Description
Layered Zucchini Ricotta Melts with Marinara is a comforting and nutritious Italian-inspired dish that showcases summer zucchini and creamy ricotta cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 medium zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 cup marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Lightly brush the zucchini slices with olive oil, season them with salt and pepper, and then grill or roast them for 4–5 minutes per side until they’re tender and slightly caramelized.
- In a medium bowl, mix the ricotta cheese with the egg, Parmesan, Italian herbs, and garlic until the mixture is smooth and well-combined.
- Spread 1/2 cup of the marinara sauce in the bottom of a baking dish.
- Layer the roasted zucchini slices over the sauce, followed by a layer of the ricotta mixture and a handful of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat the layers until all the ingredients are used up, finishing with a layer of marinara sauce and mozzarella on top.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Allow the Layered Zucchini Ricotta Melts to rest for 5–10 minutes before serving, then garnish with fresh basil if desired.
Notes
Feel free to adjust the amounts of each ingredient to suit your personal preferences. Consider adding layers of sautéed spinach or ground turkey for extra protein.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 70mg