Il Cucinologo
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Zucchini Fans

17/11/2023

Zucchini fans are a simple and delicious summer dish. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

  • 4 medium zucchini
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • Fresh parsley to taste
  • Dried oregano to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Fine salt
  • Black pepper (optional)
  • (Optional) Cherry tomatoes
  • (Optional) Parmesan shavings or other cheese to taste

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
  2. Wash the zucchini and cut them into fans, making vertical slits without reaching the bottom so the zucchini stays attached at the base.
  3. Insert thin slices of garlic between the cuts and, if desired, add halved cherry tomatoes.
  4. Drizzle the zucchini with extra virgin olive oil, a pinch of salt, black pepper to taste, and sprinkle with chopped parsley and dried oregano.
  5. For an extra Italian touch, top with Parmesan shavings or another cheese before baking.
  6. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until the zucchini are tender and golden.

This is a versatile dish that lends itself to many variations; for example, you can add slices of a good melting cheese, such as scamorza, between the cuts for a richer result. Or turn it into a complete meal by adding proteins like strips of speck or prosciutto.

Trivia

Zucchini fans are a creative and pleasant way to present a vegetable side dish. In Italy, especially during the summer months, it is common to find variations of this recipe that include Mediterranean aromatic herbs such as rosemary or marjoram, giving the dish an even more typical and fragrant flavor.