Creamy and irresistible zucchini gratin, enriched with the taste of ham and wrapped in a béchamel sauce with lots of melting mozzarella.
A perfect comfort food for any occasion.
If you love recipes that taste like home and comfort, this cheesy zucchini gratin with ham is for you.
The creamy and irresistible zucchini gratin consists of tender zucchini slices alternating with ham cubes and mozzarella, all immersed in a velvety béchamel that, in the oven, transforms into a golden and irresistibly stringy crust. A unique and tasty dish that will win everyone over.
This dish is ideal if you’re looking for a simple yet impressive idea for a family lunch or dinner.
Easy and quick to prepare, just make a béchamel sauce, and all the other ingredients will be used raw.
During the recipe, I will explain how to make béchamel sauce traditionally and with the help of the Bimby.

Recipes designed for you:

Difficulty: Very Easy
Cost: Economical
Preparation time: 30 Minutes
Portions: 8
Cooking methods: Boiling, Oven
Cuisine: Italian
Seasonality: All Seasons

404.78 Kcal

calories per serving

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Energy 404.78 (Kcal)
Carbohydrates 29.02 (g) of which sugars 6.92 (g)
Proteins 20.41 (g)
Fat 24.21 (g) of which saturated 14.38 (g)of which unsaturated 9.10 (g)
Fibers 3.60 (g)
Sodium 504.92 (mg)

Indicative values for a portion of 275 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA^* and FoodData Central^** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.

^* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ^** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov

Ingredients

Let’s go shopping

4 1/4 cups milk
7 tbsp butter
3/4 cup flour
1 pinch salt
1 pinch nutmeg
2 1/4 lbs zucchini
1 cup breadcrumbs (Sicilian style)
7 oz mozzarella
7 oz cooked ham (diced)

Creamy and Irresistible Zucchini Gratin

Tools

What we need to prepare the

1 Mandolin Fackelmann
1 Pot or the Bimby
1 Baking Dish 12.5×8
2 Knives

Steps

Let’s go to the kitchen

Slice the zucchini very thinly, with the help of the mandolin or a knife.
For the pieces you can’t slice, cut them into small pieces, which you will place between the layers.
Spread the slices and pieces on a work surface and sprinkle them with salt.
Let them rest while you prepare the béchamel and all the other ingredients.
Heat the milk in a separate saucepan, and in another larger pot, melt the butter over low heat, then turn it off and add the flour all at once, stirring with a whisk to avoid lumps.
Then put it back on low heat and stir until it becomes golden.
This is the roux as the French call it;

Flavor the milk with nutmeg and a pinch of salt (you can also do these steps as the last step, when the béchamel is ready);
Pour a little hot milk over the roux to dissolve the base, then add the rest, stirring vigorously with the whisk.
When the mixture comes to a boil, keep stirring until it thickens.
Place the milk, butter, flour, salt, pepper, and nutmeg in the bowl, cook: 7 min./194°F/speed 4.
Serve immediately or use as needed.
Let’s prepare the Sicilian style seasoned breadcrumbs following the recipe here.
Then cut the ham and mozzarella into cubes.
Meanwhile, the zucchini slices have released all their excess water, so rinse them and gently pat them dry with a cloth.
In a baking dish with high sides, spread 1 tablespoon of Sicilian style seasoned breadcrumbs,
and arrange the zucchini slices to cover the bottom and sides. If desired, you can add another pinch of salt.
Spread a ladle or two of béchamel,
Half of the mozzarella,
Half of the ham,
And a bit of Sicilian style seasoned breadcrumbs.
Cover with the remaining zucchini slices
And pour the rest of the béchamel.
Level the entire surface.
Distribute the remaining ham and mozzarella, and finish with a sprinkle of Sicilian style seasoned breadcrumbs.
Transfer to a preheated oven at 356°F for 20 or 25 minutes, depending on the oven, and if you want to cook in an air fryer, after preheating, cook at 374°F for 15 minutes.
When the Creamy and Irresistible Zucchini Gratin is ready, let it cool slightly on a work surface before serving.