Thomas Keller Zucchini
Thomas Keller Zucchini went viral on Tiktok for a good reason: It is quite simple to make yet yields oven-roasted zucchini with a crispy, caramelized exterior, and a soft interior. We served it with a yogurt sauce and a Mediterranean topping, making this homemade dish restaurant-quality!
- Prep time
- 10 min
- Cook time
- 20 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- HARD
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 2 medium zucchini (green color)
- Kosher salt (to remove excess moisture)
- 1/4 cup canola oil (or other high smoke point oil with a neutral flavor such as avocado oil)
- Table salt and ground black pepper (to taste)
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp creamy goat cheese (or feta cheese)
- 1 garlic clove
- 2 large basil leaves
- 1/2 tbsp lemon juice (or lime juice)
- 1- pint cherry tomatoes (quartered (I used red and yellow, but you can choose one color only))
- 1 garlic clove (grated)
- 2 tbsp chopped Kalamata olives
- 2 tbsp capers
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (or lime juice)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3 large basil leaves (finely chopped (plus a few small ones for garnishing))
- 2 tbsp toasted pinenuts
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 450 F (230 C).
- 2
Wash, pat dry well, and then cut in half lengthwise your zucchinis. Score the inside part diagonally with a sharp knife, making a checkboard pattern.
- 3
Place the zucchini halves, face up, on a large plate. Sprinkle kosher salt on top, spreading well with your hand, and let them rest for about 20 minutes. This will help to remove excess moisture; otherwise, they will steam instead of browning/roasting! Then, dab down the zucchini very well using a paper towel.
- 4
Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes or until sizzling hot. Add the oil and brown the zucchini halves, face down, for about 5 minutes, or until golden brown. Do not flip them!
- 5
Place the pan in the middle rack of the oven and bake for about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown and soft. Remove the skillet from the oven, flip the zucchini (face up), and sprinkle table salt and ground black pepper on top to season.
- 6
You can serve them by themselves, or with our yogurt sauce and/or Mediterranean topping for boosting their flavor.
- 7
To make the yogurt sauce (optional): Blend all the ingredients in a food processor or high-speed blender until creamy and smooth. Spread it on a serving plate and then place the roasted zucchini halves on top, face up.
- 8
To make the Mediterranean topping (optional): Mix all the ingredients together in a medium bowl. Top the caramelized zucchini halves with it and garnish them with a few small basil leaves. Add a good sprinkle of crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese on top if you want. Enjoy!