What exactly is air-fried Hasselback zucchini Caprese? It’s not a zucchini boat, but it is a colorful and innovative use of a few ingredients that combine well to create a recipe that can be used as an appetizer, a side dish, or a meal and it is a great use of those summer zucchini you might be growing too many of in your garden!
Caprese-style food offers a combination of healthy and fresh ingredients that become a divine combination, you can savor while dining al fresco, at dinner parties, as an accompaniment to any charcuterie tray, or just with your family, and you’ll find this recipe to be Noom, Weight Watchers, and GOLO Friendly!
Get ready for an uncomplicated, yet sophisticated-looking zucchini and garden-fresh tomato recipe you are sure to make more than one time, and of course along the way impress anyone you might serve this divine combination to.
ALL IMAGES AND THE RECIPE ARE THE PROPERTY OF DANA VENTO
Table of Contents
Why You Will Love the Caprese Tomato Zucchini Recipe
As one of our favorite dining options especially during the summer, I have so many reasons to share about why you will love the Caprese Mozzarella Zucchini.
- It’s a fresh spin on traditional Caprese appetizers
- You can and should make this in advance
- The Caprese Zucchini Hasselback-style recipe can be prepared in many different ways
- Ingredients for this zucchini-based Caprese Tomato Hasselback style food are super easy to find
- You don’t need to worry as it can be eaten raw or cooked!
- The recipe for Hasselback tomato Caprese zucchini can be air-fried
The Hasselback Caprese stuffed zucchini is not a zucchini boat as I previously mentioned because the interior flesh of the zucchini is cooked and scooped out, nor are the tomatoes and cheese placed in the center in oval form.
Instead, you’ll find a rainbow-low-spanned zucchini, cut Hasselback, functioning as a vessel to hold and keep situated slices of fresh mozzarella and fresh garden tomatoes like no other appetizer out there!
Equipment Needed To Make The Air-Fried Caprese Tomato Zucchini
You will find that basic kitchen essentials will be all you are using, so nothing fancy, and I will leave a short list of what kitchen essentials make the Caprese Mozzarella Zucchini easiest to prepare!
- Cutting boards with side reservoirs are great for slicing tomatoes and catching fresh water from the mozzarella.
- One good paring knife like these (my personal favorite because of the colorful handles) will help with slicing
- With a traditional wooden spoon with round handles, you’ll understand why shortly.
- A tomato knife to get those cuts of tomato very precise (this is the tomato knife I use especially when I prepare this recipe, as uniformity in slicing is essential! )
- Aluminum foil
- serving tray for carrying the Hasselback zucchini Caprese from the cooking appliance to the table.
- Tongs or a large flat flexible spatula – you will use one of these tools to lift the Hasselback Caprese sliced and stuffed zucchini
- Air fryer or grill – whichever appliance you prefer to prepare your Caprese zucchini sliced and stuffed with tomato and cheese ( I like the air fryer, but you can use the grill as well, baking is not recommended). This is a straightforward air-fried Caprese zucchini recipe you will love ♥!
Ingredients For Your Air-Fried Hasselback Zucchini Caprese
You are about to prepare a tomato mozzarella zucchini appetizer, so what do you think you will need ingredient-wise for the recipe?
How To Make Air-Fried Hasselback Zucchini Caprese
I’ll give you a quick overview of how to make the air-fried Caprese tomato Hasselback zucchini, and I’ll go into far more detail in the printable free recipe card at the end of the post.
You might begin referring to this recipe as air-fried Hasselback Caprese Zucchini.
I make this just ahead of the company arriving so that it is warm but not scalding by the time we are ready to serve, and the topping dresses the dish up.
Naturally, any ingredient you don’t like can be eliminated, and you can add in any ingredient you feel you might like better.
Step 1: Prep All the Ingredients For The Hasselback Caprese Sliced And Stuffed Zucchini
Overall, you’ll want to ensure you have prepared your zucchini by rinsing it and have your mozzarella ready to stuff inside each of the cuts on the zucchini and the fresh tomato.
Step 2: How To Hasselback the Zucchini
You’ll need to prep the zucchini differently than the tomato and the fresh mozzarella.
For this, you will slice the zucchini via the Hasselback method. Use my video to understand this, it is fast and easy, yet you need to be precise for EVEN cooking.
Step 3: Stuffing The Hasselback Sliced Zucchini
Once you’ve done the Hasselback method of slicing the zucchini, you will begin to stuff the in-between slices alternating your tomato and the fresh mozzarella.
Step 4: Air-Frying Your Caprese Tomato Stuffed Zucchini
In my opinion, the fastest and most efficient method for preparing the Hasselback Zucchini Caprese is using the air fryer.
I’ve used the grill, and I love that too, but not as much as the air fryer.
Do not bake the Hasselback Caprese sliced and stuffed zucchini. It gets soft, watery, and yucky!
Step 5: Officially Caprese the Tomato Mozzarella Zucchini
Top it off with your balsamic glaze and fresh basil, then serve and enjoy! A
What To Serve With Air-Fried Caprese Tomato Zucchini?
You will have a lot of ‘play’ with what to serve with your fresh mozzarella and tomato Hasselback zucchini bridges.
What you serve will be built around who you share the recipe with and their lifestyle choices (Keto, Paleo, Vegetarian, Anything goes, etc.).
Sides
You can pair this with a side of marinara to dip the zucchini and cheese in.
Naturally, you can also serve this with fresh baguette slices or toasted crostini bread sins topping, and allow the topping to be the serving pieces of fresh mozzarella, air-fried zucchini slices, and tomato atop the crostini!
Also, crab and lobster dip pair well with this as a side if you are looking for other appetizer options.
Cocktails
We pair this with Italian Mules, our own version of Sambucca, and fresh lime and vodka. Add a maraschino cherry if you want something a bit sweeter!
Caprese Zucchini Caprese FAQs
Is Hasselback zucchini Caprese considered antipasti?
Yes! It can be, or the Hasselback-sliced zucchini could be a meal too!
We have often prepared these poolside on the grill, we enjoy them ahead of our meals, and my updated spin on stuffed sliced zucchini Caprese and air frying make this easier and healthier!
While the stuffed tomato cheese zucchini antipasti are best served warm if it is air-fried, then served and cooled, it can be drizzled with a bit of olive oil and balsamic to rev it up!
Once placed in the center, it is a showstopper for its magnificent color and the Hasselback presentation, each of which meets the criteria of official antipasti.
Last, each slice is a single-serve event, whether you choose the piece of cheese and tomato, cheese tomato and zucchini, or just zucchini!
Are Zucchini Caprese Hasselback-Style Keto Friendly?
Yes, they are. Zucchini is low in net carbs and a satisfying veggie! Tomatoes are keto-friendly, and so is fresh mozzarella, and it’s air-fried, so all of this combined makes it a mega-friendly keto meal, appetizer, or side dish!
Can I Prepare Caprese Zucchini Ahead of Time and Freeze Them?
No.
I’ve tried this, and the zucchini get weird, the tomatoes are not exceptionally freezer-friendly, and I wouldn’t say I like how the fresh mozzarella turns out. I would advise against it!
Can I Serve Caprese Zucchini As a Side Dish?
Yes!
Use the sliced and stuffed zucchini Caprese as a luncheon meal, a side dish, the main meal, or an appetizer; it’s a simple meatless option.
Can I Grill The Caprese Stuffed Zucchini?
Yes, you can grill, or air fry them; I don’t suggest baking them. I will say that the air-fried method has been the best as on the grill, unless you don’t place foil under the tomato zucchini Caprese, you will find a watery-like feel to the zucchini.
Are the Hasselback Caprese Zucchini Vegetarian or Paleo Friendly?
No. Paleo does not allow for dairy; therefore, NO.
No to Vegetarian Friendly because the fresh mozzarella could contain animal enzymes.
Do I Need An Air Fryer To Make Hasselback Caprese Tomato Zucchini?
Yes. If you want a less watery version of this recipe with tomato, zucchini, and fresh mozzarella, you will want to air fry the Hasselback sliced and stuffed veggie!
No. If you don’t mind a bit more watery, you can use the grill!
Could The Caprese Mozzarella Zucchini Be Eaten Raw?
Yes. Zucchini slices are yummy uncooked, and if you add a dash of garlic salt or salt and pepper, it’s even better! Fresh mozzarella is perfect against the firm texture, and the sliced zucchini and tomato crunch is the ideal finish. So, yes, you can eat raw this Hasselback Caprese sliced and stuffed zucchini treat!
The Answer to The Question: What Recipes Can You Make With Zucchini?
Air frying your large or small zucchini after slicing and stuffing each slice with fresh mozzarella and tomato is a great way to prepare and use your zucchini! You’ll find that the air-fried Caprese tomato zucchini Hasselback-style will be a recipe you’ll make over and over!
Tips For Preparing The Air-Fried Hasselback Zucchini Caprese With Balsamic Glaze
If you jump to the recipe, I’ve shared tips and tricks for creating this Hasselback Tomato Zucchini Caprese.
I cover tips for size, stuffing, and an idea for the Balsamic Glaze.
Make Sure To Come Back And Tell Me How Your Air-Fried Hassleback Zucchini Caprese Turned Out
Tell me, if you changed what you topped the tomato zucchini Caprese with, what ingredients did you add to this?
Did you air fry the Caprese mozzarella zucchini sliced Hasselback-style, or did you serve and eat it raw?
Hasselback Zucchini Caprese
Ingredients
- 1 zucchini sized to fit your air fryer
- 1 Roma Tomato Sliced Thin then half each slice (f necessary)
- 1 Log of fresh mozzarella pre-sliced or not
- Fresh Basil (about 3-4 leaves) cleaned and chopped
- 3 Tbsp Red Onions Chopped
- 1-2 Tbsp Balsmic Glaze
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer basket to 450°F for 5 minutes while you do all of the following prep work.
- Additionally, I suggest cutting a piece of foil exactly the size of the zucchini and enough that the sides can come up a bit when you are air frying the zucchini tomato mozzarella Caprese
- Wash zucchini and dry the zucchini
- Wash and rinse a Roma tomato then uniformly slice it and then slice the whole pieces into 1/2 pieces and set aside slices
- Slice (or use sliced) fresh mozzarella (then slice those pieces in 1/2
- Peel and chop the red onion (absolutely optional)
- Rinse basil pat dry, and set aside
- Using a cutting board, place your wooden spoon from side to side behind the zucchini and snug the zucchini up to the handle of the spoon.
- With your knife, slice uniform slices without being too thin or thick, (.25 inches is the sweet spot)
- When you slice the knife will be stopped by the wooden spoon handle (creating Hasselback slices)
- Working from the middle of the zucchini, place a 1/2 slice of tomato in between a slice and alternate each other section with mozzarella slices.
- When you are done, you can dust the Hasselback sliced and stuffed zucchini with garlic salt or just salt and pepper.
- Place the Hasselbacked stuffed zucchini into the air fryer basket atop the foil you portioned and close the air fryer
- Set the air fryer to 5 minutes and allow the mozzarella, zucchini, and tomato to cook and the cheese should slightly melt.
- While the zucchini is cooking chop your red onion and basil so it is ready to top your cooked mozzarella tomato Hasselback zucchini.
- Upon the cycle ending for the air fryer, open the air fryer, and carefully remove both the foil and the tomato mozzarella Hasselback Zucchini.
- Carefully transfer the cooked zucchini to a serving plate and if you want to stand it upright you will need a bowl to use the edges as wedges to stand it upright.
- Do note that you do NOT have to stand this upright to serve and that the Hasselback zucchini Caprese can be served on its side as well.
- Once you have positioned the mozzarella and zucchini Caprese with tomatoes the way you want, sprinkle it with the Chopped red onion, and the chopped basil. Then drizzle with the balsamic glaze and serve.
- Enjoy Dana XO
Notes
Tips To Help Make Your Hasselback Zucchini Caprese
- if you can find the presliced fresh mozzarella buy it, but if not don't worry about it, just slice the log yourself.
- Do not use fresh mozzarella pearls they are just much too watery and zucchini and tomato are also water-laden.
- Preheat the air fryer
- Use foil so that cleanup is easier and you can easily lift the foil out when you take the Caprese Hasselback Zucchini out
- Don't slice the zucchini too thick if you prefer slightly cooked pieces of zucchini as thicker slices will take longer to air fry while the cheese will over-melt.
- The best tomatoes to use in this recipe are Roma tomatoes because you can create nice round slices that can be halved and work perfectly (fit nicely) into each in-between slice of zucchini.
- work from the middle of the zucchini and start with the fresh mozzarella, as it is a bit more firm with less give, and then go back and add in the tomato and you will see that since the tomato is softer and fleshy you have a bit more give for sneaking it in between the slices.
- the zucchini may form an arch and that is to be expected
- always lay the zucchini on its side in the air fryer
- make sure the zucchini you are using FITS in your air fryer basket or you may need to cut it in half
- to stand the zucchini up use a bowl (if you have one) that fits the zucchini from side to side and if it won't stand add a piece of tomato or cheese below its end piece to steady it
- balsamic glaze can be homemade (use my recipe) or it can be store-bought if you prefer
With roots in Sicily and Rome, Dana combines her family’s culinary heritage with her experience as a travel writer and chef to create authentic Italian recipes. Drawing from time in Italy, cherished Nonna’s recipes, and her expertise with modern kitchen appliances, she simplifies traditional Italian cooking. Dana’s approach keeps the authentic flavors and tastes intact, offering easy yet genuine Italian dishes for everyday cooking.
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