Zucchini Ripieni Recipes

Steps:

• Cut ends off zucchini and trim to same length, wash and drain.
• Boil in lightly salted water for 10 minutes or until half cooked, drain and cool (you may dip in ice water to help cool).
• Slice in half lengthwise and scoop pulp into a colander to drain a little.
• Leave about 1/4 inch thick walls in the zucchini, make them like a boat.
• In a bowl mix pulp, ham, parsley, basil, breadcrumbs, eggs and all of the parmesan except 2 tablespoons.
• Add nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste, stir well (I only use about 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg, but use to your taste, or leave out).
• In a saucepan melt 1/4 C of the butter, stir in the flour, gradually stir in milk and stir over low heat until it has thickened and is bubbly.
• Gradually stir sauce into zucchini mixture, add more bread crumbs if mixture is not thick enough to spoon.
• Useing a spoon fill zucchini shells with the mixture and arrange themm side by side in a shallow buttered baking dish.
• Sprinkle with remaining parmesan cheese and bake at 350 for 1/2 hour, serve hot.
• For an added touch mix 2 or 3 tablespoons of finely grated mozzarella cheese with the 2 tablespoons of parmesan then sprinkle on top.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Toss pine nuts with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and spread out on a sheet pan. Toast the nuts in the oven, shaking the pan about half way through, until evenly brown, about 7 minutes. Transfer to a serving bowl. Reserve the baking sheet.
• Toss the zucchini with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, the garlic, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Spread out on the baking sheet and roast until crisp tender and slightly brown, about 10 to 12 minutes.
• Toss zucchini and lemon with the nuts, and scatter dollops of the cheese on top. Serve.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• In a small skillet render the bacon. When almost crisp, add the olive oil and heat up. When the olive oil is hot, add the shallots and cook for a few minutes or until tender. Add the oregano and prosciutto and simmer for a minute. Remove the skillet from the heat and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cut the baby zucchini in half. If you are using small zucchini, then cut them in half horizontally, then each half in quarters lengthwise. Set them in a lightly oiled gratin dish, skin side down. Sprinkle with the bacon mixture and scatter parsley on top. Cover and bake or 20 minutes.

Steps:

• Mix mozzarella cheese and Parmesan-Reggiano cheese together in a bowl until smooth. Stuff 1 tablespoon cheese mixture into each zucchini blossom and pinch the ends closed.
• Mix rice flour, eggs, milk, sparkling water, sweet rice flour, salt, and pepper together in a bowl. Place stuffed blossoms in flour mixture; toss gently until covered.
• Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Fry blossoms in oil until crisp and pale golden brown, about 2 minutes. Rest blossoms on paper towels to absorb excess oil.