Zucchini Bake with Feta and Thyme

As much I wish weren't true, I'm not a HUGE veggie lover.  Don't get me wrong, I really like potatoes, and corn and carrots and snap peas and just about most other veggies.  But I don't completely LOVE them.  I don't crave them, you know?

I especially don't like cucumbers or zucchinis.  Funny how the name of this post is zucchini, yeah?

 

Well, this recipe that I found at Real Mom Kitchen pretty much changed my mind!

The soft, baked zucchini and yellow summer squash taste delicious with the savory herbs and feta cheese.  I will definitely make this again!

Zucchini Bake with Feta and Thyme

• 4 medium-sized zucchini, or a mixture of zucchini with yellow squash, sliced lengthwise and then into 1/4 inch slices (about 8 cups sliced squash)
• 1 T olive oil (or less, depending on the pan)
• 1 T minced garlic
• 2 large eggs
• 1/3 cup light sour cream
• 1 cup crumbled feta (not tightly packed)
• 1/2  T dried thyme
• 2 T grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 T lemon juice
• salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Wash and dry squash, then cut off stem and blossom end and discard. Cut squash lengthwise in half, then slice into half-moon slices about 1/4 inch thick. (Kayln used a mandoline with a 7mm blade, but I just used a knife.)
2. Heat olive oil in large non-stick frying pan, add garlic and saute about 45 seconds (just long enough to season the oil, don’t let the garlic brown.) Add squash slices and saute about 4 minutes, turning a few times. Squash should be barely starting to soften.
3. While squash cooks, break eggs into a small bowl or glass measuring cup and beat until egg yolks and whites are combined. Stir in sour cream, feta, thyme,  Parmesan, and lemon juice.
4. Spray a 2 quart gratin dish or glass casserole dish with non-stick spray or olive oil. Layer half the squash in the dish, then season with salt and fresh ground black pepper. (Remember the feta is salty, so it won’t need a lot of salt.) Pour over half the egg-feta mixture and use the back of a spoon or a rubber scraper to spread it over the squash. Repeat with another layer of squash and the rest of the feta-egg mixture.
5. Bake at 375 degrees for 40-45 minutes, or until the mixture is bubbling, slightly set, and top if lightly browned. Serve hot. Makes 6 side dish servings.