Description
Succulent creamy parmesan baked zucchini showcases summer’s garden harvest with rich, cheesy elegance. Fresh zucchini slices emerge golden and crisp, inviting eager appetites to savor Mediterranean-inspired comfort you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (0.9 kg) zucchini, cut into ¼-inch slices
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (120 ml) sour cream
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) butter, cut into small cubes
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp fresh ground black pepper
- Salt for zucchini
Instructions
- Zucchini Preparation: Salt zucchini rounds and let rest for 15 minutes to extract excess moisture, then thoroughly pat dry with paper towels.
- Sauce Creation: Whisk heavy cream, sour cream, Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl, then sauté minced garlic in melted butter for 20 seconds before incorporating cream mixture.
- Cheese Integration: Stir shredded mozzarella into the warm sauce until completely melted and smoothly blended.
- Assembly: Arrange dried zucchini slices in a single layer within a buttered 9×13 inch baking dish, then pour creamy sauce evenly over the zucchini, gently shaking to distribute mixture uniformly.
- Cheese Topping: Generously sprinkle remaining parmesan and mozzarella cheese across the surface, creating a luxurious cheesy layer.
- Baking Process: Place in a preheated 425°F oven and bake for 18-22 minutes until the top turns golden brown and zucchini becomes tender.
- Resting and Serving: Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes, allowing sauce to set and flavors to harmonize before presenting the dish.
Notes
- Salt Absorption Technique: Remove excess moisture from zucchini by salting slices and letting them rest for 15 minutes, preventing watery dish and ensuring crisp texture.
- Sauce Whisking Tip: Continuously whisk cream mixture while heating to prevent separation and achieve smooth, consistent sauce without lumps.
- Cheese Melting Strategy: Add cheese gradually and stir constantly to create perfectly integrated, creamy sauce without clumping or burning.
- Resting Period Importance: Let dish rest 5 minutes after baking to allow sauce to set and flavors to blend, enhancing overall taste and texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg