fbpx Skip to main content

Zucchini Nacho Chips

By July 14, 2014February 18th, 2023Uncategorized

Testimony of the Day

30 Day Accelerated TESTIMONY: “Wanted to give you an update. I got the 30 day plan to open. Also, I did a 86 mile bike ride today. I made the healthified sport gel and it made a huge difference. I used the reusable pouch to put it in. Usually I can feel my energy/ blood sugar drop and I get super hungry. The only thing I still craved was a coke at mile 70 ( the only time I ever crave it is when I ride my bike!). Had to stop for some real food and finished the ride. Very impressed and will pass it on to other fellow athletes who are unable to tolerate the commercial Gu/gel. Thanks!” – Wendi

30 Day Plus 7 day Accelerated Testimony: “Wow! Maria, it’s been a mere SEVENTEEN days (of the 30+7 day plan) and I have dropped pretty much all my “excess baggage”! I’m fitting (easily – no bump and grinding) into my “skinniest” clothes! My moods have stabilized – I seem to be sleeping better too.

I WISH I’d had the sense to not stay stuck in my Paleo/GAPS thing a year and a half ago. I’m not knocking them, because I learned so much and they helped to improve my health considerably. But it was still such a struggle to get my weight down.

I even did Human Growth Hormone injections and still not much response. But the instant I boosted my fat intake, lowered my proteins to under 80g a day and reduced my carbs to less than 10g – KAPOW!! You are now, officially known in my home as Maria, the Food Magician!! My biggest problem now is firming up my underarm/bra strap area and my tummy. What a wonderful problem to have! I’m so grateful to you Maria. I’m spreading the word to anyone who will sit still for longer than 3 seconds!” – Lucrecia

If you want to get started on a path to health and healing, click HERE. You will not regret it!
Zucchini Nacho Chips

Why We Crave Crunch

The theory why crunchy foods are innately pleasing to our pallet is captivating. Crunchy  foods add a level of our senses to eating. If you are lucky and are able to smell and taste, you get those (I say lucky because I had a terrible ear infection that caused me to lose smell and taste for 2 weeks! Yikes). You also get texture in your hands and mouth when eating. One thing you may have not thought about is sensual part of the eating experience of sound. The crunchy sensation we experience is more significant for the sounds it makes inside our heads. The internal noises of chewing always happen as we eat, but eating a soft omelet is quite different than chewing on nuts or chips. This is one reason why “You can’t eat just one.” Our neural sensory systems all experience something called “habituation” in which our sensory neurons become less receptive with constant exposure to a stimulus.

We all experience habituation to the smell and taste of food as we eat. This is why we over-eat when we are eating at a potluck or buffet… so many choices to keep stimulating the senses. But if you have one food on your plate, your brain gets bored and signals to stop eating. One reason that crunchy foods may have more of an appeal to you lies in the extra layer of your senses when you eat; you may like a particular crispy food because you like the way it sounds in your head. Crispy foods have a special sensory place in the brain. They incorporate hearing into the sensory mix of eating, and it is very likely that the stronger and more varied sensory mix provided by crispiness staves off boredom and habituation while we eat these foods. We also often crave crunchy foods because in Paleolithic days, insects and fresh produce was our main source of crunchy. A soggy vegetable was tossed aside in lieu of a crunchy/fresh one. The problem now is that we still crave that crunch but it often isn’t for a crunchy piece of celery… it is most likely chips or cereal (thank goodness for people like Clark W. Grizzwald who invented “non-nutritive cereal varnish” in Christmas Vacation! lol) So if you are in love with crunch, you MUST try these chips!

Zucchini Nacho Chips

 

Zucchini Nacho Chips

Maria Emmerich
Servings 4
Calories

Ingredients
  

  • 1 large zucchini
  • 1 TBS "healthified" taco seasoning
  • Coconut Oil for frying

Instructions
 

  • Cut the zucchini into thin strips using a mandolin (click HERE to find the one I used.)
  • Place slices in colander over the sink and sprinkle with lots of salt. Let sit for 5 minutes then press out water.
  • Heat the oil in a fryer or pan to 350 degrees F.
  • Drop the sliced zucchini into the hot oil. Working in batches of about 20 chips at a time.
  • Once the zucchini turn golden brown, remove from fryer and place onto paper towel.
  • Sprinkle with taco seasoning and enjoy!

Notes

NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per serving)
Traditional Nacho Chips = 164 calories, 6g fat, 0.2g protein, 23.3g carbs
"Healthified" Nacho Chips = 66 calories, 6.9g fat, 0.6g protein, 1.6g carbs
(92% fat, 2% protein, 6% carbs)

Zucchini Nacho Chips

 

 

 

Maria Emmerich

Maria is a wellness expert who has helped clients follow a Ketogenic lifestyle to heal and lose weight for over 20 years. She has helped thousands of clients get healthy, get off medications and heal their bodies; losing weight is just a bonus. She is the international best selling author of several books including "Keto: The Complete Guide to Success on the Ketogenic Diet.".

82 Comments

  • Whitney Bray says:

    Hiya! These look great!! I was curious, how is it that they are that much fat? Is it that the Zucchini really soaks up that much of the frying oil? Because if so- that is fantastic!!! 😀

    • cemmerich says:

      It is hard to estimate but since most of the moisture is gone and it is coated with fat, it should be pretty high. 🙂

  • Nancy thyfault says:

    I love the crunch!! Did really
    Bad and ate nachos this afternoon, but now I have something to make!
    Thank you so much!!!!

  • Gina says:

    Hey Maria! My teenage daughter is going through a very difficult time right now, struggling with anorexia. She is making positive progress on the road to recovery, but all of the dietitians/doctors we have consulted have always given her a meal plan with an extremely high number of carbohydrates (200-300 grams a day). Is it possible for my daughter to still gain weight in a healthy manner while eating keto recipes?

  • Valerie Pergolizzi says:

    I can completely relate. I think it’s why I enjoy your granola so much. I need the crunch !

  • Jolena Foster says:

    I can’t wait to try making these. They sound delicious. I love nachos and this recipe will do the trick. Thanks Maria for all you do.

  • Cheri Stainbrook says:

    These look great. We had a BBQ this past weekend and I didn’t want to cheat by eating the Lays and Fritos. Now I can have chips. Love your recipes. I’ve dropped 40 pounds since Easter and I am never hungry. Thank You!!

  • Marisa says:

    Wendi, could I please have your healthified sport gel recipe, as I don’t see it on this site. My husband would LOVE that for his long rides! Thanks, Marisa

  • Wanda says:

    I’m so excited to try these! Potato chips are my biggest problem.

  • Donna says:

    It’s so frustrating to see testimonials of people whose starting weight is my goal weight! I’m trying to lose 100 pounds and I have 23 pounds to go to that goal. I feel great, but I’m concerned that I won’t be satisfied once I hit my goal. I got married at 170 pounds, was a size 12, and didn’t look or feel fat at all. That is why that is my goal. I’m wondering if I should change my goal, since a size 12 is still considered fat!! Oh well, this is the way I eat now, so I guess I’ll lettuce body decide the goal!

    • cemmerich says:

      It is all about what you feel comfortable with and how your body feels. 🙂

      • Donna says:

        Since I plan on eating this way for the long haul, I suppose I don’t really need to worry about a goal. I lost two inches in height when I broke my back last year, so the docs figure my BMI based on my new height, which means I have to lose another 30 pounds once I lose 100 just to be considered overweight! I personally don’t care what the charts say, but it is humiliating to be called clinically obese (and worse) when I’ve always been active! I’m not trying to be like model, but I think like most people who do this way of life, I just want to be as healthy as I can be so I can live my life to the fullest and be there for my children! Yes, something will kill us eventually, but I want to be active until that day! I don’t want to suffer from aches and pains and medical conditions that can so easily be avoided. Yes, it is easy! Thanks again for all of your great recipes! I’ll probably thank you another hundred times, but it is because I am so grateful! My outlook has changed!

    • Dianna says:

      Donna – I wouldn’t be concerned! Every body is diiferent and weight sits differently on each body. When I wore a size 12, I was 110 pounds! I WISH I was a size 12 again!

  • Ann Nowak says:

    Wondering about the home made gel for athletes that was mentioned in the reader’s post. As a runner I have great difficulty with commercial products and fueling efficiently and sufficiently during a long run without getting nauseous. Thanks.

  • Jacjie Moore says:

    Where can I find the recipe for the ” Healthified Taco Seasoning”? I’m anxious to try these.

  • Laura says:

    We are having a Mexican theme for my son’s birthday part this week, so I’ll be making these. Just curious, why not MCT or macadamia nut oil versus coconut oil? Flavor? You’re the best, Maria!!

  • Think I can also use cucumber as well?

  • Kathy says:

    What inspiring photo’s 🙂 Thank you Maria for sharing this fabulous idea and recipe I never knew you could fry veggies in coconut oil. I learned something new today thanks to you. Thank you your chips turned out beautifully.

  • Susan says:

    Can coconut oil used for deep frying be reused? Mine didn’t turn out crispy. I need to get a thermometer because the temp must have been too low.

    Thanks.

  • eva says:

    Hi Maria and Craig, i got a question on your book” Secrets to a Healthy Metabolism”. There is the chapter “Pure Protein Day” does it mean, to DON´T put in fats on these days, too? Cause when i watch your blog, there is the cathegory “Pure Protein/Fat Day” which combines both. What is your recommendation in this case?
    I´m very insulin sensitive and want to do it right, so i would be glad to get your support.

    P.S. Excuse my unsteady english, i´m from Germany 😉

    • cemmerich says:

      This should be called Pure Protein and Fat. It is really about keeping carbs to almost zero for the day. 🙂

  • Veronica says:

    I made these tonight and they taste delicious… however I think I burned them a little trying to get them crispy… what do you think about using lard instead of coconut oil?

  • Andrea says:

    I would love to try these. I’m pretty new to this lifestyle change and still learning. I don’t have any coconut oil on hand for frying, so could I microwave these using my new microwave veggie crisper? Or would that somehow destroy nutrients in the zuchinni? If I can crisp in the microwave, is there a dip (with lots of healthy fat) that I could make to go with these? (If the microwave veggie crisper destroys nutrients, it’s going back to the store!) Thank you! Maria, I just bought several of your books, and I just started reading Keto Adapted. I love it!

  • Cheryl says:

    Just made these and the seasoning. A great snack. Thanks Maria

  • Linda says:

    How long will these keep? Do they stay crispy after a few days, or do they need to be consumed right away? When I make kale chips, they are soggy by the next day.

    • cemmerich says:

      It is best to consume right away. I have made kale chips and store in ziplocks once cooled. They stay crisp, but you have to cook them until they are almost burning to get all the moisture out. With these, they would probably burn if left in long enough to get all the moisture out. 🙂

  • Darlene says:

    When the coconut oil is stored to use again, does it need to be in the fridge?

  • Jocelynn says:

    I’m thinking about ordering the fryer from your amazon store, but I had a question regarding frying. My family is difficult when it comes to vegetables. I could see us eating way more if we fried them. Do you still get the benefits of the vegetables when you deep fry them in something like coconut oil or lard? Or do you think a deep fryer is something that should only be used occasionally?

    • cemmerich says:

      You still get some of the vitamins and minerals. Yes, coconut oil and lard are great options. 🙂

  • Hélène says:

    I wish I had the money to buy EVC to deep fry in!! These sound unreal!

  • Hélène says:

    Then again, lard or bacon grease mite just be EVEN BETTER 😉

  • Leo Daniels says:

    Once these are cooked could they stand up as chips for actual nachos (with toppings etc)?

  • Valerie says:

    Have you made them with just salt? Are they good that way?

  • Veronica says:

    Can I bake these instead of frying? Will they last in the pantry?

  • Mmmm, a health coach just shared this post in my closed group on Facebook and said that we should check out your site. Loving everything so far!! 🙂

    I know I crave the crunch!!!! I used to be a salty over sweets kind of girl any day – until I changed my diet and went “clean” and grain free. Now I think that since I don’t have an overabundance of crunchy foods at my disposal, I crave more sweet stuff… which I never expected!

    I was just indulging in some Jackson’s Honest Potato Chips last night (organic and fried in coconut oil) and thinking about how much of a crazy food addict I used to be with things like Doritos, Cheetos, pretzels – you name it. I hadn’t had chips in so long, and I was just thinking about what a blessing it is not having to worry about that anymore, thanks to this diet.

    Anyway, looking forward to seeing you around. It’s nice to “meet” you. 🙂 🙂

  • Kristie says:

    I’m glad Veronica asked about baking them. I was wondering the same thing. Can’t wait to make these!

  • Lyn says:

    Can you please tell me why the need for salt before they are fried, once they are sliced? How do you ‘press’ the water out? I used a paper towel, but it didn’t really work. The zucchini stuck to the paper towel. Does pressing them get rid of some of the salt? I made them, some soggy, some a little burned and some slightly crispy. Overall, super salty.
    I really like them, but just trying to perfect my skills.

    • Maria Emmerich says:

      If you slice them thin, you can try frying without squeezing the moisture out. You can also just salt at the end if you like. The salt before helps pull out moisture. 🙂

  • Lyn says:

    Yes, that is what I deducted after thinking about it for awhile. You know, it’s funny. I am, or WAS an excellent cook.
    Cooking and baking with such stable ingredients: flour, sugar, etc. But now, I have been tossed on my head trying to cook and bake with egg whites and the almond flours and coconut flours. Please, don’t get me wrong, I am NOT complaining, but it pinches my nose a bit when stuff doesn’t turn out. More practice! With that being said, I have lost 15 pounds with your plan and will never be fat again. I still want to lose about 10 more, and it’s so doable. Thanks for everything you do, and thanks for answering so many people’s questions. It’s very creative and generous of you. Lyn 🙂

  • Lyn says:

    Well, I tried it slicing and frying without salting them, and they are very wet and soggy, but with the taco seasoning, really, really tasty! I think after I slice and salt them, I will give them a quick rinse before I press the water out. Then I can alleviate the super salty flavor and enjoy the taco flavor on a crisp chip. Yum!

  • Lyn says:

    Hi, me again~
    A question about zucchini:
    1.) I see that one medium zucchini has 4.9 gm of naturally occurring sugar. Would this take you out of fat burning?

    A question and story about potassium: 9 MONTHS ago in June, I had a very violent episode (1st one ever) of vertigo. Spinning and vomiting (10 times in 10 minutes) so bad I went to the ER. They performed MRI and chemistry tests. MRI fine. But apparently, my potassium was low (from vomiting). I don’t remember them telling me that.

    When I went home I didn’t eat anything for 5 days for fear of another spinning attack, plus, I felt horrible in my head and all over. After 5 days, I started eating strictly Maria for 2 months. Lost 18 pounds and started to feel better, but never 100%. I now know that my heavy, twisty head, wildly beating and palpitating heart, and the feeling of tipping over was probably due to low potassium. However, I wasn’t doing anything dietary-wise to bring it up. I didn’t know I needed to. Also, I could no longer work out at the gym because my head was so unstable.

    After those two months, we had sold our enormous house and we were celebrating on closing day with some champagne. I thought it would be alright. Slippery slope, for sure. After that, I went back to my not so good eating habits, and having a couple cocktails each night (further draining ANY potassium levels). I gained back at least 15 of the 18 pounds, and was feeling HORRIBLE in my head again.

    Went back to the doctor in November and asked for a Lyme’s test and B12 and B2 test. Negative, and both B tests on the low side of normal. She prescribed an anti-anxiety pill. I was not happy. I never took the RX, because I didn’t want a patch for my symptoms. I just continued to suffer, and eat poorly.

    A few weeks ago, I got back on Maria. I was feeling better, but not great. Even not drinking wasn’t helping. And to be honest, I was medicating with the alcohol. It stopped the tippy, twistiness of my head. But the next day I would pay dearly for this. My head and body were NOT functioning well. Not hangover, but something very different. And I told my husband, “There is something so weird going on in my head because I have never reacted to alcohol like this before.”

    This past week I went to a different doctor to get some answers. [NOTE: The day before I went in, I had tried to make the zucchini chips. They flopped, but I ended up eating the whole batch throughout the day. The next day, I woke up feeling GREAT, despite being awake for 3 hours in the night! I had a new lease on life, and couldn’t believe that I didn’t feel like I was going to tip over, or bump into a wall, or experience extreme agitation.]

    I went in and explained all my symptoms (lengthy list). While I was talking he was studying my chart. When I was finished he said, “Well, back in June your potassium levels were low. And most of the symptoms you are telling me about are low-potassium related.”

    I was stunned! He ran the test, and I am still waiting for the result. I also had an EKG because of my crazy flipping, skipping heart. I went home from my appointment and went right to your site to see what foods…Ta-dah! Zucchini! No wonder I felt better after eating the whole batch of soggy chips the day before.

    I have also been reading while waiting for the tests, that it’s preferable to get potassium from your diet and not supplements, because of the delicate balance between it and sodium. I’ll see what the doctor says too, based on my results.

    I can tell you this: I have been eating zucchini, avocados, etc., and I am feeling so much better, not perfect, but better. So for 9 excruciating months, I have been potassium deficient and didn’t have a clue.

    My questions to you are these: when we are low carbing, you say to up the salt intake. If I am low in potassium, should I hold off on salt a bit? Because will too much sodium cause the potassium to further drop? I am 51, so therefore a salt baby from the 60’s. I LOVE my salt. But maybe this also led to the deficiency of potassium?
    Or, rather, my body’s inability to hold on to much of any level of it? I have tried to research this myself online, but it is a little too ‘medically heavy’ for me to comprehend. And to be honest, we all know that doctors are not nutritionists, so I am not sure that he will give me the correct advice to recover my levels.

    I see that NOW has a potassium gluconate @ 99 mg. Wondering about taking 1 capsule a day and see how I feel.
    So sorry about this long story, but maybe it could help someone else too. Thank you so much for reading it, and possibly responding.

    Lyn

  • Lyn says:

    BTW, I have lost 12 of the 15 pounds I gained back. Feeling really great about that!

  • cathy says:

    Does these get crunchy like a potato chip? or more soft-ish or chewy?

  • Barbara says:

    Last summer I dehydrated a bunch of zucchini and now just fry them. YUM! The only way I know of that will preserve your zucs! It doesn’t take very long so watch them so they don’t burn!

  • Vanessa says:

    For real?? Not soggy?

  • jill says:

    How about using avocado oil to fry them in?

  • Barbara Murphy says:

    I was thrilled with making dehydrated zucchini chips and topping with a cheese herb mixture using nutritional yeast. But these are BEYOND AWESOME!!!! Crispity, crunchity, yummyliciousness. Thanks much 🙂

  • Consuela says:

    Can you make these in an air fryer?

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Free Email Updates

Don't miss any of our free content or sales!

We respect your privacy. We never share your information with anyone.