Baked Spinach And Zucchini Recipes

LASAGNA WITH SPINACH AND ROASTED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Toss the zucchini with the olive oil and season to taste with salt and pepper. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and top with the slices of zucchini. Place in the oven and roast 8 minutes. Remove from the oven, close the oven door and, using tongs, flip the zucchini slices over. Return to the oven for 5 minutes, or until the zucchini is tender when pierced with a knife and browned in spots. Remove from the oven and reduce the heat to 350 degrees.
• Steam the spinach for 2 to 3 minutes above an inch of boiling water, just until it wilts. Rinse briefly with cold water, squeeze out excess water and chop coarsely.
• Blend the ricotta cheese with the egg, water, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Lightly oil a rectangular baking pan. Spread a small spoonful of tomato sauce to cover the bottom of the pan. Top with a layer of lasagna noodles. Top the noodles with a thin layer of ricotta, then a layer of zucchini and spinach, a layer of tomato sauce and a layer of Parmesan. Repeat the layers, ending with a layer of lasagna noodles topped with tomato sauce and Parmesan.
• Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and place in the oven. Bake 40 minutes, until the noodles are tender and the mixture is bubbling. Uncover and, if you wish, bake another 10 minutes, until the top begins to brown. Remove from the heat and allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

SPINACH-ZUCCHINI FRITTATA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Heat butter and oil in a skillet over medium heat; stir in spinach, scallions, and zucchini. Saute until zucchini has softened, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and squeeze vegetables to remove as much moisture as possible. Allow to cool.
• Meanwhile whisk eggs in a large bowl. Add Parmesan cheese, oregano, nutmeg, and pepper. Stir in cooled vegetables. Pour egg mixture into the prepared baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until eggs are set and the top is puffed and golden, about 30 minutes. Allow to cool. Cut into 8 squares and serve warm or at room temperature.

VEGETARIAN SPINACH & ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Cut coarse stems off spinach.
• Place leaves in colander and rinse with cold water, lifting and tossing spinach to wash away grit.
• Shake spinach to get rid of excess water and put it in a large bowl.
• Set aside.
• Cut off stem top and root bottom of each zucchini.
• Slice in 1/4-inch slices and add to spinach.
• Cut stem top and root bottom off onions.
• Cut onions in half lengthwise from stem top down.
• Put each half flat-side down on a cutting board and cut lengthwise in strips 1/4-inch wide, then holding strips together, cut onion in 1/4-inch strips crosswise.
• Add onions to bowl.
• Stack basil leaves in a pile, and with sharp paring knife, chop into small pieces.
• Add to bowl.
• Using your hands, reach to bottom of bowl and gently toss and turn vegetables until they are well mixed.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste and turn to mix well.
• Place vegetable mixture in 4-quart casserole and drizzle oil evenly over top.
• Cover and bake at 350 degrees, checking after 30 minutes to see if all greens seem tender and nicely blended.
• If they are, sprinkle cheese over top, put lid back on and bake another 5 minutes.
• If they aren't done, bake another 5 to 10 minutes before adding cheese.
• Serve hot.
• Serve with small red new potatoes boiled and rolled in olive oil, finely chopped garlic, salt and coarse black pepper.

CREAMY ZUCCHINI AND SPINACH PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Cook pasta in large saucepan as directed on package, omitting salt.
• Meanwhile, cook and stir onions in large nonstick skillet on medium heat 3 to 4 min. or until crisp-tender. Add zucchini and mushrooms; cook 3 to 4 min. or until zucchini is crisp-tender, stirring frequently. Add half the spinach; cook 2 to 3 min. or just until wilted. Repeat with remaining spinach. Remove from heat.
• Drain pasta. Add to vegetable mixture in skillet along with the pasta sauce, ricotta, Italian seasoning and 1 cup mozzarella; mix lightly.
• Spoon into 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; top with remaining mozzarella.
• Bake 20 to 25 min. or until casserole is heated through and mozzarella is melted.