Zucchini Caprese Food

CAPRESE CHICKEN AND ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Preheat large deep skillet on medium heat and swirl 1 tbsp oil to coat. Add chicken, 1/4 tsp salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring once.
• Move chicken to the side of the skillet and keep empty part over the burner. Add 1 tbsp oil, garlic and saute for 30 seconds, stirring frequently.
• Add tomatoes, tomato paste, balsamic vinegar, oregano, 1/4 tsp salt and a handful of basil. Cook this "tomato pile" for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add zucchini, stir everything together, cover and cook on low-medium for 12 minutes.
• Lay mozzarella slices on top, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Sprinkle more basil and ground black pepper on top. Serve hot, on its own or with spaghetti, Instant Pot brown rice or Instant Pot quinoa.

ZUCCHINI CAPRESE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion and garlic in hot oil until onion is translucent, 3 to 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper.
• Stir zucchini and basil into the onion mixture; cook and stir until zucchini is soft, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and mozzarella cheese; cook and stir until the cheese melts, about 2 minutes.

ZUCCHINI CAPRESE SLIDERS

Steps:

• Heat a grill pan or grill over medium heat.
• Slice each zucchini on the diagonal into 12 slices (24 slices total). Brush one side of each zucchini slice with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Working in 2 batches, place them oil-side down on the grill pan and cook for 2 minutes. Flip each slice and continue grilling until they have grill marks but are still somewhat firm, about 1 minute. Set aside to cool.
• Slice the mozzarella into 6 slices, then cut each slice in half. Slice each tomato into 6 slices crosswise (12 slices total).
• To make the dressing: Combine the mayonnaise, pesto and vinegar in a small bowl and stir together until well combined.
• To assemble the sliders: Top a slice of grilled zucchini with 1 teaspoon of the dressing. Arrange one of the half-slices of mozzarella on the dressed zucchini slice so that it fits the zucchini. Arrange a slice of tomato on top, followed by a basil leaf. Spread a teaspoon of the dressing on a new slice of zucchini and top the stack as if building a sandwich. Secure the slider with a toothpick. Repeat with the remaining ingredients until you have 12 sliders.
• Arrange the sliders on a platter, drizzle with balsamic glaze and garnish the platter with more basil.

GRILLED ZUCCHINI WITH CAPRESE SALSA

Steps:

• Preheat grill pan over medium-high heat.
• Arrange zucchini in a single layer in a pan, grill 4 minutes, turning after 2 minutes.
• Combine tomato, mozzerella,basil, and garlic clove in a bowl.
• Add olive oil, and red wine vinegar to tomato mixture, stir gently.
• Divide zucchini evenly among 4 plates.
• Top zucchini with tomato mixture.