Zucchini Tortillas Recipe or Soft Taco Tortilla Shells from Grated Zucchini (2024)

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by Todd + Diane

This popular zucchini tortillas recipe is one of our most popular recipes on our site, originally published in July 2015. It’s been a favorite low carb alternative to regular flour and corn tortillas.

Zucchini Tortillas Recipe or Soft Taco Tortilla Shells from Grated Zucchini (2)

Low Carb Tortillas Made with Zucchini

Last year in 2014 it started with this crazy zucchini tortilla inspiration because we couldn’t hardly find any reference to zucchini tortillas online. So we said “let’s make healthy zucchini taco shells!” Why not? Everyone was making pizza crusts with cauliflower so why not use up all this leftover zucchini? As odd as it many have sounded it actually has become one of our favorite year round recipes and can’t believe we’re finally sharing it almost a year later. We should have shared it right away when we made it last year, but our busy commercial photography lives got in the way.

When we drowning in zucchini recipes for our future magazine project, we had these zucchini soft taco tortilla shells on the top of our list. We invited 5 of our neighbors over for taste testing on the majority of our magazine recipes and these zucchini taco shells had some of the most enthusiastic responses. Maybe it was unique and something they had ever seen or tasted before. Or maybe it was healthy. What ever it was, it was always mentioned as the memorable and delicious tasting zucchini recipe they’ve ever had.

Think beyond the taco tortilla shell and these zucchini tortillas are also a great snack. We just made these again tonight and snacked on the shells alongside a martini and whiskey sour. That alone is a great pairing, you should try it with your favorite beer or co*cktail! More taco recipes using these low carb tortillas coming to the blog soon!

-Diane and Todd

Video: Healthier Zucchini TortillasRecipe:

Keto Friendly Options for Tortillas

Instead of using regular bread crumbs, there’s several ideal “breading” options to make these zucchini tortillas keto friendly. These low carb options are still delicious!

  • Crushed pork rinds: for these tortillas to have the lowest carbs you can use crushed pork rinds. You can buy pork rinds already crushed or you can buy them in large pieces and grind them in the food processor. You’ll have a savory pork flavor in these tortillas.
  • Almond Flour: use a little bit of almond flour for another low carb version. Using almond flour is an easy way to keep these tortillas vegetarian.
  • Coconut Flour: this type of flour works great too.

How to Make Tortillas Made with Grated Zucchini (Tips)

  • The key is to make sure to remove as much moisture as possible. We like to squeeze out the water with a paper towel. But don’t squeeze out ALL the moisture, as these tortillas need some during baking so they don’t burn and dry out. Once you make your first batch, you’ll know exactly how much moisture is enough to get the tortillas to your preferred texture.
  • Some folks have also salted these grated zucchini to release water. This works great too but it’ll be seasoned with salt so no need to season any further.
  • You can use yellow summer squash as well.
  • Be patient when removing the cooked tortilla shells from the parchment paper. The zucchini tortillas can easily rip or tear, so it helps to take your time to ensure the tortilla releases in one big piece.
  • Add some of your favorite seasonings to the mixture before forming them. We love adding lots of garlic powder. Or if you like spicy tortillas, add some crushed chili flakes.
  • All recipe details are in the recipe box below.
Zucchini Tortillas Recipe or Soft Taco Tortilla Shells from Grated Zucchini (3)

Can you Freeze Zucchini Tortillas?

Yes, these freeze well. After they’ve been cooled, store them in air tight ziplock bags. Make sure to squeeze out all the air before sealing. These will freeze up to about 2 months. Try to eat them sooner than later because they will start to break apart and crumble when they thaw after being frozen for too long.

Zucchini Tortillas Recipe or Soft Taco Tortilla Shells from Grated Zucchini (4)

Zucchini Tortillas Recipe or Soft Taco Tortilla Shells from Grated Zucchini (5)

Healthy Zucchini Soft “Taco” Shells

Yield: 8 – 5-inch Shells

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 25 minutes mins

Total Time: 45 minutes mins

Enjoy these shells as a snack or a wrap, so think beyond the taco. Don’t bake them too long, or they’ll dry out and be difficult to peel off. To help from sticking, you can lightly spray the parchment paper with oil. But you’ll end up with a less crispy shell.
Squeezing out as much excess water in the grated zucchini will make the taco shells a little more “firm”. One method is to microwave the zucchini till moisture releases, then squeezing out the water. Or lightly sautéing the zucchini for a few minutes, then squeezing out the water. Just be careful to not cook the zucchini too much or use too much oil, or else you’ll get mush.

4.85 from 20 votes

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Ingredients

  • 4 cups (950 ml) zucchini , coarsely grated
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup (50 g) grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup (30 g) bread crumbs , or crushed pork rinds or almond flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

Instructions

  • Pre-heat oven to 450°F/230°C.

  • After grating the zucchini, remove as much moisture as you can from the zucchini. We like to use a paper towel and squeeze the water out of the grated zucchini.

  • Add zucchini to large bowl and mix in remainder of the taco shell ingredients (egg, parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, black pepper, salt, garlic powder, and cumin).

  • Cover baking sheets with parchment paper or oven proof baking mat. Scoop about ¼ cup of mixture and press down on baking pan into a thin circle, about 5” wide. Repeat for remainder of mixture.

  • Bake shells for about 25 minutes, or until the shells look “crisp’ and brown around the edges. We like to bake the shells a little longer for a more charred texture and flavor. Just be careful to not bake too long or else the shells dry out and are hard to peel off.

  • After zucchini soft taco shells are cool, gently peel them off the parchment paper.

  • Serve with your favorite taco stuffing, scrambled eggs for a breakfast taco or eat as a snack.

Video

Nutrition Information per Serving

Calories: 60kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 2g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 28mg, Sodium: 206mg, Potassium: 184mg, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 210IU, Vitamin C: 11.1mg, Calcium: 89mg, Iron: 0.6mg

Course: Main Course, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Calories: 60

Here’s More Zucchini Recipes:

  • All Zucchini Recipe Collection
  • All Zucchini Noodle Recipes
  • Favorite zucchini bread with cream cheese frosting
  • Stuffed zucchini flowers with ricotta
  • No Pasta Zucchini tortilla low carb

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147 comments on “Healthy Zucchini Soft “Taco” Tortilla Shells”

  1. P. Dalin November 20, 2023 @ 5:41 pm Reply

    I wonder if a small amount of coconut flour could be utilized to absorb zuchinni liquid?

    • Todd + Diane November 25, 2023 @ 4:11 pm Reply

      Hi P! A little coconut flour would work and would probably give more structure to the tortillas allowing it to hold shape better.

  2. Ash August 30, 2022 @ 6:54 am Reply

    I made these after seeing them on Alexandra’s Kitchen.

    I made half the recipe and replaced the breadcrumbs with almond flour (one of the suggested alternatives) for 4 tortillas.

    These turned out great and the taste was fantastic. Had chicken fajitas tonight and will have breakfast tacos tomorrow.Zucchini Tortillas Recipe or Soft Taco Tortilla Shells from Grated Zucchini (16)

  3. Grace August 26, 2022 @ 8:01 am Reply

    These are excellent! Will definitely make again and again! My husband didn’t think that he would like them. He then proceeded to finish the batch!!Zucchini Tortillas Recipe or Soft Taco Tortilla Shells from Grated Zucchini (17)

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Zucchini Tortillas Recipe or Soft Taco Tortilla Shells from Grated Zucchini (2024)

FAQs

How many zucchini for 2 cups grated? ›

You need 2 cups of grated zucchini for the recipe, so you will need about 3 small zucchini, 2 medium zucchini, or 1 large zucchini.

What's the difference between a taco shell and a tortilla? ›

What makes a taco shell different from a corn tortilla? The most obvious difference is the consistency of a “hard” shell vs a “soft” shell (basically a regular corn tortilla). In its purest form, a hard taco shell is basically a fried corn tortilla that has been folded to make it easy to hold the ingredients of a taco.

How do you shred zucchini for zucchini bread? ›

Grate, don't chop.

Here's how to grate a zucchini: Cut off the ends of the zucchini and rub it against the shredder side of a box grater to make a pile of squash that's perfectly sized for baking zucchini bread. You can also use the shredder blade in your food processor to quickly shred zucchini.

How many cups is 1 pound of grated zucchini? ›

One pound of zucchini equals about 4 cups grated zucchini; 2 cups of salted and squeezed zucchini; about 1 cup mashed zucchini; and 3 cups chunked zucchini. Zucchini bread is one of the most popular ways to use zucchini. Bigger is not necessarily better.

Do you remove seeds when shredding zucchini? ›

To grate zucchini, trim off the ends and remove the seeds, then pass the zucchini over the blades of a plank grater or box grater, or feed the zucchini through the blades of a food processor. The process is simple no matter which tool you choose to use.

Which is better for you hard or soft taco shells? ›

Hard taco shells are often made by placing a soft shell in a pan of hot oil, and frying it until it hardens. Therefore, by choosing a soft taco shell--otherwise known as a burrito shell--you will be decreasing the amount of fat and calories from the hot oil.

Are soft shell tacos just tortillas? ›

Hardshell tacos are fried corn tortillas shaped to holdtaco fillings, while softshell tacos are simply smaller tortillas similar to those used for burritos and enchiladas. You can make traditional softshell taco tortillas with corn flour or wheat flour.

Why use two taco shells? ›

But a popular explanation is that the second tortilla can be used to make another taco with any fillings that spill out the side. Other reasons include preventing a tortilla from breaking, or if you have a particularly moist filling, & others do it because corn tortillas are delicious – can't argue with that!

Why do you soak zucchini before cooking? ›

The main problem that confronts the cook when preparing zucchini is its wateriness. Zucchini is 95 percent water (among vegetables, only lettuce contains more water) and will become soupy if it is just thrown into a hot pan.

Should zucchini be peeled before shredding? ›

Rinse the zucchini under water and wipe dry with paper towels. No need to peel the zucchini beforehand-the skin is mild in flavor and will soften when cooked. Plus, much of zucchini's fiber content is in its skin, so you don't want to throw that away.

Should you peel zucchini for zucchini bread? ›

There's no need to peel the zucchini or remove the seeds. You also shouldn't press or squeeze any of the excess moisture out of it. You want all that to go into the bread!

What is the best tool for shredding zucchini? ›

The easiest ways to grate zucchini are by using a box grater or a food processor. These instructions work for yellow squash or patty-pan squash as well.

Why does my zucchini bread fall apart when I cut it? ›

The most common reason for zucchini breadand other quick breads (and cakes) to collapse as they cool is the ingredients are too vigorously or quickly mixed, which incorporates lots of less stable air bubbles into the batter.

What is a portion size for zucchini? ›

According to the USDA, a 1-cup (cooked) serving of zucchini contains: Calories: 27. Protein: 2 g. Fat: 0 g.

What is considered a medium-sized zucchini? ›

How to Select Zucchini: Choose small to medium-sized zucchini (6-8 inches in length, 2 or less inches in diameter) with shiny, bright green skin. It should be firm and feel heavy for its size. Minor superficial scratched or bruises are common and perfectly fine.

Can you grate zucchini with a cheese grater? ›

Place a box grater or cheese grater on a plate or cutting board. Shred the zucchini on the large holes. Step three: Remove excess liquid. If you're freezing zucchini, or plan to use it in a recipe that requires you to remove some of its liquid, put a double layer of cheesecloth or a thin kitchen towel on your counter.

How many calories are in 2 cups of shredded zucchini? ›

There are 40 calories in 2 cups of chopped Zucchini. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.

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