Zucchini Gateau with Gooey Center

You will need some ingredients to prepare the delicious Zucchini Gateau with Gooey Center. Here’s what you need:

Ingredients

• 500g zucchini
• 200g ricotta
• 100g grated Parmesan
• 2 eggs
• 100g mozzarella (or other stringy cheese of your choice)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Breadcrumbs to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil to taste

Preparation

1. Start by grating the zucchini and squeeze them to remove excess water.
2. In a bowl, mix the grated zucchini with the ricotta, Parmesan, eggs, a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. This is the base mixture for your gateau.
3. Take single-portion baking molds (or a muffin tin), grease the bottom and sides with a little oil and sprinkle with breadcrumbs. This will help achieve a crispy crust and prevent the gateau from sticking.
4. Begin filling the molds with a first layer of the zucchini mixture, then add a cube of mozzarella in the center, which will serve as the “gooey center”.
5. Cover the mozzarella with more zucchini mixture until the molds are filled.
6. Sprinkle the surface of the gateau with more breadcrumbs and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.
7. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 20-25 minutes, or until the surface is golden and the gateau are cooked through.
8. Let rest for a few minutes before unmolding the gateau and serving.

Interesting Facts

The zucchini gateau with gooey center is a vegetarian variation of the classic potato gateau. It evokes the flavors of Mediterranean cuisine and can be served both as an appetizer and as a main course. The stringy mozzarella inside offers a pleasant contrast with the softness of the zucchini and the crispy exterior. It is a dish that lends itself to variations, for example by adding fresh aromatic herbs or cooked ham for a non-vegetarian version.