Categories: Meatless Lenten DishesVegetables

Grilled Zucchini with Kalamata vinaigrette

14 years ago

Our local South Florida farmer’s markets are currently
featuring homegrown produce – zucchini, green beans, Swiss chard, tomatoes to name a
few. It’s also prime time for picking tomatoes and strawberries. Not a bad
deal, really – especially since folks in other parts of the US are still
shoveling snow.

I bought all of the above in an effort to make and share
some recipes suitable for Lent. I’ve already posted the Swiss chard and white bean soup recipe, so today I’ve got a grilled zucchini recipe. This recipe is adapted from one I found in
the Whole Foods recipe collection. It’s not necessarily Armenian, but it
definitely qualifies to serve during Lenten – or – whenever.

Grilled
Zucchini with Kalamata vinaigrette

Serves 4

Ingredients:

½ cup pitted kalamata olives, drained and rinsed

1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

½ tsp. black pepper

¼ cup water

3 Tbsp. olive oil, divided

4 medium zucchini, washed, and cut lengthwise into ½” thick slices

Juice of ½ lemon

2 garlic cloves, minced

Dash of salt and pepper

Garnish: 1
small tomato, diced

Directions:

Step #1

1. In a blender or food processor, process olives,
vinegar, pepper, water, and 1 Tbsp. of the olive oil. Blend until smooth. Add more water if mixture is too thick. Set aside.

Step #2

2. Place zucchini slices in a large bowl; toss with lemon
juice, the remaining 2 Tbsp. olive oil, and a dash of salt and pepper until
well-coated.
(Note: After cutting the zucchini lengthwise, I cut the pieces in half crosswise so it would fit in my George Foreman counter top grill.)

The zucchini can be grilled on a stove-top grill pan, in a counter-top grill, or on an outdoor gas or electric grill. Set grill on a
medium-high setting.

Step #3

3. Cook until grill marks appear on zucchini, and
zucchini becomes tender – about 3 to 4 minutes on each side.

4. Layer zucchini slices on platter; drizzle each layer
with Kalamata vinaigrette, and garnish with chopped tomatoes.

Serve
hot, warm or at room temperature.