Zucchini Provencal Recipes

ZUCCHINI TOMATO PROVENCAL

Steps:

• In a small skillet, saute onion in oil until tender. Add the zucchini, tomatoes, green pepper, garlic, salt and pepper. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 8-10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and parsley.

BAKED ZUCCHINI DE PROVENCE

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Arrange a layer of zucchini slices into the bottom of a 9-inch pie pan so they slightly overlap one another; drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with some of the sea salt and herbes de Provence. Repeat layering until the zucchini is all used.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
• While the zucchini bakes, stir together the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and 3 tablespoons olive oil in a bowl; season with salt and pepper. Spread evenly over the baked zucchini and return to oven 10 minutes more; serve hot.

ZUCCHINI PROVENCAL

Steps:

• In a skillet, saute onion in oil until tender. Stir in zucchini, green pepper, garlic, salt and pepper. Cover and cook over low heat 5-6 minutes or until vegetables are almost tender. Stir in tomatoes; heat through. Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and parsley. Serve immediately.

PROVENCAL-STYLE STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Pulse the diced bread in a food processor until you have an even mix of fine and coarse crumbs. Add 1/4 cup of the Parmesan, the parsley leaves, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the minced garlic, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/8 teaspoon of the pepper, and process until evenly mixed. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the breadcrumb mixture for the filling. Mix 1 1/2 tablespoons of the extra-virginolive oil into the remaining breadcrumbs, transfer the mixture to a small container, and set it aside. (Alternatively, you can use store-bought fine fresh crumbs: Combine 3/4 cup breadcrumbswith 1 tablespoon minced parsley, 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic, 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Set aside 2 tablespoons, and mix 1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil into the remainder.)
• Lay the zucchini on a flat work surface, and using a sharp knife, slice off the top quarter of each squash lengthwise. Next, slice a sliver off the bottom of each squash to help keep it stable. Using a small melon baller or spoon, remove the inner flesh from the zucchini to form a small boat shape, leaving a shell that is approximately 1/4 inch thick. Cut the zucchini pulp into 1/4-inchdice, and reserve it separately. Lightly salt the inside of the zucchini shells with the remaining1/4 teaspoon salt. Set them, hollow side down, on paper towels to drain while you prepare the filling.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a 12-inch skillet. Add the sausage and saute until it is golden, using a spoon to break it into small pieces, about 6 minutes. Add the onions and cook until they are soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chopped zucchini and cook for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic, and cook, stirring, until the moisture has evaporated and the filling comes together, 2 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat, stir inthe reserved 2 tablespoons breadcrumb mixture, and season with additional salt and pepper if necessary.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Rub the outside of the zucchini with the remaining 1/2 tablespoon olive oil, and season them lightly with salt and pepper. Turn the zucchini hollow side up, and lightly pat the insides with paper towels. Using a tablespoon or other small spoon, fill the zucchini with the warm filling. Top with the reserved breadcrumbs. Lay the zucchini in a baking dish, and bake for 30 minutes,or until golden brown and crispy on top.

PROVENçAL ZUCCHINI AND SWISS CHARD TART

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil while you stem the greens, and wash them thoroughly in several rinses of water. If the ribs are wide, wash and dice them, then set aside. Fill a bowl with ice water. When the water reaches a rolling boil, add a generous amount of salt and the chard leaves. Blanch for one minute, until just tender. Using a slotted spoon or deep-fry skimmer, transfer to the ice water, then drain. Squeeze out excess water and chop. Set aside.
• Heat the oil over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet, and add the onion and diced chard stems, if using. Cook, stirring, until tender, about five minutes. Stir in the zucchini. Season to taste with salt, and cook, stirring, until just tender and still bright green, about 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic, thyme and rosemary, and cook with the zucchini and onion until the garlic is fragrant, about one or two minutes. Stir in the greens, toss everything together, and remove from the heat. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
• Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Stir in 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt (to taste), the zucchini mixture, and the Gruyère. Mix everything together, add pepper, taste once more and adjust seasoning.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Oil a 10-inch tart pan. Roll out two-thirds of the dough and line the pan, with the edges of the dough overhanging. Freeze the remaining dough. Fill the lined pan with the zucchini mixture. Pinch the edges of the dough along the rim of the pan. Place in the oven and bake 50 minutes, until set and beginning to color. Allow to rest for at least 15 minutes before serving (preferably longer). This can also be served at room temperature.

ZUCCHINI WITH PARMESAN

Steps:

• Remove the ends of the zucchini and, if they are large, cut in half lengthwise. Slice the zucchini diagonally in 1/2-inch slices. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large (12-inch) saute pan and add the onions. Cook for 10 minutes on medium-low heat, until they start to brown. Add half the zucchini, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to the pan and cook, tossing occasionally, for 10 to 15 minutes, until just cooked through. Sprinkle with Parmesan and cook for 30 seconds more. Remove to a serving platter and repeat with the rest of the zucchini. Serve immediately.
• Note: If you cook too much zucchini in one pan, you end up steaming rather than sauteing it. I prefer to cook it in 2 batches.

TIAN DE COURGETTE (PROVENCAL ZUCCHINI GRATIN)

Steps:

• Place the zucchini in a bowl, sprinkle with about a teaspoon of salt and set aside.
• Meanwhile, bring two cups of water to the boil in a sauce pan, add the rice and cook until rice is tender, about 17 minutes. Drain the rice.
• Drain and rinse the zucchini. Spread it on paper towel and pat it to dry. Heat oil in a heavy skillet. Add onion and saute over a medium heat until the onion is translucent. Add zucchini and saute another two minutes. Remove from heat.
• Mix eggs, cooked rice, garlic and milk together in a bowl. Stir in the onion and zucchini. Add cheese and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Oil a four-cup shallow baking dish. Spoon in the zucchini mixture. Place in oven and bake 30 to 40 minutes, until lightly browned on top.

SAUTéED ZUCCHINI AND TOMATOES PROVENCAL

Steps:

• In large skillet over medium high heat, heat oil. Add zucchini and cook, until lightly browned and crisp tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add tomato, garlic, herbs, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until tomatoes give off their liquid and zucchini is tender but not mushy, 2-3 minutes.

CHICKEN PROVENCAL

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large, deep frying pan over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with 1/4 teaspoon each of the salt and pepper and put it in the pan. Cook the chicken until browned, turning, about 8 minutes in all. Remove the chicken from the pan. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from the pan.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion starts to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the wine to the pan and simmer until reduced to about 1/4 cup, 1 to 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, rosemary, thyme, olives, anchovy paste, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add the chicken thighs and drumsticks and any accumulated juices. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Add the breasts and cook until the chicken is just done, about 10 minutes more. Stir in the remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Serve.

STUFFED ZUCCHINI PROVENCAL

Steps:

• Cook zucchini in boiling water 4 minutes; drain under cold water.
• Cut lengthwise in half; scoop out pulp leaving 1/4" shell.
• Arrange shells in buttered 7x11 baking dish.
• Chop pulp; cook 2 minutes in olive oil with onion, garlic and ham. Stir in tomato, parsley, black olives, basil and oregano. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Stuff mixture into zucchini shells; cover dish with aluminum foil.
• Bake at 325 degrees 25-30 minutes, until hot.

HALIBUT PROVENçAL WITH TOMATOES AND ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Brush a shallow, ovenproof casserole with olive oil.
• To make the sauce, heat the 3 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until soft and translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and chopped thyme and cook until fragrant, 45 to 60 seconds. Add the zucchini and tomatoes and sauté until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add the olives and vinegar. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper.
• To cook the fish, place the halibut in the prepared casserole and turn in the oil to lightly coat; season with salt and pepper. Spoon the vegetable mixture over the fillets. Bake until just opaque in the center, about 10 minutes. Garnish with additional sprigs of thyme.