini Sticks: Slice the zucchini to about sticks and pat them dry. Next, you have to set up a battering station. I use 3 pie tins. For the first station, I mix the flour. For the second station, I whisk together the eggs and milk. For the third station, pour the contents of one box of Panko breadcrumbs with the grated Parmesan. Now, place the slices of zucchini into the flour mixture, then into the egg wash, and finally the panko (making sure they are completely covered). Put the breaded slices on a tin foil-lined baking sheet with a cooling rack on top, and then put the pan into the refrigerator and let the sticks rest for about 15-30 minutes. In a medium sauté pan, heat about 2 inches of olive oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil has heated, fry the zucchini sticks for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden-brown & crispy. Place them onto a baking sheet & sprinkle with salt. Keep them warm in the oven while you fry the rest of your zucchini.
3. To Serve the Fried Zucchini Sticks: Serve the zucchini sticks hot with the warm Pink Sauce and enjoy immediately.