Oven Roasted Parmesan Zucchini

Hey y’all! I hope your day is going well. I am here to bring you another NUTRIENT-DENSE recipe that you will fall IN LOVE with!!

Zucchini has so many health benefits starting with improving your digestion. Many people deal with digestion issues every single day, and it can be very frustrating to suffer through. Zucchini contains a high amount of water as well as large amounts of fiber, and electrolytes, so consuming zucchini regularly will help to reduce constipation and other digestive issues. It has even been clinically proven to help prevent ulcers, IBS, and colon cancer! Now that’s something to get excited about!

Next, zucchini helps to lower blood sugar levels, which is great for those suffering with diabetes. Since zucchini is loaded with fiber, it will cause you to fill full longer. This, in turn, will lead to lower carbohydrate consumption, thus, lowering your blood sugar.

Another great benefit of zucchini is that it improves overall circulation and heart health! Zucchini is very low in fat and sodium and high in fiber and potassium. These properties help to maintain healthy circulation which is a win-win if you ask me.

Okay, seriously…. I could go on and on about all the benefits of zucchini. Other perks of this wonderful veggie are that it improves eye health, reduces inflammation, aids in weight loss, boosts energy, etc, etc, etc.

Below, you will find a delicious recipe for oven roasted parmesan zucchini. I love it, and I hope you will too!

As always, like this post or leave a comment below to tell me what you think! Happy day!

Ingredients

• 4 small zucchini — ends trimmed, quartered lengthwise
•  1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan
•  1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
•  1/4 teaspoon black pepper
•  1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
•  1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
•  2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs — such as parsley, basil, dill, or a mix (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a cooling rack with nonstick spray and place on a rimmed baking sheet.
2. In a small bowl, stir together the Parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
3. Place the zucchini in a large bowl. Drizzle with the oil and sprinkle with the Parmesan mixture. Toss to coat, then arrange the zucchini on top of the cooling rack on the prepared baking sheet, being careful not to overlap the spears.
4. Place in the oven and bake until the zucchini is tender, about 12 to 15 minutes. Turn the oven to broil. Cook until the Parmesan is lightly crisp on top, about 2 to 3 minutes. Don’t walk away! The second you stop watching the cheese, it will decide to burn.
5. Remove the zucchini from the oven and immediately squeeze the lemon juice over the top. Sprinkle with herbs. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.

NUTRITION

• Serving Size: 1/4 recipe
• Calories: 179
• Sugar: 3.6g
• Sodium: 396mg
• Fat: 14.4g
• Saturated Fat: 5.1g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 4.5g
• Fiber: 2.1g
• Protein: 10.4g
• Cholesterol: 20mg

Work Cited:

Quillin, Patrick, and Patrick Quillin. “9 Impressive Health Reasons to Eat More Zucchini – A Nutrient-Dense Food.” Food Revolution Network, 12 Aug. 2019, foodrevolution.org/blog/zucchini-benefits/.