Zucchini Rolls in Sauce

Zucchini rolls in sauce are a delicious, light and tasty second course. Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

• 4 medium zucchinis
• 300 g of ground meat (beef or pork, or a mix of the two)
• 1 clove of garlic
• 50 g of grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 egg
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Breadcrumbs (if needed)
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Fresh basil
• 400 ml of tomato puree
• 1 small onion

Preparation

1. Start by washing the zucchinis, then slice them into thin longitudinal slices using a mandoline or sharp knife. Season them lightly with salt and set aside.

2. In a bowl, mix the ground meat with the egg, finely chopped garlic, grated Parmesan, salt, and pepper. If the mixture is too soft, you can add some breadcrumbs to make it more compact.

3. Take a slice of zucchini and place some of the meat mixture on the wider end, then roll up the zucchini to form a roll. Secure with a toothpick.

4. In a large pan, sauté the finely chopped onion with a bit of olive oil. Once the onion is golden, add the zucchini rolls and brown them on all sides.

5. Add the tomato puree, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, and add a few leaves of basil. Cover with a lid and cook over low heat for about 30-40 minutes, turning occasionally and ensuring they do not dry out too much, adding water if necessary.

6. Once cooked, the zucchini rolls in sauce are ready to be served. You can garnish them with more fresh basil leaves and a sprinkling of Parmesan.

Fun Fact

This dish can easily be converted into a vegetarian version by replacing the ground meat with a filling of ricotta cheese and spinach, or with a mixture based on legumes such as ground lentils or chickpeas. Moreover, over time zucchini have proven to be a very versatile ingredient in Italian cuisine, capable of replacing pasta and meat in many traditional dishes.