Dehydrated Zucchini Chips: Delicious and Nutritious!

Healthy Snacks the Kids Will Actually Eat

Healthier snacks result in a healthier and thinner body. Don't snack on potato chips all the time!

But why buy unhealthy, expensive chips when you could make your own? Most homemade chips are much less expensive and full of vitamins and nutrients that commercial snacks do not offer.

Right now, kale chips are all the rage. I have tried them, and tried them, and tried them. I just cannot like them, no matter how they are seasoned. One website even had a recipe for massaged kale chips. Excuse me? If I cannot get a massage, a vegetable is certainly not getting one from me!

But I have found that other vegetables make delicious chips and take only minutes to prepare. One is zucchini. Summer squash can be used in the same manner. I added one to the dehydrator as an example. So move over, kale! Zucchini is the new chip king.

Cook Time

Ingredients

• 4–6 Zucchini, the larger, the better
• 1 Tbl Olive Oil
• 1 Tsp Vinegar, Cider or Balsamic
• Salt, to taste

1. Wash zucchini and slice about 1/4 inch thick. A mandolin works great to maintain uniform thickness. (Bigger ones work better because they shrink so much.) Place in a large bowl.
2. Pour in olive oil and mix with your hands to coat every slice of zucchini. Using a bag to shake it does not work as well.
3. Pour in vinegar and mix well using your hands.
4. Place zucchini slices on the dehydrator tray, just barely touching. Sprinkle with salt.
5. Dehydrate until firm and crisp. Timing will vary with each batch due to moisture in the air and the individual dehydrator used. I usually leave mine overnight and they are done in the morning.

Variations

Sprinkle chips with:

• Cooking spray instead of oil
• Onion or garlic powder
• Red Pepper
• Ranch Dressing (out of the package that makes dip)
• Celery salt
• Your favorite seasoning

I used balsamic vinegar this time. It makes the chips darker but gives them a richer and sweeter flavor to the chips. Also, I usually use cooking spray to add a touch of oil which reduces calories. Sometimes we need to splurge though, and the spoonful of oil was good for the entire batch.

Questions & Answers

Question: Could one blend cashew, jalapeno, and olive oil or a flavorful dressing and then coat kale chips with this mixture before dehydrating?

Answer: Yes, that is a great idea. That makes me think about ranch dressing, onion and garlic powder, and many more seasonings. Thanks for the suggestions.

© 2012 Brenda Barnes