Eggless Oven-Baked Zucchini Gratin

Oven-baked zucchini gratin is a simple and tasty dish, perfect both as a side dish and as a main course for a light dinner. Here is an egg-free recipe, enriched by an Italian touch in flavors.

Ingredients

• 4 medium zucchini
• 100 g of breadcrumbs
• 50 g of grated Parmesan (or other aged cheese of choice)
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• Dried oregano to taste
• Fresh basil to taste (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. Wash the zucchini and cut them into slices about half a centimeter thick, then place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
3. In a bowl, mix the breadcrumbs with the Parmesan, black pepper, oregano, and salt.
4. Peel the garlic cloves and slice them thinly.
5. Scatter the sliced garlic over the zucchini slices.
6. Evenly sprinkle the mixture of breadcrumbs and cheese over the zucchini.
7. Drizzle the zucchini with the extra virgin olive oil.
8. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until the zucchini are golden and crunchy on top.
9. If you wish, at the end of cooking, add chopped fresh basil for a fresher aroma and a touch of color.

Serve the zucchini gratin hot as a side or main dish along with a fresh salad.

Curiosity

The technique of gratin comes from French cuisine (to which we tip our hat, only to then add our irresistible Italian flavors) and consists in creating a crunchy and golden crust on various dishes, by using the oven or the grill. The term “gratin” in French means “grated” or “scratched,” referring precisely to the crust that forms on the surface.