This delicious dinner of Zucchini Parmigiana is another idea inspired by me playing around with the weekly meal plan recipes.
My Irishman isn’t eating eggplant at the moment because of the FODMAPS situation.
But I really felt like the eggplant parmigiana in the meal plan.
Hey presto zucchini parm!
Don’t tell the purists, but I actually like this zucchini version more because the zucchini goes all buttery when it cooks down.
Zucchini Parmigiana
Ingredients
- 4 medium zucchini 800g / 28oz
- 100 g (3.5oz) almond meal
- 1/2 cup tomato passata or puree
- 200 g (7oz) bocconcini or mozzarella
- 50 g (2oz) grated Parmesan and extra to serve
- salad to serve
Instructions
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Turn your oven to 250C (480F). Slice zucchini into rounds about 1cm (1/2in) thick. Place in a baking dish, drizzle with a little oil, sprinkle over a little salt and roast for 20 minutes.
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Stir and add almond meal. Stir again so some of the almond meal gets mixed in but most stays on top.
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Pour over the tomato. Top with torn chunks of bocconcini. Sprinkle over Parmesan.
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Bake for another 5-10 minutes or until cheese is melted and golden. Serve with salad.
Recipe Video
NET CARBS: 18g / serve
WINE MATCH: An Italian red like Chianti or Sangiovese.
Zucchini Parmigiana Variations & Substitutions
keto / ultra low carb – replace 1/2 the zucchini with baby spinach (toss in before adding cheese). Use half the almond meal. Replace bocconcini with extra grated Parmesan.
no boccomcini – any good melting cheese like cheddar, tasty, emmental, gruyere. Or Parmesan.
tomato-free – replace with pureed cooked red bell peppers (capsicum) or softened onions. Or just use grilled eggplant or zucchini. Or just skip it and you’ll have a lovely cheesey / almondy mix.
dairy-free – serve roast zucchini and tomato with hummus, cauliflower hummus or broccoli hummus. And roast nuts like almonds, walnuts or macadamias.
more substantial (carb lovers) – serve over cooked pasta, couscous or quinoa.
more substantial (low carb) – serve with ham, prosciutto, roast nuts or chunks of avocado.
low FODMAP / nut-free – use ground sunflower seeds or soft bread crumbs.
different vegetables – eggplant, bell peppers (capsicum), cherry tomatoes would be my first choices. But any roast veg will work. I think I’ll try a cauliflower parm’ this winter. And cabbage… mmmummm cabbage!
different protein / carnivore – see the dairy-free ideas. You could add crumbled sausages or boneless chicken with the zucchini. Its also brilliant with ham, prosciutto or a fried egg.
Waste Avoidance Strategy
zucchini – will keep for 2 weeks or longer in a plastic bag in the fridge. To keep it even longer, cook sliced zucchini in a little butter until just soft then store in an airtight container in the fridge.
almond meal / tomato passata or puree – keep them in the pantry.
bocconcini or mozzarella – freeze them.
Parmesan – keeps for longer in a chunk so only grate when you’re cooking. I wrap in waxed paper or baking paper and then keep in an airtight container or a sealed ziplock bag. I prefer this over just wrapping in cling wrap because the air in the container allows the cheese to breathe and not sweat but the container / plastic bag prevents from drying out in the dry fridge air. Either way will keep for months.
salad leaves – are highly perishable. My first path would be to use them for another meal (salad for breakfast!) but if that isn’t possible you can pop them in the freezer. They will wilt down but can then be used anywhere you’d use wilted greens. At least this way they won’t go slimy.
Prepare Ahead
Yes! Just cook as per the recipe but keep the salad separately. Leftovers will keep in the fridge for 2 weeks or can be frozen. To serve, warm in the oven 250C / 480C for 15 minutes or until everything is hot.
More Simple Recipes like Zucchini Parmigiana
- One Pot Beef, Zucchini & Cashew Stir Fry
- Zucchini ‘Noodle’ & Pesto Salad
- Moist Chocolate & Zucchini Cake
- Cheesey Chicken
- Quick Tuna Curry Bowls
- Do You Need a Spiralizer?+ Zucchini Laksa
- 16 Tasty Ideas for Zucchini
Have fun in the kitchen!
With love,
Jules x
I’m going to try this at the weekend, I have just picked a round courgette from my garden :-) I also just got some reduced price basil, do you think I could add a bit of this?
Absolutely YES to the basil Janet – I’d use a whole bunch :) Jealous of your garden bounty! We’re in the middle of Winter veg.
Great timing for Canada as the great ‘zucchini from the garden’ blizzards set in. Thanks so much. Could you remind me how to replace tomatoes in this recipe?
Enjoy that blizzard Jean!
I’ve added a tomato-free variation to the recipe>>.
replace with pureed cooked red bell peppers (capsicum) or softened onions. Or just use grilled eggplant or zucchini. Or just skip it and you’ll have a lovely cheesey / almondy mix.