A gorgeous summer dish - Zucchini Roll Ups
These are the top reasons why we adore this recipe:
- a delicious meatless meal that celebrates zucchini season
- the zucchini is filled with a gorgeous mixture of ricotta, parmesan cheese, mascarpone and sun-dried tomatoes
- the sauce is light and fresh
- serve alone or with a side of homemade bread and/and salad
- you can easily make it gluten-free by substituting the breadcrumbs with ground almonds
- feel free to store in the fridge for a couple of days
Essential ingredients
In this recipe, we use easily accessible ingredients that you can find in any store worldwide. We purchased all of the ingredients at our local Lidl store.
Zucchini - Use large zucchini and cut them into even stripes. Use the leftovers for the homemade pesto.
Sun-dried tomato - add sun-dried tomatoes to the filling. They add a lovely Mediterranean flavor and some texture.
Ricotta - makes the perfect filling along with creamy mascarpone.
Breadcrumbs - if you want to make this recipe gluten-free, substitute the breadcrumbs with ground almonds.
Passata - there's no need to cook the sauce ahead. It will cook in the oven.
Mozzarella - Cut the cheese into cubes and add it to the top of each roll-up. It will melt and make the zucchini delicious.
Basil - for freshness, add some fresh basil leaves, they make such a delicious change.
What to serve with Zucchini Roll Ups
Zucchini Roll-ups or Zucchini Involtini make a gorgeous summer main dish. To serve, we like to make a light seasonal salad and serve it with some homemade bread to make the most of that delicious sauce. We recommend:
Storing
Feel free to store any leftover Zucchini Roll Ups in a sealed, airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Before serving, reheat well in a pan, in the oven, or using a microwave oven.
How to make Zucchini Roll Ups at home (video)
Check this quick recipe video to master making Zucchini Roll Ups at home.
Next, try these zucchini recipes
- Zucchini Lasagna with Ground Beef
- Zucchini Fritters
- Rosti (Potato and Zucchini Fritters)
- Cannelloni with Asparagus and Zucchini
- Creamy Zucchini Soup with Lemon
Made in collaboration with Lidl Slovenija d.o.o. k.d.
METHOD
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preparation
Set a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat it to 220 °C / 430 °F. Prepare a large cast iron pan or a medium baking dish. Using a mandoline slicer, cut the zucchini into thin slices (2 mm). We will need 32 equally-sized slices. Place the leftovers (small chunks) aside for the filling. Place the zucchini slices into a deep baking pan. Season with salt and set aside for 5 - 10 minutes to release the water.
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filling
Add the leftover zucchini, sun-dried tomatoes, peeled garlic cloves, and shredded parmesan to a food chopper or a blender. Mix into a pesto. In a bowl, stir to combine ricotta, mascarpone, and the pesto with a spatula. Stir in the breadcrumbs and set aside.
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sauce
In a bowl, combine the tomato sauce, olive oil, oregano, and salt. Pour the sauce into a cast iron pan or a medium baking dish.
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zucchini
Dry the zucchini using a paper towel. Place a large (grill) pan over medium heat. Add a few zucchini slices (ensure they stay in a single layer). Grill them on each side for a couple of seconds until golden. Don't add any oil.
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zucchini roll ups
Place one strip of zucchini on top of the other to get two layers. Add a generous teaspoon of the filling at the bottom of the strip and roll it into a zucchini roll-up. Place the roll-ups into the prepared baking dish (or pan) with the tomato sauce seam-side down. Repeat the process until you use all the ingredients. Sprinkle the roll-ups with breadcrumbs and shredded parmesan cheese. Place a small cube of mozzarella cheese on top of each roll. Sprinkle with fresh basil, drizzle with olive oil, and place in the pan.
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bake and serve
Bake the Zucchini Roll-Ups on the middle rack for 15 - 20 minutes, or until beautifully golden and the mozzarella melts. For the last 3 - 4 minutes of baking, change the oven settings to high broil so the mozzarella becomes golden and delicious. Remove from the oven, divide between four plates, and serve with your favorite side dish or bread.
