These Mediterranean Zucchini-Crusted Grilled Cheese Sandwiches have a crispy golden zucchini crust with a gooey and cheesy center. We prepare these sandwiches with fresh zucchini, eggs, whole wheat flour, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, feta cheese, tomatoes, fresh basil, oregano, parsley, garlic powder, black pepper, sea salt, and extra virgin olive oil. These sandwiches contain approximately 18 g net carbs and 365 calories. We make these sandwiches in just 35 minutes. These Mediterranean Zucchini-Crusted Grilled Cheese Sandwiches are perfect for quick lunches, easy dinners, weekend brunches, and healthy comfort food. They stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, while the cooked zucchini crusts can be frozen for up to 2 months, so you can prepare them earlier. You can serve these sandwiches with Greek Salad, Roasted Tomato Soup, Tzatziki, Mediterranean Cucumber Salad, or Lemon Mint Water.
STATS:
- Course: Lunch, Main Course, Brunch
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Calories: 365 kcal
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Diet: Mediterranean, Vegetarian
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Overall yields: 4 sandwiches
- Cook Duration: 15 minutes
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Cooking Method: Stovetop
- Difficulty: Easy
TOOLS:
- Box grater
- Bowl
- Clean kitchen towel
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Skillet
- Spatula
- Knife
- Cutting board
INGREDIENTS:
ZUCCHINI CRUST:
- 4 zucchini
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup flour (whole wheat)
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- Half a tsp. garlic powder
- Black pepper, half tsp.
- Two tbsp. parsley
- Olive oil, two tbsp.
FILLING:
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup feta cheese
- 1 tomato
- 8 basil leaves
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- Black pepper
INGREDIENT NOTES & THEIR SUBSTITUTIONS:
ZUCCHINI:
- We use fresh zucchini to create a crispy, flavorful crust for these sandwiches.
FLOUR:
- Whole wheat flour helps bind the zucchini mixture together. You can substitute it with oat flour, gluten-free flour, chickpea flour, or all-purpose flour.
PARMESAN CHEESE:
- Parmesan cheese adds a savory flavor and helps the crust become crispy.
EGGS:
- Eggs hold the zucchini mixture together and give the crust structure. You can replace them with flax eggs for an egg-free version.
MOZZARELLA CHEESE:
- Mozzarella provides a creamy, gooey filling.
FETA CHEESE:
- Feta cheese adds a tangy Mediterranean flavor to the sandwich.
TOMATOES:
- Tomatoes add freshness and natural sweetness to the filling. Roma tomatoes or cherry tomatoes are both excellent choices.
BASIL:
- Fresh basil gives the sandwich a bright Mediterranean aroma and flavor.
OLIVE OIL:
- Olive oil helps cook the zucchini crust until golden and crispy while adding healthy fats. Avocado oil is a suitable alternative.
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Make shreds of the zucchini, garnish with salt, and allow it to rest for almost ten minutes.
- We squeeze out the water content with a kitchen towel.
- Stir the parsley, zucchini, black pepper, eggs, garlic powder, wheat flour, oregano, and Parmesan cheese in a dish.
- Warm a slightly oiled pan.
- We scoop out almost half a cup of the zucchini mixture into a pan.
- Make a rectangle or square shape by flattening it.
- Cook till golden, for almost four days.
- After that, switch sides and cook for an additional four minutes.
- Make more till you have eight zucchini crusts.
- Put 1 zucchini crust in a pan and garnish with black pepper, mozzarella, oregano, feta, basil leaves, and tomato slices.
- Wrap with extra zucchini crust & slowly cook for almost three minutes.
- Gently change the side & cook till the cheese melts, for an extra three minutes.
- Allow the sandwich to sit for almost two minutes, slice it, and then serve.
TIPS:
- Cook on a normal flame to avoid burning.
- Avoid including a lot of filling in a sandwich.
- Completely dry the fresh mozzarella first, and then utilize.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS:
FRESH SALADS:
- Greek Salad
- Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
- Cucumber Tomato Salad
- Arugula Lemon Salad
- Quinoa Tabbouleh
SOUPS:
- Roasted Tomato Soup
- Creamy Cauliflower Soup
- Mediterranean Lentil Soup
- Minestrone Soup
- Lemon Orzo Soup
MEDITERRANEAN DIPS:
- Tzatziki
- Classic Hummus
- Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
- Baba Ganoush
- Whipped Feta Dip
HEALTHY SIDE DISHES:
- Garlic Roasted Vegetables
- Herb-Roasted Baby Potatoes
- Grilled Asparagus
- Lemon Green Beans
- Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolmas)
REFRESHING DRINKS:
- Lemon Mint Water
- Sparkling Citrus Water
- Unsweetened Iced Tea
- Cucumber Lime Cooler
- Fresh Pomegranate Juice
STORAGE INFORMATION:
FRIDGE:
- Put these sandwiches in a sealed box and stock them for 2 to 3 days.
FREEZER:
- Store the cooked zucchini crusts for just 1 to 2 months.
FAQs:
Could we prepare the crust beforehand?
- Yes, you can cook the crusts and chill them for more than 1 day, and then assemble them.
Which cheese melts perfectly?
- You can use Monterey Jack, provolone, Mozzarella, and Havarti.
May we include proteins?
- Yes, you can use shrimp, grilled chicken, or turkey.
Will we prepare these sandwiches by air-frying?
- Yes, you can assemble the sandwich & air-fry till the cheese is melted, for almost five minutes at 190°Celcius.
NUTRITIONAL FACTS:
Calories: 365 kcal
Sodium: 590 mg
Net Carbs: 18 g
Total Carbs: 22 g
Fiber: 4 g
Sugar: 7 g
Fat: 22 g
Protein: 23 g
Serving Size: 1 sandwich