I had a lot of fun with this recipe, partly because cooking “stuffed things” is always a blast, at least for me! This time I opted for zucchini cut in half and, once stuffed, cooked in an air fryer!
I chose to fill these versatile vegetables with a mix of sandwich bread and various ingredients including lemon juice, sage, pecorino, and extra virgin olive oil. I won’t deny that the result was fantastic.
For cooking, I chose to use the air fryer, an appliance now present in many kitchens. Being very convenient, it allowed me to cook this dish optimally in a simple and especially quick manner.
To conclude this introduction, I tell you that with an appetizer like this, you can make a lunch or dinner the perfect moment to taste something extraordinarily good, provided you like zucchini and all the ingredients in this recipe.
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- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 50 Minutes
- Portions: 2
- Cooking methods: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All Seasons
Ingredients
For the air fryer stuffed zucchini
- 2 zucchini
- 5 slices sandwich bread
- 2 lemons
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tablespoon pecorino romano
- 1 pinch sage
- 2 mozzarella
- 1 pinch dill
Tools
- Air Fryer
Steps
To make the stuffed zucchini in an air fryer
Start by washing and drying the zucchini. Then cut them in half lengthwise and scoop out the center with a spoon, removing all the seeds inside.
Proceed by placing the hollowed-out zucchini halves inside the air fryer basket, facing up. Drizzle them with a bit of extra virgin olive oil and cook at 340°F for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare the filling by chopping the slices of sandwich bread in a mixer. Once done, transfer the chopped bread into a large bowl.
Continue by halving 2 lemons and adding the juice to the bowl along with a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, pecorino, and sage. Mix everything with a spoon roughly until the bread absorbs all the liquids.
At this point, take the 2 mozzarella, drain them, and slice them into pieces about 0.4 inches thick. Set them aside and get ready for the next step.
For this step, remove the zucchini from the air fryer, being very careful as they will be very hot. Therefore, use a kitchen tool like tongs to avoid burning your hands.
Proceed by finally filling the zucchini with the previously prepared mix. Use a spoon and gradually place the filling inside the vegetables, compacting slightly with your fingers if necessary to make the filling more substantial.
To finish cooking, return the seasoned zucchini to the air fryer basket and sprinkle with a handful of breadcrumbs and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil for a crispy gratin. Cook for 13 minutes at 355°F, and at the end of the time, remove the basket for the last step.
To conclude, leave the zucchini in the basket and cover them with the previously sliced mozzarella. Complete by reinserting the basket into the air fryer and cook for only 2 minutes at 355°F.
Finally, place the cooked zucchini on the plate and finish by garnishing them with a drizzle of raw extra virgin olive oil. Add a sprinkle of dill before serving!
Tip!
Wait about 10 minutes before eating to avoid burning your tongue.
