A quick & easy skillet dinner replacing the usual pasta in cream sauce with zucchini in cream sauce and, better yet, ready in less than 30 minutes!
Some days all you want to do at the end of the day is collapse on the sofa, put your feet up and veg by the TV. Well, this was one of those days!
My day started with prepping a meal for my Secret Recipe Club post, which is going to be yummy, watch for it on Monday, as well as my Creative Cookie Exchange cookie of the month and my post I write for My Cooking Spot. Now you are probably asking yourself why I am doing these all at once. Well it’s not because I am crazy, well maybe a little, but there really is a good reason. I am going to go see my sweet grandchildren in Texas at the end of next week and wanted to get these done before my travels. I mean, who wouldn’t want to visit these two adorable kids if they had the chance!
Anyway, I needed to make something easy for dinner, and try to keep it on the healthy side, so a one skillet meal sounded like the ideal choice. I have been having a love affair with zucchini lately and using it in place of pasta is my favorite thing to do. So I definitely knew that was one of the ingredients going in the skillet. Another bonus is you don’t have to cook it before preparing the meal. What could be easier?
The prep that took the longest was slicing the zucchini but, with a mandolin, it took less than a minute. If you don’t have a mandolin I would suggest a Swiss-made Borner mandolin. I love mine and it’s a top quality product that is built to last. The onion I always have prepped and keep in a ziploc bag in my fridge so except for chopping up a few slices of ham, the rest is ready to go. Dinner in less than 20 minutes, without a lot of clean up, is oh so nice. And it was delicious too served with a side salad and a glass of Chianti.
So how healthy is this meal? It’s loaded with protein supplied by the eggs, ham and peas, while the zucchini does its thing supplying a low calorie filler (after all it’s 95% water). Zucchini is also packed with important phytonutrients, Vitamins A & C, folates, potassium and manganese. Peas, are a surprising powerhouse of nutrition too, high in protein, fiber, antioxidants, Vitamins C & E and other important micronutrients. So while you’re devouring this meal, smile ’cause you’re being good to your body too!
Enjoy!
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 large onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 cup fat-free half & half or heavy cream
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 4 slices baked ham, chopped
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
- 1/2 cup Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese, grated
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1-2 zucchini, cut into noodles with mandolin (or a spiralizer works too)
- Heat olive oil in large skillet. Add onion and saute until onion is soft & translucent. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
- In a small bowl, combine beaten eggs with half & half (or cream) and wine.
- Add egg mixture, ham, peas and grated cheese to skillet. Stir until cheese melts. Season to taste.
- Add in zucchini noodles and stir until heated through.
If you liked this recipe, check out our Quick & Easy Meals Pinterest group board for more dinner you can make in 30.
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