Zucchini Ribbon Salad

Here's a pretty and delicious salad that you can make while your grill is heating up this summer. Only a few ingredients and all you'll need is a vegetable peeler (or a mandoline). Try it and then add a few tweaks if you like and make it your own! Just say YES to colorful food : ) . . . 

Zucchini Ribbon Salad

3 small zucchini, washed & dried, ends removed

Parmigiano Reggiano, shaved - see below

dried oregano - a generous two pinches, rubbed

olive oil

kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

1 small or medium ripe tomato, washed, dried, thinly sliced

Slice the zucchini lengthwise, using a vegetable peeler. You'll get the hang of it after a few slices. Place slices into a bowl as you slice. Add shards of Parm by slicing into the bowl, also using a vegetable peeler. Add a generous drizzle of olive oil and dried oregano to taste. Rub the oregano as you add it to release the flavor. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Allow to mingle for at least 15 - 30 minutes. You will see transformation take place. The zucchini will release water. The cheese will become kind of hydrated from the juices of the zucchini liquid and the oil. The oregano, salt and pepper season everything nicely. It's a mildly flavored salad that allows the zucchini to shine. Once you can see the difference in your salad . . . the slices of zucchini become more pliable and look more like ribbons instead of stiff slices and there's more liquid in the bowl.......then, add your thin slices of tomato and toss gently. Transfer to another bowl, leaving the juices behind, if you like. There will be quite a bit of liquid. If you're like us, take a sec to dunk some bread in bowl #1 and sop up the flavors! Enjoy! I'm sure this delicious salad is going to end up topping some crusty grilled ciabatta bread at "KPK At The Market's Bruschetta Bar" when zucchini is abundanza later this summer!

Ribbon Love,

Katie

Polpette di Zucchine

A marvelous way to showcase your summer zucchini when your garden is gifting you in abundance. After seeing David Rocco whip these up on the Cooking Channel's David Rocco's Dolce Vita, I could NOT wait to try these (especially after he took a bite and the cheese was stringy and scrumptious looking). The recipe is perfect. I have adapted it here by simply cutting it in half and adding my own notes and tips so that you can try these out for the first time. I made 15 zucchini balls from this batch which would be just right if you're having dinner for 4. You could serve 3 on each tomato salad and eat the other 3 to make sure they're just right! By the way, I tried reheating the leftover balls tonight (I made them yesterday) and they reheated beautifully in a 350 degree oven. I popped them in the oven on a parchment lined baking sheet for no more than 10 minutes. They were crisp on the outside and tender and gooey on the inside. I would definitely recommend the oven or toaster oven over the microwave for reheating (if you actually have any leftovers).

Polpette di Zucchine

Ingredients

1 1/2 large zucchini (that's one and one-half)

1/2 cup cubed or chopped Scamorza cheese (hey, did you know that Chellino brand is made right here in Joliet, Illinois? - the best friggin' ricotta anywhere AND the Sca-mortz!) Who knew?

1/2 cup chopped or grated Pecorino

1/2 cup dry bread crumbs

1 egg

fresh mint

kosher salt to taste

Process

Cut the zucchini into cubes (large dice)

Drop into boiling salted water and cook for 4 minutes

Drain well in a colander (or scola-past, lol)

Toss onto tray in a single layer to cool completely

Dice the cheeses

Chop the mint

Remove excess water from the zucchini (I do this by lining a mesh strainer with cheese cloth and filling it with the cooled and drained zuke chunks. I then twist the cheese cloth up and around the zuke and gently twist and squeeze all of the excess water from the zucchini)

Mix the zucchini with the cheeses, bread crumbs, egg, mint and salt

Form into balls

Roll in bread crumbs

Place on a sheet (I use a parchment lined sheet pan)

Heat olive oil in a skillet

Gently lower polpette into oil and brown

Flip with tongs or spatula and brown on other side

Remove carefully to paper towel lined tray or plate to drain and cool slightly

Serve warm on top of a summer tomato and basil salad for an excellent light lunch or for a colorful and delicious first course for dinner. Enjoy! Thank you David Rocco for the recipe and the inspiration!

Love, Katie

KATIE'S PASSION KITCHEN

August 2011