Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine
If you haven't made your own breadcrumbs yet, now is the time to give it a try. It's easy, makes use of any leftover bread, and tastes better than anything you can buy. Here, we have four different zucchini topping variations (from the top left, working clockwise): Grilled Zucchini with Lemon-Garlic Breadcrumbs, Grilled Zucchini with Herbed Butter, Grilled Zucchini with Chopped Tomato-Basil Salsa, and Sweet and Sour Zucchini.
How to Make It
Step 1
Heat a grill pan over medium-high. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add zucchini; cook 4 to 5 minutes on each side.
Step 2
Place bread in a mini food processor; process until coarse crumbs form. Melt butter in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil, red pepper, and garlic; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add breadcrumbs to skillet; cook 5 minutes or until crisp, stirring occasionally. Stir in cheese, oregano, rind, and black pepper. Sprinkle over grilled zucchini halves.
Step 3
Grilled Zucchini with Herb Butter: Follow base recipe through step Place 2 1/2 teaspoons olive oil and 2 teaspoons unsalted butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at HIGH 20 seconds or until butter melts. Stir in 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil, 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, 3/8 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Drizzle butter mixture evenly over zucchini halves. SERVES 4 (serving size: 1 zucchini half)CALORIES 73; FAT 5g (sat 8g, mono 8g, poly 5g); PROTEIN 2g; CARB 5g; FIBER 2g; SUGARS 4g (est. added sugars 0g); CHOL 5mg; IRON 1mg; SODIUM 194mg; CALC 30mg
Step 4
Grilled Zucchini with Chopped Tomato-Basil Salsa: Follow base recipe through step Combine 1 cup chopped tomato, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, 3/8 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper in a bowl; toss to combine. Spoon salsa evenly over grilled zucchini halves. SERVES 4 (serving size: 1 zucchini half and about 3 Tbsp. salsa) CALORIES 67; FAT 1g (sat 6g, mono 5g, poly 6g); PROTEIN 2g; CARB 7g; FIBER 2g; SUGARS 5g (est. added sugars 0g); CHOL 0mg; IRON 1mg; SODIUM 195mg; CALC 34mg
Step 5
Sweet and Sour Grilled Zucchini: Follow base recipe through step Combine 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 teaspoons light brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Brush mustard mixture evenly over zucchini halves. SERVES 4 (serving size: 1 zucchini half) CALORIES 68; FAT 4g (sat 6g, mono 5g, poly 5g); PROTEIN 2g; CARB 8g; FIBER 1g; SUGARS 6g (est. added sugars 2g); CHOL 0mg; IRON 1mg; SODIUM 149mg; CALC 29mg
needs a "glue" to keep breadcrumbs on