Il Cucinologo
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Baked Zucchini Casserole with Melted Cheese

17/11/2023

I can provide you with the recipe for a baked zucchini casserole with melted cheese, perfect as a vegetarian dish and deliciously rich. Here’s how to prepare this dish.

Ingredients

  • 4 medium zucchini
  • 200 g mozzarella (or another melty cheese of your choice)
  • 3 eggs
  • 100 ml milk
  • 50 g grated Parmesan
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Nutmeg (optional)
  • Breadcrumbs
  • Butter or extra virgin olive oil to grease the baking dish

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
  2. Wash the zucchini, cut them into rounds or sticks, according to your preference.
  3. In a non-stick pan, cook the zucchini with a drizzle of oil until they are lightly golden and soft. Lightly salt them.
  4. In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the milk, add the Parmesan, a grating of nutmeg, salt and pepper. Mix until you obtain a homogeneous mixture.
  5. Cut the mozzarella into small cubes and let it drain to remove excess whey.
  6. Grease a baking dish with butter or oil and sprinkle it with breadcrumbs.
  7. Arrange a layer of cooked zucchini on the bottom of the baking dish.
  8. Pour half of the egg and milk mixture over the zucchini and distribute half of the mozzarella cubes.
  9. Create another layer with the remaining zucchini, pour the rest of the mixture and finish with the mozzarella.
  10. Sprinkle the surface with more breadcrumbs, if you desire a crispy crust.
  11. Bake the casserole for about 30-40 minutes or until the surface is golden and the cheese inside is well melted.
  12. Let it cool for a few minutes before serving.

You can vary the flavoring of this dish by adding aromatic herbs, such as mint or basil, to give a touch of freshness. Alternatively to the traditional oven, you can bake the casserole in a fan oven at 160 °C, slightly reducing the cooking times.

Curiosities

The zucchini casserole is a versatile and tasty way to consume this vegetable. The word “sformato” derives from the French “soufflé”, indicating a dish that should be light and at the same time creamy and stringy. Baking allows the zucchini to perfectly blend with the cheese and eggs, creating a soft consistency that is loved by both adults and children.