Zucchini Mia

Image courtesy of Bruno /Germany from Pixabay

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

This is a relatively quick and healthy side dish. It is refreshing, comforting and dynamic. It goes with many meals and is fairly filling. If you like vegetables, this  is a healthy and mouthwatering addition to the meal. It is very much like Ratatouille, but a bit easier and more rustic.

Ingredients:

1 pound of Zucchini, sliced about ¼ of an inch

1 large, yellow onion, sliced ¼ of an inch

1 cup of mushrooms, preferably cremini, sliced ¼ of an inch

1 dozen cherry or grape tomatoes, slice ½ an inch

3 cloves of garlic, minced

2 tbsp of Olive Oil

½ tsp of dried basil

½ tsp of dried thyme

Cooking Instructions

1. Place a 12-inch pan on a medium low heat and add 1 tbsp of Olive Oil

2. Once the oil comes up to temperature, add the basil and thyme and stir for 30 seconds

3. Add the onions, sprinkle with salt and pepper and sweat them for 2 minutes

4. Add the minced garlic, stir, and continue to sweat the onions for 2 more minutes

5. Add the Zucchini, sprinkle with salt and pepper, continue to cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. As the zucchini cooks, add a little water to retain moisture

6. Add the tomatoes and mushrooms, sprinkle a bit of salt and pepper on them, stir for about one minute.

7. Add a ¼ of cup of water, stir and cover for 4 minutes.

Note: keep an eye on the zucchini, they should be tender but still crisp.

The earthiness of the mushrooms and spices, the sweetness of the tomatoes and onions, will help lighten most meals and make you feel good about what you are eating. If you want to add 1 tbsp of lemon or lime juice to brighten this up even more, feel free to try it.

I will be posting a more upscale version of this dish for fancier occasions that I have made but did not keep measurement of the other ingredients. I hope you enjoy this dish as much as we do, and it offers you an easy and healthy addition to your repertoire.