Lighter Zucchini Casserole Food

ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Put a large colander inside a large bowl.
• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add one-third of the zucchini to the skillet, arrange in a single later and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Cook, tossing occasionally, until the zucchini begins to soften and is golden brown in spots, about 5 minutes. Transfer to the prepared colander. Repeat to cook remaining zucchini in 2 more batches, using 2 tablespoons of butter and sprinkling with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper for each batch. Transfer each batch to the colander.
• Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the same skillet along with the bell pepper and onion and cook, stirring occasionally and scraping up any brown bits with a wooden spoon, until the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Let cool for 5 minutes, then fold into the zucchini. Transfer the mixture to a 2-quart casserole dish.
• Whisk together the sour cream, eggs, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper in a large bowl. Fold in the Cheddar, parsley and Italian seasoning. Pour over the zucchini mixture, making sure that some of the egg mixture sinks down to the bottom.
• Microwave the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a medium bowl until melted. Fold in the cornflakes and hot sauce. Sprinkle evenly over the top of the casserole. Bake until the eggs are set and the cornflakes are deeply golden, 30 to 35 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

LIGHT SPICY ZUCCHINI AND TOMATO CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven broiler. Slice the zucchini on a sharp angle about 1/2-inch thick and place on a baking sheet lined with foil and nonstick cooking spray. Coat the zucchini with nonstick cooking spray and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Broil, flipping once, until just golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 425 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a medium pot set over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and jalapeno and cook until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the chili powder, cumin and tomatoes. Continue to cook until the tomatoes are soft and the sauce is thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, lightly mash with a fork and season with salt and pepper.
• Coat an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray. Place about 1/2 of the zucchini in the bottom of the dish and top with 1/2 of the tomato sauce. Repeat the layers and cover with foil. Bake until bubbly and hot, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil, sprinkle with the cheese and continue to bake until the cheese is melted and lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes, sprinkle with the cilantro.

LIGHTER ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400F.
• Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Sauté the onion in the oil for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for another 30 to 60 seconds, until the garlic is fragrant.
• Cut each tomato into 3 to 5 pieces and add to the oil, along with the herbs, salt, and pepper.
• Cook over medium heat until the liquid is mostly gone (but not dry), stirring occasionally-you should end up without about 1 cup of the mixture. This should take about 5 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cut the zucchini into slices approximately 1/4 inch thick. These can be either round slices, or lengthwise. Take the largest slices and line the bottom of a 9x9-inch or 8x8-inch pan, or a similarly-sized round pan.
• Spread about one-fourth of the tomatoes on top of the zucchini, followed by one-fourth of the cheese.
• Continue layering the sauce, zucchini, and cheese. It should come out to four even layers. Hold off on the final layer of cheese.
• Bake for 20 minutes. Top with the rest of the cheese, and lower the temperature to 375F. Bake for another 20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown.