Zucchini slice
CourseMain dish, side dish
Region or stateAustralia and New Zealand
Associated cuisineAustralia, New Zealand
Serving temperatureWarm, room temperature, hot
Main ingredientsZucchini, eggs, cheese, flour
Ingredients generally usedBacon, onions
Similar dishesfrittata, quiche, quickbread

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.

It is one of a category of similarly-named and -served dishes common in the region, both sweet and savory.

History

In 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

The 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

The 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

The 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

Dishes 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

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b c d e Volger, Lukas (2022). Snacks for dinner : small bites, full plates, can't lose. ISBN 978-0-06-314322-7. OCLC 1308436735.
  3. ^ a b c "Zucchini slice". Special Broadcasting Service. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "How to make a classic zucchini slice". Australian Women's Weekly. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  5. ^ Faulkner, Lisa (9 March 2017). From Mother to Mother: Recipes from a family kitchen. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4711-6085-1.
  6. ^ Bannerman, Colin (2008). Seed Cake and Honey Prawns: Fashion and Fad in Australian Food. National Library Australia. ISBN 978-0-642-27624-7.
  7. ^ "Zucchini slice". Taste.com.au.
  8. ^ Houbein, Lol; Arbon, Tori (22 February 2019). Magic Little Meals: Making the most of homegrown produce. Wakefield Press. ISBN 978-1-74305-579-3.
  9. ^ Preston, Matt (29 October 2019). More. Plum. p. 149. ISBN 978-1-76078-908-4.
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