Grilled Zucchini With Black Olives And Mint Recipes

GRILLED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Preheat grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Whisk olive oil, sea salt, garlic, rosemary, and black pepper together in a bowl; brush evenly onto zucchini strips.
• Cook on preheated grill until brown, 5 to 7 minutes per side; transfer to a serving platter. Drizzle balsamic vinegar over zucchini to serve.

GRILLED ZUCCHINI SPEARS WITH MINT

Steps:

• Heat grill to high. Drizzle zucchini with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Grill zucchini, turning often, until cooked through, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a platter. Drizzle with oil, and sprinkle with mint leaves. Garnish with mint sprigs.

GRILLED-ZUCCHINI TERRINE WITH NICOISE OLIVES & HERBS

Steps:

• Prepare the terrines: Using a mandoline or chef's knife, slice the zucchini lengthwise into 1/8 inches strips, discarding the outside pieces that are mostly skin. Lay the zucchini slices side by side on 2 large baking pans and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and black pepper, and cook each directly on a grill, griddle or cast-iron pan, over high heat, for about 1 minute per side, browning them but taking care not to overcook. Transfer to the baking sheets and let cool side by side.
• In a small bowl, mix the olives and herbs.
• Line 2 (5 3/4 x 3 1/4 x 2 1/4-inch) loaf pans with plastic wrap, letting some plastic hang over the sides. Lay the zucchini slices side by side to form the bottom layer. (The zucchini will vary in width; you may need 2 or 3.) Overlap zucchini as necessary and trim long pieces to fit the mold. Sprinkle lightly with the olive-herb mixture, then put another layer of zucchini down. Repeat until the terrine is four-fifths full. No need to be perfect; every so often press the zucchini down to level it. Fold the extra plastic over the top of the terrine. Repeat with the second loaf pan.
• Put the terrines on top of a rimmed baking pan (to catch any excess liquid), and put an empty loaf pan of the same size on top of each terrine. Put another baking pan of the same size on top, and then a weight (about as heavy as a gallon of milk) on top of that. Refrigerate at least 6 hours, or preferably overnight so that the flavors meld.
• Prepare the sauce: Remove the terrines from the pans, drain and reserve the excess liquid and unmold onto a cutting board. In a small bowl, combine the mayonnnaise, 1 1/2 T reserved zucchini liquid and the vinegar. Whisk in the olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cut the terrines into 3/4-inch-thick slices and serve with the sauce.

WHOLE-WHEAT PASTA SALAD WITH GRILLED ZUCCHINI AND OLIVES

Steps:

• In a large bowl gently stir together tomatoes, onion, garlic paste, vinegar, and 1/4 cup oil
• Brush one side of zucchini slices lightly with additional oil and season with salt and pepper. Heat a well-seasoned ridged grill pan over moderate heat until hot and grill zucchini, oiled sides down, in batches, brushing tops with more oil before turning, 1 to 2 minutes on each side, or until just tender but not soft. Transfer zucchini as grilled to a small bowl.
• In a kettle of salted boiling water cook pasta until just tender and drain well. Add hot pasta to tomato mixture and toss well. Cool pasta slightly and stir in zucchini, olives, cheese, basil, and salt and pepper to taste. Pasta may be made 4 hours ahead and kept covered at room temperature.
• Serve pasta warm or at room temperature.

ZUCCHINI, TOMATO & BLACK OLIVE GRATIN

Steps:

• Saute onion in 2 oz of the oil over medium high heat for 5 minutes.
• Add garlic, thyme, chili flakes, salt& pepper and continue cooking until onions are until golden brown& semi soft (about 5 more mins).
• Remove from the heat, let cool& add olives.
• In a bowl, toss zucchini with basil& 2 oz of olive oil.
• Layer the onion/olive mixture evenly in the bottom of an 8 x 8 inch casserole dish.
• Start alternating the zucchini mixture and the tomatoes/red peppers in layers on top of the onion mixture.
• Season each layer with salt& pepper to taste.
• Mix bread crumbs, parmesan& parsley in a bowl; sprinkle over top of vegetables.
• Bake in preheated 375F oven for 25 minutes.

GRILLED ZUCCHINI WITH BLACK OLIVES AND MINT

Steps:

• Prepare grill.
• Pit and thinly slice olives. Cut zucchini diagonally into 1/4-inch-thick slices and in a bowl toss with oil and salt and pepper to taste.
• Grill zucchini, in batches if necessary, on a rack set 5 to 6 inches over glowing coals 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until lightly charred and just tender. (Alternatively, zucchini may be grilled in a hot well-seasoned heavy ridged grill pan over moderately high heat.) Transfer zucchini to bowl and toss with olives, mint, and lemon juice.