Here’s a sensational low carb, low calorie, low fat, low sugar and gluten free take on bruschetta. And, it’s drop dead delicious!!! One of my favorite appetizers to make for the holidays. So easy to pull together, these little gems are so versatile. They also make a yummy snack, side vegetable or even a meatless meal. Guaranteed to be a huge hit! Each skinny piece has just 23 calories, 1 gram of fat and 0 Weight Watchers POINTS PLUS! Eat 2 and it still has only 46 calories, 1 gram of fat and 1 Weight Watchers POINTS PLUS. Of course, if you’re serving as the main course you’ll probably want at least 4 of them.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Bake Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients for Zucchini Boats:
4 large zucchini
Olive oil spray
A little salt and pepper
Garlic powder
Ingredients for Tomato Topping:
2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes, sliced in half or fours
2 tablespoons Balsamic vinegar
½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon garlic powder
Fresh ground pepper, to taste
Ingredients for Cheese Topping:
8 teaspoons Parmesan cheese
Instructions
1. To Prepare Zucchini Boats: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking pan with foil.
Cut each zucchini in half. Using a small spoon or melon baller, scoop out middle section of the zucchini halves to form a boat, leaving a thin shell on each half. Cut each piece in half again. This will make 16 pieces.
2. Place on baking sheet. Spray with olive oil spray. Sprinkle each with a little salt, pepper and garlic powder. Bake for 15-20 minutes until soft.
3. To prepare the tomato topping: In a medium bowl, toss together all tomato topping ingredients except Parmesan cheese. Mix well. Refrigerate until ready to use. Stir well before stuffing the zucchini boats.
4. When zucchini is baked, stuff each with about 2 tablespoons of tomato topping. Some will take a bit more. Drizzle balsamic mixture over each. Be sure to use all of it. You can go back to each and drizzle a little more. Sprinkle the top of each piece of zucchini with ½ teaspoon grated Parmesan cheese. Place back in oven and baked for 5 minutes.
5. Just like bruschetta, you’ll need to serve these on a little plate. They do fall a part a bit while eating them. So pop the fallen pieces right in your mouth!
Makes 16 pieces (each serving 1, 2 zucchini bruschetta, see Skinny Facts below)
Food Facts
Bruschetta is traditionally toasted bread seasoned with garlic and olive oil, commonly served warm as an appetizer, snack, or side dish. The name comes from the Italian word bruscare, which means “to roast over coals.”
Healthy Benefits
Zucchini is high in fiber, water, vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium.
Tomatoes are loaded with antioxidant benefits. They provide an excellent amount of vitamin C and beta-carotene; a very good amount of the mineral manganese; and a good amount of vitamin E.
Weight Watchers (old points) 0 for 1 piece
Weight watchers POINTS PLUS 0 for 1 piece
Weight Watchers (old points) 1 for 2 pieces
Weight Watchers POINTS PLUS 1 for 2 pieces
SKINNY FACTS: for 1 zucchini bruschetta
23 calories, 1g fat, 1.5 g protein, 1.3g carbs, 1g fiber, 74mg sodium, 1g sugar
FAT FACTS: for 1 order Olive Garden’s Bruschetta
950 calories, 13g fat, 35g protein, 173g carbs, 6g fiber, 2860mg sodium
Find more delicious recipes on Nancy Fox’s website, Skinny Kitchen
Nancy Fox
Nancy Fox is no stranger to the food industry. She founded Mrs. Beasley's, a gift-basket company featuring baskets full of decadent baked goods. It became the "hot" gift to give among the Hollywood community. Nancy later opened 2 low fat restaurants called Nancy’s Healthy Kitchen. Her line of reduced-fat cookies were featured on "Oprah's Favorites" gift show. Continuing her passion for cooking and baking Nancy created a recipe website called Skinny Kitchen. Each week she shares skinny recipes, cooking and kitchen tips, food finds and the healthy benefits of many recipes. There’s also nutritional facts and Weight Watchers POINTS on each recipe.
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