10 Surprising Foods You Can Turn Into Chips

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There are few things I like more than a good chip. Crunchy, salty goodness — perfect for dunking into a bowl of ranch dip. You've heard of banana chips and potato chips, but what about tomato chips? Or zucchini chips? Turns out, there are many unexpected foods that can be turned into chips. Here's how to get your crunch fix while getting a few healthy servings of fruits and veggies, as well as a few other surprising foods, at the same time. (See also: 14 Popular Snacks You Can Make at Home)

1. Tomatoes

Soft, juicy tomatoes aren't usually what you think of when you picture crispy chips. This tomato chip recipe takes slices of tomatoes and smothers them with parmesan and seasonings. After they crisp up in the oven, you've got perfectly seasoned, crunchy little mini pizzas made of tomatoes.

2. Zucchini

If you're going to be making a lot of chips, it's a great idea to invest in a mandoline slicer. This super-sharp kitchen gadget slices almost anything up into thin, even, rounds. I don't know how low-calorie these zucchini chips are after being coated in breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese, but they certainly look delicious. Use your mandoline to thinly slice the zucchini, cover them in breadcrumbs and cheese, and bake until crispy.

3. Cucumber

Cucumbers are a delicious and crunchy dip-vehicle even when freshly sliced, but if you want to shake things up, turn them into cucumber chips. This recipe calls for baking them at a low temperature for several hours, and is customizable with the seasonings of your choice.

4. Prosciutto

Vegetables typically get all the glory when it comes to chip alternatives, but here's a delicious method for turning thinly sliced prosciutto slices into prosciutto chips, or as this cookbook author calls them, "Porkitos." Simply layer the thin slices of meat onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 350º F for 10-15 minutes until crunchy. Serve as a garnish on a salad, or munch on them straight up.

5. Beets

Beets are extremely good for you, but not necessarily crowd-pleasers. Downplay the natural earthiness of beets and increase the sweetness and crunch by turning thinly sliced beets into these rosemary-infused baked beet chips. Beet chips are delicious in a salad, where they add extra nutrition and crunch, but are just as good eaten by the handful.

6. Brussels Sprouts

If you have a hard time getting kids to eat super healthy Brussels sprouts, having Brussels sprouts chips in your arsenal might just revolutionize your game. Remove all the leaves from the Brussels sprouts, toss them with olive oil and salt, and after a few minutes of baking you'll have a bowl of chips that your kids won't even recognize as healthy.

7. Pears

Pear chips are a great alternative to apple chips, and they make a sophisticated cracker substitute on a cheese plate. Imagine a crispy pear chip topped with goat cheese and drizzled with honey. Delicious! Try this recipe for slow-roasted pear chips.

8. Pineapple

Make pineapple portable and easy-to-eat by drying pineapple slices in the oven. For a spicy and unconventional kick, try seasoning the apple slices with chili pepper. Just be sure to store the crunchy slices immediately after they cool to prevent them from softening.

9. Tofu

Now that you know you can turn vegetables, fruit, and even meat into chips, next you'll be making chips from… wait for it… tofu! Yes, this bland and sometimes spongy food can be turned into crisp, flavorful, protein-rich tofu chips. Since tofu absorbs flavors, slices of extra-firm tofu can be seasoned to perfection before being baked into crispy chips that can be used to scoop up hummus or guacamole.

10. Parmesan

If your favorite part of cheese and crackers is the cheese, why not ditch the cracker and make cheese chips instead? These parmesan crisps are full of flavor and crunch. They make a delicious appetizer or garnish on a salad, as well as on a sandwich or burger.

What other surprising foods can be turned into chips? Share with us!

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