I love to make this with the tomatoes from Windy Acres, my favorite organic farm about a mile from where I live! They have every delicious variety of heirloom tomatoes. There is just something so wonderful about riding your bike or just driving up to a beautiful farm cart loaded with fresh veg.
If tomatoes are not in season, you can usecanned tomatoes and frozen zucchini also. I usually make this particular recipe in the height of the summer when both are abundant. In the winter, I tend to use the canned and frozen, but I make it as a soup by adding vegetable broth ( low or no sodium) and I love to throw in some frozen sweet corn, red kidney beans and/or some brown rice! Yum. I like to make a simple fresh salad to have with it and that completes the meal!
Tomato Zucchini Saute
Ingredients:
4 large fresh tomatoes (approx)
3 fresh med to small zucchini (small-med taste better than the large)
1 can drained red kidney beans
3/4 cup cooked brown rice
4 large cloves fresh garlic (or granulated to taste)
oregano, black pepper, basil according to your personal taste
grated parmesan cheese or parmesan substitute (optional)
Directions:
Slice tomatoes as if you were putting them on your sandwich (approx ¼ in thick). Slice zucchini into thin rounds. Spread a layer of tomatoes to cover the bottom of the pan, a little chopped garlic. Spread layer of zucchini on tomatoes and sprinkle w/more chopped garlic. Continue to alternate layering until all veggies are used! Cook with lid on over low-med heat. Should take 10- 15 min or so depending on how large a pan you are using and how many layers. After 5 minutes or so, you should see the juice bubbling up from the tomatoes and the zucchini. Both veg have lots of water so you really shouldn’t need to add liquid, but if it does seem too dry add approx ¼ cup of low/no vegetable broth.
Other possible uses: (cook once eat twice!)
1) Turn into soup by adding no/low sodium vegetable broth. More seasoning to taste. Blend partially w/an immersion blender. If you don’t have one, a regular blender will work. Blend half of the mixture and return to the pot.
2) Makes a phenomenal chunky fresh pasta sauce! Blend and pour over your favorite pasta. Red kidney beans or cannelini’s are great in this.
Some possible additions:
Red kidney beans, whole grain elbow pasta, yellow squash, brown rice. Experiment with your own preferences! There is no right or wrong, just what you prefer!
Tip: Frozen zucchini and canned tomatoes will work in the winter if tomatoes aren’t great or if time is of the essence, it is still a great tasting dish!
Bon Appetite!
Tara Arnold 