Zucchini Rollatini

If love eggplant rollatini, this is a copycat version using fresh thinly sliced zucchini and very similar to that dish.

This is an easier method and my version and results are fabulous substituting zucchini for eggplant.

I love making these roll-ups into roses instead of filling and rolling it's so much easier.

The zucchini roses are filled with ricotta cheese, topped with even more cheese that makes this a mouthwatering side dish for any meal.

This is the perfect casserole all summer long for any picnic or backyard events.

The sauce can be freshly made marinara or any store-bought.

Zucchini is a delicious Italian style squash that can be transformed into a gourmet meal all in one dish.

Baked until the mozzarella cheese has a golden browned crust on top makes this over the top delicious.

There is step by step easy to follow instructions, don't miss trying this out.

Scroll down to the recipe card and print off the recipe, I can't wait to hear how much you love this recipe.

It's a summer family favorite.

Zucchini Rollups Are A Huge Hit!

These zucchini rollatini are a such a fantastic side dish.

They look like little roses and filled with a delicious ricotta cheese topped with sauce and melted mozzarella cheese.

It's almost like have lasagna without the meat and a little zucchini wrap filled with some of the same fabulous ingredients.

This easy recipe is so much faster than filling, rolling them up and not messy at all!

this is the zucchini rolled up into a little rose and ready to filled after its been boiled and blanched

Step By Step

It's really so simple, once the zucchini or even (eggplant if you're using) is softened, they roll up so easy!

Don't worry, they're really not complicated and I even make it easier to stuff, (check out my secret way) and a no-mess method of filling zucchini roll-ups!

this is a zucchini stuffed with ricotta cheese in a white casserole dish topped with mozzarella melted cheeses and golden brown

Healthy Alternatives

This is almost like having a weight watchers lasagna when you substitute lower fat ingredients!

To make this a weight watchers delight just eliminate the higher fat products.

My alternative is to use part-skim ricotta instead of whole milk, part-skim mozzarella cheese as well.

Ingredients and Tools You Will Need

4 to 5 zucchini
Ricotta cheese (Whole milk or Part-skim )
shredded mozzarella cheese (Whole milk or Part-skim)
fresh parsley
finely minced garlic
grated cheese Pecorino Romano and more for top
eggs
marinara sauce homemade or store-bought
salt, pepper to taste
Cooking Spray oil
Tool needed:
Mandolin for slicing zucchini
Casserole Baking Dish
Fresh basil and dried parsley

Use Small Zucchini

It's so much easier to use smaller zucchini around 6 to 7 inches long.

They will be easier to slice when they're smaller in size.

You can use any zucchini or squash you like as long as they are sliced around 1/8 of an inch in thickness.

A pair of small zucchini from the garden these are Italian zucchini

Wash and Slightly Peel

I like to wash the zucchini or whatever squash you use and take off part of the peel.

It looks so pretty with just that little bit of color on it on the edges.

The presentation isn't important if you would like to skip this step.

this is zucchini cleaned and washed and part skin removed

Mandolin Is A Must Have

I always use a mandolin to get the thinness needed.

If you are great at slicing the zucchini thin enough then you can use a knife.

The most important thing is to ensure your safety also not to slice lengthwise and get cut.

Perfect Slices

After slicing the zucchini the length of each one you're pretty much ready to get them ready for the next step.

The slices are, of course, going to be slightly different in sizes and length to how the size the zucchini is you've purchased.

this is a mandolin used to sliced vegetables and the zucchini is in a plastic dish

Parboil or Grill

You can use two methods to get the zucchini soft, parboil or grill.

I have done both, and the taste wasn't that much different and boiling and blotting dry is easier.

Boiling on top of the stove or even microwave in a bowl with salted water around 6 to 8 minutes will soften them perfectly to roll up.

Grilling will dry them out and still work very well to soften them.

this is a photo of parboiled zucchini getting ready to be stuffed and in a rose shaped rollup

Easy To Roll

Once they are limp and blotted dry, you can easily roll them into rose shapes.

Place each on in the pan and they time to mix up the cheese mixture.

Leaving them to face up to fill not sideways.

Mixing the Ricotta Cheese

Ricotta cheese always needs to be flavored.

You can mix this with fresh or dried herbs whatever you have.

If you don't like to use fresh garlic use 1 teaspoon of granulated garlic to season the cheese.

I prefer to use all fresh ingredients.

this is ricotta cheese filling used for lasagna in a oxo measuring cup mixed with eggs, cheese and parsley

Tips

Thinly slice the zucchini using a mandolin
Use any kind of sauce you prefer
Always make sure the zucchini is limp before trying to roll it
Parboil or Grill zucchini before rolling using either method
Use a ziplock filled bag of cheese for easy filling
For low carb low-fat substitute cheeses for part-skim

this is a ziplock bag filled with ricotta cheese used to filled the zucchini rose rollups for rollatini

My Secret to Filling the Rollups

All that filling is so messy trying to spoon it on and roll.

Roll them up empty, fill using a ziplock bag with the delicious ricotta filling in bag and viola, no mess, easy and filled in no time!

this is all the zucchini rolled up like roses ready to be filled with ricotta cheese for rollatini

Sauces You Can Use

I love marinara homemade fresh sauce with plum tomatoes, it's what I use.

You can use any sauce you like from the store or homemade.

If you prefer a meat sauce you can make my Traditional Sunday Italian sauce for this dish as well.

this is the zucchini rolled up topped with sauce and filled with ricotta

Meat or No Meat?

This is a no meat dish, if you want to make it layered into a lasagna type zucchini then you would have to add a layer on the bottom of cooked crushed meatballs and sausage.

You can get creative and make this dish your own style.

Time To Bake

Here is another matter of preference on how you like the cheese.

Why do you ask? Because some folks do not like the cheeses browned on top and bubbly.

Just cut the time back and watch the cheese on top to just be melted on top if you prefer.

Since the zucchini is slightly cooked already, the inside will not need long to cook, cut the time to 20 minutes instead of 35 to 40 for browning.

Versatile Recipe Suggestions

We talked about making this zucchini a lasagna style, rolled up and using this with all part-skim for a lower fat version.

One other suggestion for you for all my vegetarian friends, you can substitute a meat version of making a lasagna style on the bottom layer.

Add a layer of fresh sauteed garlic and oil spinach leaves on top of the rolled stuffed zucchini or even some garlic sauteed mushrooms and peppers.

You can add any vegetables on top before adding the cheeses for a whole other version of this delicious easy meal.

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Recipes You Can Use With Zucchini Rollatini

Traditional Sunday Sauce
Marinara Sauce
Easy Meat Sauce

Easy As Can Be

If you're still not convinced how easy and delicious this healthy recipe is to make, check out my quick video clip

It's your choice to fill and roll with a spoon, I love my method, it's so much easier!

They also are so much cheesier because the filling is nice and even inside as they bake.

Don't forget to sprinkle generously with mozzarella and a little more grated cheese!

If you prefer lasagna style, then before you add the mozzarella either top with crushed meatballs or sausage (or add on the bottom) first, that's all there is to it!

How to Make Zucchini Rollatini Video

Other Recipes for Zucchini You May Like

Zucchini Tips and Tricks

Zucchini Fritters

Zucchini Tomato Tart

Give This Zucchini Recipe A Try

This healthy alternative on lasagna rolls uses strips of zucchini instead of lasagna noodles for a vegetable-packed dinner that's fun for the whole family, lower in calories and great on your waist.

Zucchini Rollatini may just be your new favorite meal to make!

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zucchini recipes, vegetables, healthy meals, low carb

Italian American

Yield: 8

Author: Claudia Lamascolo