The zucchini and squacquerone tart is a quick and tasty recipe, perfect for serving a simple yet flavorful dish. Layered with grilled zucchini, cooked ham and soft squacquerone, it is then gratinated in the oven until a delightful golden crust forms on top.
Squacquerone is a fresh cheese typical of Emilia-Romagna, with a creamy texture and a delicate, slightly tangy flavor. It is usually used to fill the classic piadina flatbread, but it is also excellent in warm preparations, where it becomes melting and stringy.
In this case it makes the tart soft and creamy, with a perfect balance between the lightness of the zucchini and the savory note of the cooked ham.
Try this recipe — it’s super easy but really full of taste!
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- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Inexpensive
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Cooking time: 30 Minutes
- Portions: 4 People
- Cooking methods: Oven, Grill
- Seasonality: Spring, Summer
Ingredients
- 23 oz zucchini (about 3–4 medium, ~1.4 lb), sliced
- 7 oz squacquerone cheese (about 3/4 cup)
- 4 oz cooked ham (about 4 oz, sliced)
- breadcrumbs
- grated Grana Padano
- extra virgin olive oil
- salt
- pepper
- basil (to taste)
Tools
- Baking dish
- Grill pan or grill
- Slicer or mandoline
Preparation
Wash the zucchini, trim the ends and cut them into thin slices lengthwise. I recommend using a slicer or mandoline to get uniform thickness.
Grill the zucchini for a few minutes on a nonstick grill pan, turning them on both sides. Season with salt and brush with a little oil.
Take a baking dish and arrange a layer of grilled zucchini (1).
Add one or two slices of cooked ham, a spoonful of squacquerone and a sprinkle of grated Grana Padano (2).
Continue layering until the ingredients are used up.
Finish on top by sprinkling with Grana Padano, breadcrumbs, a pinch of pepper and a drizzle of olive oil (3).
Place the baking dish in a fan-assisted oven set to 356–374°F and gratinate for 20-25 minutes, or to your liking.
The zucchini and squacquerone tart is ready; let it rest a few minutes so it will be easier to cut. If you like, add a few fresh basil leaves, or thyme.
Tips and notes
You can bake the zucchini slices in the oven with a little oil and salt instead of grilling them. Do not use them raw, as they would release too much water in the oven.
You can use classic cooked ham, smoked ham or speck.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
How can I replace squacquerone?
If you can’t find it, you can substitute it with creamy stracchino or crescenza.
How should I store the tart?
If you have leftovers, you can store them in the refrigerator for one day, then reheat in the oven.
