Crispy Zucchini Casserole Love And Lemons Food

FRIED ZUCCHINI WITH CRISPY LEMONS AND CRISPY HERBS

Steps:

• Combine the panko, plain breadcrumbs, Parmesan and cayenne in a medium bowl. Whisk together the eggs with 1 tablespoon cold water in another medium bowl. Arrange the zucchini in a single layer on a baking sheet, flesh-side up, and sprinkle with salt. Submerge the zucchini wedges in the egg mixture. Remove the pieces one by one, shaking off the excess egg, then roll in the breadcrumbs, pressing well so they are coated on all sides and the breadcrumbs adhere. Arrange in a single layer on the same baking sheet. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours.
• Fry the lemon and herbs: Pour the oil into a deep, heavy-bottomed pot with a fitted lid and attach a deep-fry thermometer. Heat to 325 degrees F.
• Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Drop the thin lemon rounds into the oil and fry until lightly browned and crisped, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove them with a slotted spoon and spread on one half of the lined baking sheet to cool.
• Raise the oil to 350 degrees F. Herbs tend to splatter when they hit hot oil, so have the fitted lid for the pot ready in one hand. Dry any excess moisture from the herbs, then drop the parsley and the basil in the oil with your other hand and immediately cover and fry until they turn darker green, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove with the slotted spoon and spread on the other half of the baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt. Repeat the same process with the oregano.
• Bring the oil back to 350 degrees F. Test the oil by dropping in one piece of zucchini. It should rise to the surface fairly quickly, begin to bubble and fry gradually. Line two baking sheets with kitchen towels. Drop half the zucchini into the oil and gently, slowly "swirl" the oil with the slotted spoon as they fry so they cook evenly. Cook until light to medium brown, 2 to 3 minutes, then remove them slowly with the slotted spoon and lay them out on a kitchen towel to cool. Sprinkle with salt. Repeat with the remaining zucchini.
• Layer the zucchini with the herbs and lemon slices on a large serving plate, and serve with the lemon wedges.

CRISPY ZUCCHINI AND CORN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 375°F/190°C.
• Make the Basil Sauce (recipe below).
• Prep the vegetables. Slice the zucchini and/or squash into rounds, but don't slice too paper thin, or they'll get soggy in the oven. Using a sharp knife, shave the kernels of each ear of corn.
• Char the corn. Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 1/2 tablespoons of the extra virgin olive oil. Add the corn kernels. Cook the corn for 3-5 minutes until charred in spots, tossing just once or twice to get a nice char on them.
• In a large bowl, toss the zucchini and squash slices, charred corn, and jalapeños with the Basil Sauce. Mix well.
• Assemble the casserole. Pour the marinara sauce on to the bottom of a 13x9-inch (33x22 cm) baking pan. Spread out half of the zucchini/squash slices on top in a single layer (slight overlapping is okay). Then spoon some more of the corn/jalapeño mixture on top. Sprinkle the zucchini with half of the shredded vegan cheese on top (or dollop with blobs of the Tofu Ricotta, if using). Repeat the layers one more time, zucchini slices and corn first, then cheese.
• Sprinkle the top with the panko bread crumbs, a light sprinkle of flaky sea salt, some freshly cracked black pepper, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil (the olive oil aids in browning, so don't skip it). Bake for 25 minutes, rotating the pan 180° halfway through to ensure even browning on the top, or until the top is crispy and golden brown.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 20 minutes. Top with sliced basil.
• In a small skillet, heat the extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Add the shallot and garlic cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until garlic just starts to turn golden.
• Add the thyme and salt. Cook for 30 seconds, tossing frequently to combine and to prevent burning. Remove from the heat.
• Transfer the shallot mixture and oil to a food processor. Add the basil, lemon juice, and water. Blend until the mixture is relatively smooth, adding a bit more water if needed to bring the sauce together. Taste for seasonings and add more salt or lemon juice as needed.

ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE WITH PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the zucchini slices and season with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and the black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the zucchini is softened but still vibrant and green, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• While the zucchini is cooking, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in the microwave or on the stove top, and set aside to cool. In a medium bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of the cooled, melted butter with the sour cream, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and then the egg yolk. Fold into the zucchini mixture with 1/4 cup of the grated Parmesan cheese and 1 tablespoon of the chives.
• Spray a 7 X 11-inch or 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray, then transfer the zucchini mixture to the dish. In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs with the remaining melted butter and Parmesan cheese, plus the remaining chopped chives. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture evenly over the zucchini. Cover with foil and bake until warmed through and the cheese has started to melt, about 15-20 minutes. Remove the foil and raise the oven temperature to 450°F. Bake until the top is browned and the filling is bubbling at the edges, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with more fresh chives if desired, and serve.