--- title: "Meatless Friday: Oven-fried Finger Food" description: Monica Portogallo offers a healthier twist on traditionally fried appetizers. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/MPortogallo-DEC-F.jpg ---                                           [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2018/12/14/meatless-friday-oven-fried-finger-food/#) [MEATLESS FRIDAY](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/meatless-friday) # Meatless Friday: Oven-fried Finger Food Dec 14, 2018 1:30:43 PM  |  by [Monica Portogallo](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/monica-portogallo) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/MPortogallo-DEC-F.jpg) *Monica Portogallo offers a healthier twist on traditionally fried appetizers.* One of my friends from college, now known as Fr. Dominic, has a family tradition of holiday appetizer meals. Instead of traditional entrees and sides, everyone brings two or three finger foods. In the end, they have about 15-20 different appetizers to choose from for their big family get-togethers. His family once hosted a group of us from the Newman Center with a meal like this, and it was great fun. I thought of Fr. Dominic's family parties while I was experimenting to create this recipe for oven-fried appetizers. I hope you enjoy them, whether you prepare them for a social event or for a quiet meal at home.   ![MPortogallo-DEC-IMG_2214](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/MPortogallo-DEC-IMG_2214.jpg?width=900&name=MPortogallo-DEC-IMG_2214.jpg) #### Oven-fried finger food - 6 mozzarella cheese sticks, halved - 2 zucchini, cut into 1/2" thick, 4" long wedges - 20 whole green beans, fresh or frozen (thawed if frozen) - 2 eggs - 2 tablespoons milk - 2 cups plain bread crumbs (or almond flour, if desired) - 2 teaspoons Italian herb seasoning blend - 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese (optional) - Cooking oil spray - 1 cup prepared marinara sauce (optional) Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with cooking oil. Insert toothpicks about halfway into the center of each mozzarella stick. Place them in a freezer-safe container, and freeze for at least 10 minutes. In a deep bowl or wide mug, mix together eggs and milk. In a shallow bowl, mix together bread crumbs, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese (if using). Using a fork or toothpick, dip each vegetable and cheese stick into the egg mixture to coat it, then place it in the bread crumbs and gently shake side to side until it's completely covered with bread crumbs. Place the veggies and cheese on the sprayed baking sheet in a single layer. Spray them evenly with oil. Bake for about 5 minutes, or until golden. Be careful not to over-bake them, or the cheese will melt into a puddle. Serve with marinara sauce to dip, if desired. ### **[What's cooking? Find all our Meatless Friday featured recipes here](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/meatless-friday).** --- *Copyright 2018 Monica Portogallo Photo copyright 2018 Monica Portogallo, all rights reserved.* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F12%2F14%2Fmeatless-friday-oven-fried-finger-food%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F12%2F14%2Fmeatless-friday-oven-fried-finger-food%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F12%2F14%2Fmeatless-friday-oven-fried-finger-food%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Meatless%20Friday%3A%20Oven-fried%20Finger%20Food) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F12%2F14%2Fmeatless-friday-oven-fried-finger-food%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F12%2F14%2Fmeatless-friday-oven-fried-finger-food%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Monica Portogallo](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Monica%20Portogallo.jpeg) ### [Monica Portogallo](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/monica-portogallo) Monica Portogallo is a mother and registered dietitian nutritionist who does her best not to miss the lessons God sends to her through the joys and struggles of daily life. She lives in California. ## Related Blog Articles [ Meatless Friday: Caramelized Onion Frittata Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2020/03/13/meatless-friday-caramelized-onion-frittata/) [ Meatless Friday: Sloppy Lentils Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/02/15/meatless-friday-sloppy-lentils/) [ Meatless Friday: Rice of Many Colors Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2018/11/16/meatless-friday-rice-of-many-colors/) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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