Roasted Zucchini from Crete

This authentic Cretan recipe features tender roasted zucchini stuffed with garlic and baked in a rich tomato sauce. It's a simple, rustic Greek dish packed with Mediterranean flavor — perfect served warm with a chunk of feta and crusty bread.

📝 Ingredients

• 2 zucchinis
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 5-6 cloves garlic thinly sliced
• 1 small onion finely chopped
• 14 ounces canned tomatoes pureed
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 teaspoon dried crushed oregano
• Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
• Chunk of feta cheese as an optional garnish
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Preheat oven to 400°F, 200 °C.
2. 2Wash and pat dry the zucchinis.
3. 3Cut a long slit down the center of...: Cut a long slit down the center of the zucchini deep enough so that the garlic fits inside.
4. 4Stuff with the garlic slices.
5. 5Place the stuffed zucchinis in a small baking...: Place the stuffed zucchinis in a small baking dish and drizzle them with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
6. 6Roast in the oven for 30 minutes.
7. 7While the zucchinis are roasting prepare the sauce.
8. 8Combine the remaining olive oil along with the...: Combine the remaining olive oil along with the chopped onions in a small pan. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes or until soft and golden.
9. 9Add the pureed tomatoes and season with some...: Add the pureed tomatoes and season with some salt, crushed red pepper flakes, and oregano.
10. 10Cook the sauce until it thickens. About 10...: Cook the sauce until it thickens. About 10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
11. 11Remove the baking dish from the oven. Pour...: Remove the baking dish from the oven. Pour the sauce over the zucchinis, cover the baking tray with foil and return to the oven.
12. 12Reduce the heat to 350 °F, 180°C and...: Reduce the heat to 350 °F, 180°C and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until the zucchini is soft.
13. 13Remove the foil and bake uncovered 10-15 minutes...: Remove the foil and bake uncovered 10-15 minutes longer.
14. 14Crumble some feta cheese over the top of...: Crumble some feta cheese over the top of the zucchinis, garnish with parsley and serve alongside some toasted bread. Enjoy!