Fried Veggies Healthy or Harmful

We all knowthat veggies are good for you. We also know that fried foods are bad for you as well. What happens though when you start frying up those veggies?Are they still healthy? Are they still harmful? What's the deal with them?

We've always had fried vegetables at our table. Thanks to our Piedmontese heritage fritto misto or fried assortment (loosely translated) has been included in our summer dining. Mostly it's been squash flowers lately which is true Piedmontese cuisine. We just use a light coating of bread crumbs and then fry in margarine. This also applies for cauliflower which again is just lightly dusted with crumbs after an egg wash. The health benefits of these outweights any of the risks associated with frying.

Another method is coating veggies in batter. This is great for green tomatoes along with zucchini and peppers. I would make sure the batter is light and just barely coats the vegetable's surface. Also what you fry the veggies in is also an important factor. Butter is tasty but it's not good for you. Don't use fat because it counterbalances the veggies' health benefits. A canola or a light extra virgin olive oil is good for well as a quick fry. Another way of making the fry up healthier is cutting out the salt. Use dipping saluces such as a a fruity vinegar or a salsa for more flavor.

You can have tasty fried food with the benefit of healthy eating. Fry up some veggies today for a quick crunchy treat. They're one fo the few fried snacks that's actually good for you.