Feeding them Love: Oven Baked Panko Crusted Zucchini Rounds

This certainly is not a new idea but it's a new take on a classic idea, and that my friends is what I am all about! There are ways to make real food taste good without all the junk and have the recipe actually be successful.

What we have here is a crunchy round of in season zucchini coated with whole wheat flour (hello added fiber), dipped in an egg/seasoned greek yogurt mixture (hello added flavor), and breaded in whole wheat panko crumbs and parmesan cheese (hello salty, crunchy goodness).

The coating actually stays on and the zucchini actually stays crunchy...please no soggy limpy zucchini. These make a fantastic snack, wonderful side dish, or even a new twist on a topping to a chicken or vegetable pot pie :)

Oven Baked Panko Crusted Zucchini Rounds

2 cups sliced zucchini rounds, about 1/4 inch each - try to make each slice similar in size so they cook evenly
1/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour (any flour will work)
1 cup whole wheat panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 egg
3 tablespoons greek yogurt
1 tablespoon miced shallot
1 teaspoon minced garlic
3 teaspoons dried thyme, divided into 3
3 teaspoons dried dill, divided into 3
1 and a half teaspoons each salt and pepper, divided into 3

Preheat oven to 375 F

Slice zucchini into rounds, each around 1/4 of an inch thick

Sprinkle zucchini with the whole wheat flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon thyme and 1 teaspoon dill
Gently mix together, making sure all rounds are covered with seasoned flour mixture

In a second shallow bowl beat 1 egg. Add in greek yogurt, minced shallots and garlic, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon dried dill, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper

In a third shallow bowl add panko crumbs, parmesan cheese, remaining thyme, dill, salt and pepper. Gently mix together to distribute seasoning and cheese.

Dredge flour coated zucchini, a few at a time, to the bowl with egg/yogurt mixture and turn to coat both sides, and then into the panko mixture, turning to coat.