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Francesca's Zucchini "Carpaccio"

For this dish, fresh spring-summer zucchini are imperative. I use a 1-mm. food processor-blade as if it were a mandoline to hand-slice the tender zucchini.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

2 medium zucchini (about 3/4 pound total), trimmed
1/3 cup packed arugula leaves, washed well, spun dry, and chopped coarse
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar if desired
fine sea salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste
a 1/4-pound piece of Parmesan

Preparation

  1. Slice zucchini into paper-thin rounds either in a food processor fitted with a 1-mm. blade or with a mandoline or other hand-held slicing device. Arrange zucchini rounds in one layer, overlapping them slightly, on a large (about 8 by 12-inch) platter and sprinkle with arugula. Drizzle oil and vinegar over zucchini and season with salt and pepper. With a vegetable peeler shave curls of Parmesan on top.

Cover of the cookbook Red, White, and Greens featuring rows of tomatoes, white onions, and broccoli rabe.
Reprinted with permission from Red, White, and Greens: The Italian Way With Vegetables, copyright 1996 by Faith Willinger. Buy the full book on Amazon.
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