Healthy Recipes Lifestyle Diets No Added Sugar Zucchini with Pesto & Burrata 5.0 (4) 4 Reviews Broiled zucchini slices are the perfect vessel for delivering small bites of creamy burrata cheese for a quick and easy appetizer or side. We love the creamy center of burrata cheese, but feel free to swap it out for pieces of fresh mozzarella or mozzarella pearls. Store-bought pesto is a great shortcut. Opt for refrigerated prepared pesto for the freshest flavor. By Julia Levy Julia Levy Julia Levy has been working in recipe publishing for almost a decade, but testing recipes for as long as she's been able to wield a spoon. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 14, 2024 Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Emily Lachtrupp is a registered dietitian experienced in nutritional counseling, recipe analysis and meal plans. She's worked with clients who struggle with diabetes, weight loss, digestive issues and more. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying all that Vermont has to offer with her family and her dog, Winston. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Save Rate PRINT Share Active Time: 10 mins Total Time: 20 mins Servings: 4 Nutrition Profile: No Added Sugar Sesame-Free Nut-Free Soy-Free Vegetarian High-Protein Egg-Free Gluten-Free Jump to Nutrition Facts Jump to recipe Got a bumper crop of zucchini? One taste of this Zucchini with Pesto & Burrata and you’ll be well on your way to solving that problem! Zucchini’s mildly sweet flavor is the perfect vehicle to deliver bigger, bolder flavors (think: pesto!). Plus, the healthy vegetable is low in carbohydrates and calories. This recipe takes only 20 minutes from start to finish and is easy to customize to suit your taste. Love sun-dried tomatoes? Try sun-dried tomato pesto in place of the basil pesto, or toss your zucchini in your favorite spice mix to make it your own. Discover our expert tips and tricks below for the go-to appetizer you’ll love making time and time again. Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! The perfect zucchini for this recipe are medium-size ones. Small zucchini won’t be able to hold the topping. Large zucchini tend to have more seeds and could become mushy. It’s important to cut the zucchini into even ¾-inch-thick rounds so the pieces broil evenly. Burrata cheese is like mozzarella with a creamy center. Tear, don’t slice, the burrata to keep its creamy middle in place. Nothing beats homemade pesto, but when you’re in a pinch, store-bought can be a good option. For the freshest flavor, we recommend using refrigerated pesto instead of shelf-stable jarred pesto. Nutrition Notes Zucchini is a low-calorie, low-carb summer squash packed with nutritional benefits. Zucchini delivers healthy compounds called carotenoids that help protect our skin from harmful UV rays and may help lower your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Burrata cheese delivers a healthy dose of calcium, a mineral that helps maintain strong bones and teeth. It also provides protein, a nutrient that is essential for building and maintaining muscles. Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Julia Levy, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1 pound zucchini (2 medium), cut into 3/4-inch-thick rounds 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper, plus more for garnish 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 (4-ounce) ball burrata cheese 2 tablespoons basil pesto Fresh basil, for garnish Directions Position rack 6 inches from heat source; preheat broiler to high. Arrange zucchini rounds on a paper-towel-lined plate; pat dry and let stand on the paper towels. Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Julia Levy, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Combine oil, garlic powder, pepper, crushed red pepper and salt in a large bowl. Add the zucchini; toss to coat. Arrange the rounds in a single layer on a large rimmed baking sheet. Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Julia Levy, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Broil until starting to brown, 5 to 6 minutes; flip and broil until tender and browned, about 3 minutes more. Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Julia Levy, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Tear burrata into pieces. Arrange the zucchini on a platter; top each round with a piece of burrata and a dollop of pesto. Garnish with basil and crushed red pepper, if desired. Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Julia Levy, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Frequently Asked Questions How do I keep my zucchini from getting mushy? Zucchini is a watery squash that can take on a soggy texture if you don’t prepare it correctly. To combat a mushy texture, pat the zucchini dry with paper towels after slicing it and don’t overcook it. A hot oven (or broiler) should be able to crisp up the outside while leaving the inside tender-crisp. Is zucchini healthy? Yes! Zucchini is a low-calorie, low-carb food that offers fiber along with plenty of vitamins and minerals. Do I need to peel zucchini? No, you do not need to peel zucchini. Zucchini skin is soft and tender and offers plenty of nutritional benefits, so you definitely want to leave it on. Rinse your zucchini under cool water before you slice it and you’re good to go. Can I make Zucchini with Pesto & Burrata ahead of time? No. Because of its high water content, zucchini can become soggy quickly so this recipe is best prepared and enjoyed at the same time. EatingWell.com, May 2024 Save Rate Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 168 Calories 13g Fat 5g Carbs 9g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 4 Serving Size 4 to 5 bites Calories 168 % Daily Value * Total Carbohydrate 5g 2% Dietary Fiber 1g 5% Total Sugars 3g Added Sugars 0g 0% Protein 9g 17% Total Fat 13g 17% Saturated Fat 5g 24% Cholesterol 22mg 7% Vitamin A 123µg Vitamin C 15mg 16% Vitamin D 0µg Vitamin E 1mg 9% Folate 36µg Vitamin K 20µg Sodium 361mg 16% Calcium 190mg 15% Iron 1mg 4% Magnesium 32mg 8% Potassium 381mg 8% Zinc 1mg 12% Vitamin B12 1µg Omega 3 0g Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate. * Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.) (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs. Additional reporting by Hilary Meyer Hilary Meyer Hilary Meyer is a recipe developer, tester, and content creator. After graduating from culinary school, she started working the EatingWell Test Kitchen in 2006, developing and testing recipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines