Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Healthy and Tasty Appetizer; Baked Zucchini Roll-Ups


Do you have a party coming up? Or are you looking for something fun to do with the last of your fresh summer zucchini? Check out this great recipe!

BAKED ZUCCHINI ROLL-UPS
(Makes ~10)

Ingredients

2 large zucchini, cut lengthwise into strips 1/4-inch thick

1 red bell pepper, seeded, cut into quarters

1 T extra virgin olive oil

3-4 ounces herbed goat cheese **

1 T finely chopped basil

2 tsp. balsamic vinegar (I used blueberry balsamic vinegar)


** If following a low FODMAPs diet, choose a plain goat cheese **

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Cut zucchini with a mandoline or knife

3. Add about 1 tsp. EVOO to each of two baking sheets and coat each well.

4. Add the strips of zucchini and the quartered red peppers to the baking sheets

5. Brush the zucchini and red peppers with the remaining extra virgin olive oil.

6. Season with salt and pepper to taste, if you desire

7. Bake in the oven about 3-4 minutes on each side (you may have to remove the zucchini and then allow the red pepper to bake longer in order to get soft).

8. Once zucchini and red peppers are baked, place 1 tsp goat cheese about an inch from the end of each zucchini slice. Then place a strip of red pepper down on the zucchini slice.

9. Gently roll up the strip and place seam side down on a serving plate. Repeat this with each of the zucchini slices.

10. Top the serving plate with some fresh basil and drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

Estimated Nutrition Facts
(Serving, 1 roll-up)

At first I just made a few (see picture above), but then ate them all (hehe, oops!) so I had to continue making more :)

I'm not creative with my food photos. As you can see in the picture above, I don't know how to garnish food. I mean, that basil is completely random. I did add a bit of the basil to the inside of some of the roll-ups and it tasted pretty delicious.

This is my new favorite way to eat zucchini. I could have easily eaten all of these in one sitting, but thankfully Nick was there to help. They are healthier apps, but their calories could still add up pretty fast. If you want to decrease the calories you could use something like Laughing Cow cheese instead of goat cheese (yum!).


QUESTION: Do you like to make fun appetizers? Do you have any favorites? Do you like goat cheese? Nick hates it, I LOVE it!

16 comments :

  1. I used to be a huge goat cheese fan, but for some reason... since the birth of my second son, I have no taste for it. Weird, huh? But these look amazing! I might give them a try with fresh mozzarella instead.

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  2. This looks so yummy! I love the flavor combos, and also how you can dress up zucchini in so many ways. I would be all over the basil in it and the goat cheese! Lately I've been trying a bunch of different goat cheeses, some of them more traditional and some slice-able. I think it's my fave cheese :)

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  3. I love roll-up dishes :-) They're so fun to make!

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  4. Mm, I love zucchini roll-ups. I love goat cheese, especially on salads!

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  5. Those look beautiful! I do like goat cheese but in small amounts since it is such a strong flavor!

    I try to make lower calorie appetizers so as not to derail my calorie intake prior to eating a full meal.

    Hummus with baked chips and veggie dippers, fresh fruit, endive filled with small amounts of cheese or a dip is a great way to save calories!

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  6. What a creative way to utilize zucchini! And I love that each roll up has 3 grams of fiber! I can't wait to try these at my next dinner party.

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  7. 150 calories seems high to me :( But I love zucchini rollatinis! And I loooove goat cheese! I'll never forget Nick's aversion to it, though! He was very adament! ;)

    P.S. Where did you find your punkin ale? I could only find it at North Market and it was $8.99 for a 4 pack!!! OUCH!

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  8. Wow! Goat cheese? Basil? Balsamic? Veggies? These look pretty amazing :)

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  9. What a fun and easy recipe! I need one last bite of summer, so this is perfect. Thanks. :-)

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  10. I have to disagree with you Gina, I think your food photos are FANTASTIC and creative. Like the recipes!!! Thanks for this one, looks great. Have a good Wed.

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  11. I think these sound and look fantastic!! I'm a sucker for any kind of fun appetizers :) That is definitely my kind of app with basil, balsamic, goat cheese... yum!

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  12. Goat cheese is kind of amazing. I have some in my fridge, with plans to make a sauteed wild mushroom & goat cheese flat bread tomorrow. I definitely think some fresh basil will be required for garnish.

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  13. First off, these are beautiful and I would be so excited to get to a party if these were served. Second, do you mandoline? I'm a little scared. Second, my husband hates goat cheese and I love it, it's a little bit of a problem.

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  14. Those look so cute!! Mmmmmm goat cheese. Love the stuff. My mom needs to grow + give me more zucchinis so I can make these cuties.

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  15. What an amazing appetizer! They look and sound wonderful!!!

    I love goat cheese. Andy used to not like goat cheese, but over the years, he started to like it.

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