Zucchini Parmesan is a gift from summer as well as a healthy meal that your whole family will enjoy. This is one of our most popular zucchini recipes, for obvious reasons!
Farmers market-fresh produce make up this meal that is ultimately finished by a slow-cooked tomato sauce from the farmer's garden to your kitchen table. Not only is it delicious, it's one of our favorite Italian dishes.
This Baked Zucchini Parmesan is a farmers market fiesta.[/caption]
We can't get enough summer although we will try to pack in as much of the warm green season as we can.
It's been a superb summer here in Wisconsin with lots of sun-filled days together with just enough rain and humidity to make anything that grows in soil thrive to its fullest.
Although I love eggplant recipes, although many people are not fans of eggplant.
What is this?
Why use eggplant when you can use zucchini for this classic Italian recipe?
Our zucchini parmesan is the perfect use of this summer's harvest of all that zucchini that everyone and their sister is trying to get rid of!
This zucchini casserole starts by making a simple but really good tomato sauce, and it's all from fresh ingredients.
One of the occupational hazards of running a food site is to sample and subsequently eat every single recipe that we feature.
This may not sound like a problem to you, but if you had gained 30 pounds in the past few years as I have done, you might have a better idea of what I'm talking about.
For this reason, I am trying to focus a bit more on healthy foods and substituting carb-ridden foods like pasta for things like whole grains and fresh vegetables.
This zucchini parmigiana by and large does exactly that.
This baked zucchini uses layers of fresh zucchini, instead of pasta.[/caption]
How to make it
- Slice a long zucchini into ¼ inch slices. Then, sprinkle liberally with kosher salt and allow to drain for at least 30 minutes in a colander that is placed in your sink.
- Briefly rinse the salt off of drained zucchini then pat dry with a paper towel. Brush each slice of zucchini with olive oil and then season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of crushed red peppers.
- Next, lay the zucchini in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and place in a hot oven to roast for about ten minutes or until fork-tender and lightly brown.
Roast the zucchini strips until fork tender and lightly brown.
- Once the zucchini are roasted, scoop a ladle of sauce and spread it across the bottom of a lasagna pan.
- Place a layer of zucchini in the pan, cover with sauce and then sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
- Repeat this process to finally end up with three layers. On the top layer, spread with sauce, more Parmesan, and then bake for 45 minutes at 350℉.
- Remove from oven, garnish with fresh cut basil, more Parmesan, and allow to set for 5 minutes before serving.
We suggest a mellow Italian red wine with this Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is one of our favorites and can be found for about $20 almost anywhere.
Try this Zucchini Parmesan Soon
This easy zucchini recipe can be made any time of the year, but late summer and fall are when you can find fresh zucchini at any produce stand, farmers market, or better yet in your garden.
It's a fresh, delicious, and healthy meal that you will make again and again — wishing you and yours a delicious season, whenever it is that you may be reading this.
Thanks for checking out our site, it means the world to us.
Zucchini parmigiana is a healthy, low-carb zucchini recipe.
FAQ
Green salad, garlic bread, and a light bottle of red vino all pair well with this.
Yes, you can freeze this baked zucchini.
- Allow it to cool completley.
- Use plastic kitchen wrap and wrap it air-tight.
- Freeze for up to 3 months and allow it to defrost in refridgerater overnight, when ready to use.
Our Favorite Zucchini Recipes
- Zucchini Tots
- Zucchini Cheese and Salsa Bake
- All of our Zucchini Recipes
If you have tried this easy zucchini recipe let us know in the comments below! You can also FOLLOW US on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see what we have cooking!
📖 Recipe
Zucchini Parmesan with Homemade Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
- 4 cups Homemade Tomato Sauce
- 1-2 lbs zucchini use long ones if available.
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 ℉.
- Slice Zucchini into ¼ inch strips and then place in a colander or in a clean sink and sprinkle generously with kosher salt. Allow the zucchini to drain for at least 30 minutes. Next, rinse off zucchini briefly then pat dry with paper towels.
- Place zucchini on a baking sheet that has been lined parchment paper and then brush each strip with olive oil, season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes over each strip. Place in hot oven and then roast until fork tender and lightly browned, abut 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven and reduce heat to 400℉
- Using a rectangular lasagna-style pan or deep casserole baking dish, evenly distribute about 1 cup of tomato sauce in bottom of pan.
- Place one layer of zucchini strips in pan and then top with a cup of tomato sauce and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
- Repeat this process for a total of three layers and then bake for 30 to 45 minutes until brown and bubbly on top.
- Remove from oven and then garnish with optional fresh basil and additional Parmesan cheese. Allow to set 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Be sure to salt the zucchini strips and allow them to drain for at least 30 minutes. It is ok to briefly rinser them after they drain, to remove the salt. Blot each strip dry with a paper towel.
- You can use yellow squash for this recipe as well.
Marilym
This looks great . I found 3 very large zucchini in my garden today and will definitely be making this today. Do you think it will freeze well. Thanks!
Dan from Platter Talk
Marilynn, I think you will love this use of zucchini. Thanks for reading Platter Talk and be sure and stay touch with us!
Sabrina Zaragoza
Love the way you take photograph. The decoration of this recipe is great, Dan. I love tomato, and will try to make this soon. Thanks for sharing, Dan.
Dan from Platter Talk
Thanks for the wonderful feedback!
Pat C.Wilson
super easy and healthy recipe but unfortunately my son doesn't like tomato,i wish he loves it so that i can make it for him.
btw, thanks for sharing this, Dan.
Dan from Platter Talk
I'm crossing my fingers that he will outgrow that particular trait!
Cari Ullrich
This is the best zucchini recipe I've ever tried; zucchini nirvana! I've made it twice in two weeks and still can't stop thinking about it. With the younger, smaller zucchini, I didn't get much fluid during the salting, and skipped it the next time with no adverse effects. I was quite generous with the parmesan cheese. The red sauce is definitely worth making and a good way to use up your less than perfect garden tomatoes. Thanks Dan and Scott!
Dan from Platter Talk
Cari, you've made our day and I have to agree that this is a dandy of a zucchini dish. Next season we would love to run into you and your family, at the source of our produce - the EL farmers market! Enjoy the season and thanks again for the kind comments, it's very nice to hear from you.
Sylvia @ Happiness is homemade
Baked zucchini with Parmesan? Yes, please! It must taste so good 😉
Dan from Platter Talk
Oh, Sylvia...this combo is so wonderful. I hope you try it soon. Thanks for stopping by for some Platter Talk!
Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry
Looks super healthy and tasty, perfect for meat eaters as well as vegetarians
Dan from Platter Talk
Bintu, we loved this dish from summer. Thank you for stopping by for some Platter Talk!
Amanda Mason
I love this alternative to using pasta! This looks really good! I'll be trying this out as I have some zucchini to use up this week!
Dan from Platter Talk
Amanda, it's amazing the carb dishes that can be replace by healthy veggies; I truly don't miss the carbs in recipes like this. Thank you for stopping by for some Platter Talk!
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche
This looks like just my kind of thing, that crispy topping is calling my name!!
Dan from Platter Talk
Becca, this was one of my favorite meals from summer. Thanks so much for stopping by for some Platter Talk. We always love hearing from our readers.
Divya Prakash
This baked zucchini with parmesan looks delicious! Love that it is carb free!
Dan from Platter Talk
We loved this dish, Divya and thank you for stopping by Platter Talk with your wonderful comments.