Zucchini Roll-Ups
Thin roasted zucchini strips rolled around a ricotta, Parmesan and basil filling and baked in tomato sauce under melted mozzarella. Six servings in 40 minutes.
Where This Goes Wrong
Cut the strips from the wide middle of each zucchini; the ends are too narrow to roll.
If a strip tears, overlap it with a second one.
Do not overfill; a modest spoonful rolls tighter.
How to Make Zucchini Roll-Ups
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Heat the oven to 220°C / 430°F (200°C / 390°F fan). Lay the zucchini strips on two lined baking trays, brush with the oil and sprinkle with the salt. Roast for 8 minutes, until pliable and lightly golden. Pat dry with paper towels. Lower the oven to 190°C / 375°F (170°C / 340°F fan).
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Mix the ricotta, Parmesan, basil, garlic and pepper in a bowl.
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Spread half the passata in a baking dish. Spoon a heaped tablespoon of the filling onto the wide end of each strip, roll up and set seam side down in the dish.
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Spoon over the remaining passata, scatter with the mozzarella and bake for 12 minutes, until bubbling and golden.
Why It Works
Thickness is everything here. Cut the zucchini lengthwise, 3 mm thick, with a mandoline, because anything thicker will not bend around the filling and anything thinner tears. If you have no mandoline, a vegetable peeler gives ribbons that work almost as well when you overlap two for each roll.
Roast the slices first, for 8 minutes at 220°C, until they are pliable and lightly golden. Raw zucchini releases water in the oven and turns the dish soggy. Pat the roasted slices dry before filling. The filling is ricotta, Parmesan and basil, with a little garlic, and it needs no extra salt because the Parmesan is salty. Roll up from the wide end and set the rolls in the sauce seam side down.
Spoon a thin layer of passata under and over the rolls, top with mozzarella and bake until bubbling. Two roll-ups make a serving. They reheat well, and make a good lunch with a green salad.
Storage and Reheating
Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a hot oven.
Changing the Recipe
- An eighth of a teaspoon of garlic powder per clove is the usual stand-in when you are out of fresh garlic — it will not caramelise the same way, but it carries the flavour.
Serving Zucchini Roll-Ups
- A green salad
- Steamed broccoli
- A slice of wholegrain bread
Common Questions About Zucchini Roll-Ups
How long does Zucchini Roll-Ups take to make?
About 40 minutes in total — 20 minutes of preparation and 20 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 6.
What are the key tips for making Zucchini Roll-Ups?
Cut the strips from the wide middle of each zucchini; the ends are too narrow to roll. If a strip tears, overlap it with a second one. Do not overfill; a modest spoonful rolls tighter.
What should I serve with Zucchini Roll-Ups?
A green salad; Steamed broccoli; A slice of wholegrain bread.
How should Zucchini Roll-Ups be stored?
Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a hot oven.
Is Zucchini Roll-Ups suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, weight-loss friendly, low-carb, keto and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Zucchini Roll-Ups?
About 154 kcal per serving, with 10 g protein, 6 g carbohydrate and 10 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
What's in a Serving
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
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