Zucchini Rolls in Tomato Sauce

Zucchini rolls in sauce are a delicious second course, light and flavorful. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 4 medium zucchini
• 300 g ground meat (beef or pork, or a mix of the two)
• 1 garlic clove
• 50 g grated Parmesan
• 1 egg
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Breadcrumbs (if necessary)
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Fresh basil
• 400 ml tomato passata
• 1 small onion

Preparation

1. Start by washing the zucchini, then slice them into thin longitudinal strips using a mandoline or a sharp knife. Lightly salt them and set aside.

2. In a bowl, mix the ground meat with the egg, finely chopped garlic, grated Parmesan, salt and pepper. If the mixture is too soft, you can add some breadcrumbs to make it firmer.

3. Take a zucchini slice and place some of the meat mixture on the wider end, then roll the zucchini onto itself to form a roll. Secure with a toothpick.

4. In a large pan, sauté the finely chopped onion with a bit of olive oil. When the onion is golden, add the rolls and brown them on all sides.

5. Add the tomato passata, adjust salt and pepper, and add a few basil leaves. Cover with a lid and cook on low heat for about 30-40 minutes, turning them occasionally and making sure they don’t dry out too much, adding water if necessary.

6. Once cooked, the zucchini rolls in sauce will be ready to serve. You can garnish them with more fresh basil leaves and a sprinkle of Parmesan.

Interesting Facts

This dish can be easily converted into a vegetarian version by replacing the ground meat with a ricotta and spinach filling, or with a mixture based on legumes like chopped lentils or chickpeas. Additionally, zucchini have proven to be a very versatile ingredient in Italian cuisine over time, capable of taking the place of pasta and meat in many classic dishes.