zucchini mozzarella pesto bake

Who’s gardens are overflowing with huge zucchini and vine ripe tomatoes? Well, I’ve got the dish for you! Also..you’ll have extra pesto to put on pasta or sandwiches ….LUCKY YOU!

Ingredients:

2 or 3 zucchini thinly sliced

3 large tomatoes, cut in thick slices

12 ounces of pulled mozzarella, sliced

1/4 cup olive oil

salt/pepper

-pesto-

1/4 cup pinenuts

1/2 cup shredded parmesan

1 clove garlic, chopped

3 cup basil

1/4cup + 2 Tbs olive oil

1/4 tsp salt (or more to taste)

-toasted breadcrumbs-

1/4 cup breadcrumbs

1 Tbs olive oil

Directions:

preheat oven to 375

1) In a quarter sheet pan or a 9x13 baking dish arrange your sliced veggies and mozzarella. You can do this in any arrangement you choose. Drizzle veggies and cheese with 1/4 cup olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Bake for 35 minutes

2) While the dish is baking, make your pesto. In a small frying pan over medium heat toast your pine nuts, turning occasionally and cook until golden. Set them aside to cool.

3) In a food processer or a blender add the garlic and pulse a few times. Add the pine nuts and parmesan and pulse until finely ground. Add basil and place the the top back on. with the motor running, add oil ina slow and steady stream until pesto is mostly smooth, about 1 minute. Season with salt.

4) In the pan you used to toast the pine nuts, over medium heat add the Tablespoon of olive oil..when warm add the breadcrumbs and cook until the breadcrumbs get golden brown.

5) When the zucchini is done cooking, drain the excess water from the zucchini from the pan. Just tilt the pan and let it drain out. Drizzle generously with pesto and sprinkle with the toasted breadcrumbs. ENJOY!