ZUCCHINI CARPACCIO

Zucchini Carpaccio image

Raw zucchini has a fresh, green flavor that is lost when the vegetable is cooked. Excellent olive oil and fresh lemon juice make the perfect dressing to bathe the slices in; the acid softens and flavors the zucchini. After the nuts and/or herbs, the garnishes are all optional. Try them in any combination, or play around with others: cracked black pepper, crushed pink peppercorns or crumbled dried chiles.

Provided by Julia Moskin

Categories vegetables, appetizer, side dish

Time 45m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

Ingredients

2 medium zucchini
Salt
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
Freshly squeezed juice of 1/2 lemon
2 to 3 tablespoons fruity olive oil
2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts or chopped almonds, and/or chopped fresh herbs
1 teaspoon raw honey, 1 tablespoon raisins or fresh Parmesan shavings (optional)

Steps:

Slice zucchini lengthwise with a mandoline or chef's knife as thinly as you can, and sprinkle lightly with salt. Place in a colander for 30 minutes to remove the excess moisture, tossing occasionally.
Dry on paper towels and arrange the zucchini in layers in a shallow serving dish, adding slices of garlic between the layers. Drizzle with lemon juice and marinate, refrigerated, for at least 15 minutes and up to 1 hour. If you have more than 2 layers, you may need to turn the zucchini upside down every 15 minutes to coat them evenly with the lemon juice.
To serve, arrange a few slices of zucchini on each plate. (Remove and discard garlic slices as you go.) Drizzle with olive oil and top with nuts and/or herbs. If you wish, add a few drops of runny honey, a few raisins or some Parmesan shavings.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 64, UnsaturatedFat 5 grams, Carbohydrate 3 grams, Fat 6 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 1 gram, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 182 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams