Print Options

Zucchini Ricotta Frittata Recipe

Filed under Breakfast and Brunch, Egg, Low Carb, Quick, Vegetarian, Wheat-free

Zucchini Ricotta Frittata

Did you know that yesterday was "Dump Your Extra Zucchini On Your Neighbor's Doorstep Day"? According to our local newspaper it was, though I think they may have been joshing. Then again, maybe not. This excellent zucchini ricotta frittata recipe (like the way that just rolls of one's tongue? "ricotta frittata, ricotta frittata") is based on one by our local cherished chef Biba. It's a cinch to make and a tasty way of enjoying bountiful summer squash.

Print Options

Zucchini Ricotta Frittata Recipe

Ingredients

6 large eggs
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 Tbsp chopped fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 small zucchini, or one larger one, washed and sliced into thin rounds (about 3/4 pound)

Method

1 Beat the eggs in a medium bowl. Add the ricotta and Parmesan and beat to combine. Add the salt, freshly ground black pepper, basil and thyme and beat to combine. Set aside.

zucchini-frittata-1.jpg zucchini-frittata-2.jpg

2 Heat the olive oil in a 10-inch oven-proof stick-free skillet on medium high. When the oil is hot and begins to shimmer, add the zucchini slices. Stir so that the zucchini slices are all coated with some of the oil. Cook, stirring only occasionally (if you stir too much the zucchini won't brown), until the zucchini slices are lightly browned, about 5-6 minutes. Remove from heat. Remove zucchini slices from the pan with tongs or a slotted spoon to a bowl. Let cool for 30 seconds or so, and then stir the zucchini slices to the egg mixture.

zucchini-frittata-3.jpg zucchini-frittata-4.jpg

3 Reheat the skillet. There should be a couple of tablespoons of oil left in the pan, if not, add some. When the oil is hot, pour the egg mixture into the pan. Do not stir it. Reduce the heat to medium. Let the egg mixture cook. Run a spatula along the edge of the frittata, separating the cooked edges from the pan. Let the egg mixture cook until the bottom is golden brown and the top is beginning to set, about 5-6 minutes.

zucchini-frittata-5.jpg zucchini-frittata-6.jpg

4 Set the top rack 5 inches from the heating element in the oven. Preheat the oven broiler. Once the top of the frittata has started to set in the pan on the stove top, remove the pan from the stove and place it in the oven. With the broiler on, the door of the oven needs to be open. You can let the pan's handle stick out from the oven through the open door. Cook under the broiler until the top starts to become lightly browned, about 2 minutes.

Alternatively, instead of using the broiler, you can place a plate face-down on top of the skillet. Flip the skillet over to release the frittata on to the plate. Then slide the frittata from the plate back on to the skillet. Let cook for a couple of minutes more until the bottom side gets browned.

5 Slide the frittata out of the skillet onto a serving plate. Let cool for a minute or two and serve.

Serves 2-3.

Never Miss A Recipe!

Enter your email address to subscribe to Simply Recipes: (more details)

Posted by Elise on Aug 8, 2007 and indexed Eggs, Frittata, Zucchini

  • Print (no photos)
  • Print (with photos)
  • Share on Facebook

Comments

I've made a 'ricotta frittata' in the past but like the idea of adding zucchini... I like any idea that uses zucchini this time of year. In our neightborhood we'd just be swapping them if we tried the 'dump on doorstep' routine!

Posted by: Katiez on August 9, 2007 12:21 AM

Always looking for new frittata combinations, and always looking for things to do with the zucchini that does get dumped on my doorstep! Thanks for this lovely recipe.

Posted by: lydia on August 9, 2007 3:53 AM

Wow, looks fabulous! I just made mini versions of these the other day with the addition of tomatoes and sharp white cheddar.

Posted by: jennbecluv on August 9, 2007 5:10 AM

Oh thank the garden gods for a new zucchini recipe. I'm being overrun here...this is also an excellent excuse to get myself a cast iron pan.

Posted by: Amy on August 9, 2007 5:29 AM

Great stuff, frittatas! I've been making them since before I knew there was a name for them. I swore to myself this time I'd try a recipe exactly the way it is posted. Next time I think I'll add some little onion rounds to fry with the zucchini. I like to use a touch of chili oil with the regular stuff to give it a punch. I doubt purests would consider me an "official" foodie, but I sure like your blog and those to whom you've introduced me. Thanks.

Posted by: Jan on August 9, 2007 6:51 AM

This sounds really good - I will have to try it, but just not tell my husband about the ricotta (he isn't a fan) and see what he thinks of the finished product instead! :) Thanks for all of the great ideas.

Posted by: Liz on August 9, 2007 7:16 AM

I love zucchini and have been eating it like crazy lately. This sounds wonderful!

Posted by: Deborah on August 9, 2007 7:39 AM

My first attempt at a frittata was overcooked and I've been hesitant to try again. But I do love anything with zucchinis so maybe I see a frittata in my future after all.

Posted by: Andrea on August 9, 2007 9:11 AM

Garrison Keillor famously recalled once: "Why do the inhabitants of Lake Wobegon lock their cars in the month of August? So their neighbors won't leave bags of zucchini on the back seat."

Posted by: Buckethead on August 9, 2007 11:19 AM

Is there anything particularly fabulous that can be used in place of Parmesan cheese? Parmesan cheese and I do not get along well.

Posted by: Kelly C on August 9, 2007 11:31 AM

Funny you should say that, but yesterday someone dumped an enormous basket of zucchini, yellow squash, and cucumbers in the office coffee room. I learned my lesson from last year and didn't take the monster zucchini that I had thought would make good chocolate zucchini cake.

Posted by: Marti on August 9, 2007 12:59 PM

My family used slices of American cheese on top of zucchini frittatas. Not Kraft singles, something like Cooper Sharp.

Posted by: Wynne on August 9, 2007 1:04 PM

I've been making zucchini fritters lately, but we are tired of them and looking for something new to do with zucchini. This, clearly, is it! What an elegant way to serve zucchini. And it doesn't hurt that it looks terribly easy, too.

Cheers!

Posted by: almost vegetarian on August 9, 2007 1:19 PM

Wonderful! I have eggs, I have ricotta and I most certainly have courgettes! In fact, I too gave my neighbours some yesterday. :)
Will be trying this out VERY soon.

Posted by: Wendy on August 9, 2007 2:41 PM

I wish someone would dump their extra zucchini on my doorstep! :( Guess I'm going to have to go to the market and buy some so I can make this yummy dish! :)

Posted by: Denise on August 9, 2007 3:52 PM

I find flipping the frittata over (step 4) using a pizza pan instead of a plate works really well.

Posted by: Kathy on August 10, 2007 4:38 AM

This looks so delicious, and I do love the way its name rolls off the tongue. And—anything that has any connection at all with Biba Caggiano is aces in my book!

Posted by: Lisa on August 10, 2007 11:53 AM

I made the frittata this morning and it was wonderful and would definitely make it again.

Posted by: judy on August 10, 2007 12:03 PM

I waited all day Wednesday for someone to dump some zucchini on my doorstep, but I ended up having to go buy some at the store. Sigh. Your ricotta frittata (why do I want to say Hakuna Matata after that) sounds wonderful.

Posted by: Mrs. L on August 10, 2007 12:32 PM

Wow! Perfect! Someone just dropped off three zucchini at my front door. Got you! Actually, my delivery guy dropped off the fruit and vegetable bucket for me every week and this week I got three zucchini. I am going to make this for my husband; well for me too. I think this will be good for our breakfast. Thanks,

Posted by: Khun Ying on August 10, 2007 11:06 PM

We have been eating a lot of frittatas lately! I love them because they are quick and easy and you can you can use up bits of leftovers to make something delicious , nutritious and really quick.

Posted by: Deborah Dowd on August 11, 2007 10:07 PM

I made this wonderful dish this morning. My husband and three year old loved it!

Posted by: Aiesha on August 12, 2007 9:33 AM

Frittata sounds great except for the zucchini (I know, don't laugh). Any suggestions for alternative veggies (no mushrooms either, please) since I'm not a zucchini person? Thanks...

Posted by: Maureen on August 13, 2007 11:12 AM

I made this for breakfast yesterday and it was soooo good (maybe even better today). I used 3 eggs and 3 egg whites instead of 6 whole eggs and it turned out great. Thank you for sharing this!

Posted by: Allie on August 13, 2007 11:12 AM

Hi Maureen - If you do a search in the Simply Recipes search bar for "frittata" you'll find a couple of other options. You can also look up frittata in the Recipe Index, linked to from the top of the page. For frittata recipes by other food bloggers, do a search for "frittata" using Food Blog Search in the left sidebar or at FoodBlogSearch.com.

Posted by: Elise on August 13, 2007 11:34 AM

okay... by the looks of things from these comments, it is occurring to me that the world is being taken over by zucchini, and that somehow I have been left out of this party. I am in the city.. but can someone pleeeeeease drop some off at *my* doorstep? I can't wait to make this. Also, I am officially naming it, as an homage to all your feedback, the Hakuna Matata Ricotta Zucchini Frittata.

Cheers!

Posted by: Kristin Meyer on August 13, 2007 10:58 PM

I have to say...that title is the most fun to try and say about 5 times in a row!

Posted by: Kate on August 14, 2007 7:18 PM

I made this for dinner tonight and it was wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing it.

Posted by: Lydz on August 16, 2007 5:47 PM

I love this recipe!!! I made it for my family one night, and since one of my brothers was still at work, he didn't get any. (And he didn't come that much later after we finished dinner!!!) SO... I ended up doubling the recipe and making it tonight. It really is delicious!!

Posted by: Sandy on August 16, 2007 8:35 PM

Can this be made without an oven-proof stick-free skillet? I have pans that go on the stovetop, and ones that go in the oven, but nothing that can do both.

Posted by: Brooke on August 28, 2007 7:55 PM

Hi Brooke - you can avoid the oven all together by sliding the frittata out of the pan on to a plate. Then place another plate on top of the frittata, turn the frittata over, and slide it back into the pan on the stove top. You can also make this in a cast iron frying pan. I would just cut pieces directly from the frittata in the pan in this case and not try to slide it out of the pan.

Posted by: Elise on August 28, 2007 8:03 PM

Post a comment

(Your comment may need to be approved before it will appear on the site. Thanks for waiting. First time commenting? Please review the Comment Policy.)

Link to this recipe

Bookmark this page using the following link: http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/005268zucchini_ricotta_frittata.php

Do you have a website? You can place a link to this page by copying and pasting the code below.

<a href="http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/005268zucchini_ricotta_frittata.php">Zucchini Ricotta Frittata</a>