Zucchini slice is a dish common in Australia and New Zealand that bears similarities to frittatas and quick breads. It consists of zucchini, eggs, cheese, usually bacon, and flour, baked to form a flat loaf. It is then cut into squares and served as a main dish or a side dish, often eaten for lunch.
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| Course | Main dish, side dish |
|---|---|
| Region or state | Australia and New Zealand |
| Associated cuisine | Australia, New Zealand |
| Serving temperature | Warm, room temperature, hot |
| Main ingredients | Zucchini, eggs, cheese, flour |
| Ingredients generally used | Bacon, onions |
| Similar dishes | frittata, quiche, quickbread |
It is one of a category of similarly-named and -served dishes common in the region, both sweet and savory.
History
editIn Australia and New Zealand the dish is a "beloved lunchbox staple or café snack", according to the New York Times.[1] It is one of a category of slices, both sweet and savory, common in the region.[1][2]
The dish may have roots in Europe[3] or the Middle East.[citation needed]
Description
editThe New York Times calls it "a cross between a frittata and savory quick bread".[1] The main flavors are of egg and cheese.[1]
Ingredients, preparation, and serving
editThe dish combines zucchini, eggs, cheese, flour, and usually bacon, along with seasonings and sometimes other ingredients.[1][2]
The dish takes approximately an hour to produce.[3] The zucchini is grated and combined with the other ingredients into a thick batter and baked until firm, typically in a Lamington pan.[1][4][3] It is served in flat slices, usually warm or at room temperature, and eaten out of hand.[1][2] It can also be served hot.[1][5]
The dish is typically eaten as an entree or a side dish.[4]
Popularity
editThe dish is a staple in Australia and New Zealand;[1] Australian Women's Weekly introduces their version with the phrase "No introduction needed" and named it to their 2003 list of six "all time reader favourite meals".[4][6] According to Taste.com.au, it is their most popular recipe.[7] Magic Little Meals refers to it as "a favorite with young and old".[8] According to More it is perennially at the top of online search lists during zucchini season in Australia.[9]
Similar dishes
editDishes similar to the category of slices include bar cookies, frittatas, and sheet cakes.[2] The zucchini slice is most similar to a frittata, although the inclusion of flour makes it according to Lukas Volger similar in texture to "somewhere between a quiche and a savory muffin".[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i Clark, Melissa (15 July 2022). "Make the Most of Too Much Summer Squash With the Zucchini Slice". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Volger, Lukas (2022). Snacks for dinner : small bites, full plates, can't lose. HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 978-0-06-314322-7. OCLC 1308436735.
- ^ a b c "Zucchini slice". Special Broadcasting Service. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
- ^ a b c "How to make a classic zucchini slice". Australian Women's Weekly. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
- ^ Faulkner, Lisa (9 March 2017). From Mother to Mother: Recipes from a family kitchen. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4711-6085-1.
- ^ Bannerman, Colin (2008). Seed Cake and Honey Prawns: Fashion and Fad in Australian Food. National Library Australia. ISBN 978-0-642-27624-7.
- ^ "Zucchini slice". Taste.com.au.
- ^ Houbein, Lol; Arbon, Tori (22 February 2019). Magic Little Meals: Making the most of homegrown produce. Wakefield Press. ISBN 978-1-74305-579-3.
- ^ Preston, Matt (29 October 2019). More. Plum. p. 149. ISBN 978-1-76078-908-4.