During the grape harvest held annually at my uncle’s farm, I was fortunate enough to receive not only some good wine but also two large round zucchinis. In the past, I had prepared them stuffed with bulgur, Greek feta, and peppers, but they were much smaller! What to do with them? The first half of one, honestly, I simply grilled – how original – but then I wanted to bread it. So, I sliced the second half into slices about half a centimeter thick, passed them in flour, then in beaten eggs, and finally in breadcrumbs before baking them. They were really excellent, but as I was about to enjoy them, I got the idea to make them even more delicious by making them thinner, double, and with a melting cheese heart. Done! And that’s how this recipe was born, using the second zucchini available! I tell you, they are a bomb of goodness! With these that resemble cutlets with a super-melting and truly irresistible heart, you’ll bring a vegetarian-style main course to the table, tasty, delicious, and also quite light. They are quick to prepare and you’ll see that everyone will really like them, even your kids who are always reluctant to eat vegetables!
If, like me, you love this super versatile vegetable, you absolutely cannot miss these other proposals:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very cheap
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 8 patties
- Cooking methods: Electric oven, Air frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Spring, Summer, and Autumn
Ingredients
⚠️ THIS RECIPE CONTAINS ONE OR MORE AFFILIATE LINKS. The products I recommend are the same ones I use in my recipes; purchasing them through my blog helps support me and my work, while costing you nothing extra!
- 1 round zucchini (large)
- 2 eggs
- 8 slices smoked provolone cheese
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 1/3 tablespoons milk
- as needed rice flour
- as needed breadcrumbs
- as needed herbs
- as needed extra virgin olive oil
- as needed salt
- as needed mixed peppercorns
Tools
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Knife
- 3 Bowls
- 1 Plate
- 1 Fork
- 1 Baking Tray
- 1 Parchment Paper
Steps
Start by washing and trimming the zucchini. Slice it into thin slices about 1/8 inch thick.
In a bowl, place the rice flour with a pinch of salt, in a second, the breadcrumbs flavored with herbs such as mint, thyme, and basil, and finally, in a third larger bowl, prepare a beaten mixture with the eggs, the grated Parmesan cheese, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Add the milk and mix everything with a fork.
Now dip each zucchini slice first in the rice flour, ensuring it adheres on both sides. Shake off any excess and transfer the floured slices to the egg mixture.
Place each egg-dipped disc on a plate and top it with a slice of smoked provolone cheese.
Close like a sandwich with another disc previously dipped in rice flour and then in eggs.
Finally, dip the assembled patties in breadcrumbs, ensuring it adheres even on the edges.
Gradually transfer them to a baking tray lined with parchment paper, drizzle them with a little oil on top and bake in a preheated oven at 375°F for 25′, then turn them over and complete cooking for another 5′ or until golden.
Turn off the oven and serve immediately!
And voilà… the melting zucchini patties are ready to be enjoyed!
Bon Appétit from La Cucina di FeFè!
Storage
👉 You can enjoy the zucchini patties cold the next day or reheat them in the microwave a few minutes before serving. In any case, you can store them in suitable refrigeration containers for up to 2-3 days.
Tips, notes, variations, and suggestions
🔵*The versatility of rice flour breading is extraordinary: you can use different types of rice flour, such as whole grain or finely ground, achieving different results in terms of texture and flavor.
🔵 You can also enrich the breading with other ingredients, such as white or black sesame seeds, flaxseeds to add a touch of crunchiness and additional nutritional properties.
🔵For a celiac-friendly version: rice flour breading is often considered a lighter option compared to traditional wheat flour breading. This is because rice flour has a lower glycemic index and is gluten-free. So, it will be enough to replace the wheat breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs or use more rice or corn flour for breading.
🔵 As an alternative to oven cooking, you can fry in plenty of hot (quality) oil for a few minutes per side or until golden. However, it is essential to remember that frying, regardless of the type of breading used, can lead to a high fat content. Therefore, to maintain a balanced nutritional profile, I recommend always preferring alternative cooking methods that result in lower calorie intake, such as cooking in an air fryer. In these cases, cook your zucchini patties at 390°F for 15-18′.
🔵 For a more indulgent version, you could transform these patties into actual cordon bleu by adding slices of cooked ham in addition to the cheese. Delicious!
