Hamburger Hamlet’s Zucchini Zircles

Make the dipping sauce by mixing pineapple juice, soy sauce, and mustard powder in a blender. Pour it into a bowl and mix in the apricot preserves. Set aside (or make ahead of time and chill.)

To make the zucchini zircles, slice the zucchini into rounds about 1/3 of an inch thick. One at a time, bread them by dredging them in flour, dipping them in the milk, and coating them in the breadcrumbs. Set on a wire rack over a cookie sheet as you do the rest.

To fry them, heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When it’s hot, add the zircles 3 to 4 at a time using tongs. (Oil should sizzle and envelop the zircles.) Allow to fry for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until deep golden brown, then remove to a paper towel lined baking sheet. Repeat with the rest. Sprinkle with salt when they’re out of the oil.

Serve zucchini zircles with the apricot dipping sauce…and reminisce about the last time you were at Hamburger Hamlet! (For me, it was around 1990.)

***From a Hamburger Hamlet recipe.