Hasselback Zucchini with Corn & Bacon
Hasselback cuts fan the zucchini open just enough to tuck a mix of corn, bell pepper, and bacon between every slice. Fifteen minutes in the oven, then the filling goes in and the bacon renders into the slits for a second ten-minute bake.
A handful of fresh arugula right before serving keeps everything bright.
Ingredients
- zucchini 1
- olive oil 1.5 tablespoon
- corn 2 ounce
- bell pepper 1
- bacon 3 slices
- garlic 1 clove
- Italian seasoning 0.5 teaspoon
- arugula 1 handful
Method
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Preheat the oven to 400°F (210°C).
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Make thin, evenly spaced cuts along the zucchini, stopping just before the knife goes all the way through so the slices stay connected at the base. Place the zucchini on a baking sheet, brush with half the oil and roast for 15 minutes.
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Rinse the corn and let it drain well. Dice the bell pepper and mix it with the corn. Roughly chop the bacon.
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Finely chop the garlic and combine it with the bell pepper, corn, Italian seasoning and the remaining oil.
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Remove the zucchini from the oven and carefully fill the slits with alternating layers of the corn mixture and bacon.
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Return to the oven and bake for another 10 minutes, or until the zucchini is tender and the bacon is crispy.
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Serve the hasselback zucchini topped with arugula. Season with salt and pepper, and serve warm.
Place two chopsticks along the sides of the zucchini while slicing. They stop the knife before it cuts all the way through, so every slit comes out even without having to guess the depth.
Behind this recipe
Will eating corn at dinner slow down fat loss?
No. A 6-month randomized trial with 78 overweight adults compared two identical diets. The only difference was timing: one group ate most of their carbs at dinner, the other spread them throughout the day. The dinner-carb group lost 28% more weight. This recipe's 30 grams of carbs at dinner fits squarely in the range that study tested.
Read the full evidence reviewIs 16 grams of protein enough for a dinner?
On its own, 16 grams is on the lower side if you are working toward a higher daily protein target. The rest of your day can make up for it. A protein-rich snack later, a higher-protein lunch, or a side of cottage cheese alongside this zucchini would bring your meal total up without changing the recipe itself.
Won't the carbs in the corn make me hungry an hour later?
That is a common worry, but controlled evidence does not support it. In a 2-week metabolic ward trial, the high-carb group ate 689 fewer calories per day spontaneously compared to the low-carb group, with identical hunger ratings. The idea that carbs spike insulin, insulin drives hunger, and hunger drives overeating does not hold up when calories and food access are tightly controlled.
Read the full evidence review
