Baked Persian Zucchini Frittata (Kuku Kadoo)

Persian zucchini frittata (kuku kadoo), the best and easiest baked omelette filled with zucchini, delicious spices and herbs. It is great for breakfast, lunch or dinner. So tender and custard like. Low calorie, low carb and with high quality protein.

PERSIAN ZUCCHINI FRITTATA

This zucchini frittata is like a vegetable quiche with no crust. So delicate with crispy golden edges. It is a gorgeous frittata with a rich flavor from the addition of spices, which also give an anti-inflammatory boost to the dish.

Persian frittata or kuku is easy, quick to prepare and works well for any meal of the day. It can be a main dish with salad or bread. Or serve it as a side dish. It combines the high quality egg protein with lots of veggies.

Apart from saffron and Persian spice blend (advieh), kuku has turmeric. Curcumin, the active substance in turmeric has been found to have health benefits for heart health, cancer prevention, brain health, inflammatory bowl diseases, diabetes and more.

HOW TO MAKE ZUCCHINI FRITTATA

1. Sauté thinly sliced zucchini with onions and garlic until softened. Squeeze juices really well.
2. Combine salt, spices, flour and baking powder. Add a third of whisked eggs into the spice-flour mixture and mix well. Pour remaining whisked eggs and stir.
3. Then combine sautéed vegetables with eggs. Adjust the seasoning.
4. Heat oil in a skillet, pour egg-vegetable mixture and bake it uncovered for 20 minutes.
5. Spread 1/2 to 1 tbsp butter or olive oil and sprinkle chopped herbs.
6. Bake for another 5-10 minutes until golden brown on the top.
7. Loosen baked zucchini omelette from the pan and cut into wedges.

TIPS FOR BEST ZUCCHINI FRITTATA RECIPE

• Much of the antioxidant potential of zucchini is in the skin. So, don’t peel it away. Use organic zucchini and scrub it nicely with a vegetable brush.
• Slice the zucchini very thin or you may grate it thick. Cook them until soft and tender.
• While cooking the zucchini, some juices are released. Be sure to squeeze the juices really well before adding to the whisked eggs. (You can add the drained juices to another soup or stew.)
• You could add some parmesan, feta or goat cheese if you prefer. Up to 1/2 cup would be ok for this recipe – 2/3rd added into the mixture and the rest on the top.
• For a creamy frittata you may add 2 tbsp heavy cream, half-and-half, whole milk, sour cream, yogurt or crème fraîche. Adding cheese or creamy additions to kuku is not typical in Persian cuisine.
• Persian spice blend (advieh) can be substituted with a ‘mild’ middle-eastern or eastern Mediterranean spice blend.
• Bake the frittata at a low temperature. Higher temperature may result in a kuku (frittata) that is dry and with an off flavor.
• Don’t overcook the frittata. It needs to be puffed, but tender in the center. Remember that the cast iron skillet will continue to impart some heat to the frittata.
• Traditional Persian zucchini frittata (kuku kadoo) recipes use a pat of butter on the top, but olive oil works well too.

Storage and Leftovers: This Zucchini frittata keeps well in the refrigerator for a few days. Warm it up in the oven or in a skillet.

Freezer Friendly: It does freeze well up to two months. In fact, I make some batches and freeze them for a quick meal or dish after travel. Just thaw and reheat loosely covered in an oven or in a skillet.

Make Ahead: You can sauté the zucchini and drain them. Whisk the eggs with all the other ingredients except the baking powder, which should be added just prior to cooking.

IS ZUCCHINI HEALTHY?

So now a little bit more on the star of the show – Zucchini! It is a member of the cucurbitaceae family along with pumpkins, cucumbers and gourds.

Zucchini is low in calories and carbohydrates. And high in free radical fighting nutrients such as vitamin C and manganese. This vegetable is also rich in B vitamins, that participate in energy metabolism.

Then it is good for eye health as it is a good source of the carotenoids – lutein and zeaxanthin. It is rich in potassium, the nutrient that balances sodium levels and regulates blood pressure – which makes it very heart healthy. And is a good source of dietary fiber.

Zucchini has a high percentage of water, so it makes a filling and satisfying dish. That is so good for maintaining a healthy body weight with a nutrient dense food. And it is easy to digest too.

LOOKING FOR MORE SQUASH RECIPES. YOU MAY LIKE THESE:

• Tahini Creamed Yellow Squash with Caramelized Shallots
• Roasted Butternut Squash with Coconut, Cumin and Ginger

LOOKING FOR MORE EGG RECIPES. YOU MAY LIKE THESE:

• Persian Mushroom Frittata with Spinach and Red Peppers
• Spinach Egg Stuffed Mushrooms
• Shakshuka (Eggs in Tomato Sauce)

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5 from 5 votes

Persian Baked Zucchini Frittata (Kuku Kadoo)

Persian zucchini frittata (kuku kadoo), the best and easiest baked omelette filled with zucchini, delicious spices and herbs. It is great for breakfast, lunch or dinner. So tender and custard like. Low calorie, low carb and with high quality protein.

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time40 mins

Total Time55 mins

Print

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Persian

Keyword: Baked Frittata, Kuku Kadoo, Persian Frittata, Zucchini Omelette

Servings: 8 wedges

Calories: 116kcal

Author: Roxana Begum, PhD, RD

Ingredients

• 1½ lb zucchini sliced thin or grated thick
• 1 red onion large or shallots, thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic large, grated
• 2½ tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tbsp butter grass fed or olive oil
• 6 eggs large
• 1/3 tsp salt adjust to taste
• 1/2 tsp black pepper ground
• 1½ tsp advieh Persian spice mix*
• 1/3 tsp saffron ground, dissolved in 1 tbsp hot water
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 1½ tbsp rice flour or all purpose flour
• 1½ tsp baking powder
• 3 tbsp green onions chives or basil, chopped

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350º F.
• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a 10 inch cast iron skillet. Sauté onions or shallots until translucent. Then stir in grated garlic.
• Next add zucchini and sauté until soft.

  Tip: slice thinly or grate thick.
• Squeeze juices really well and transfer zucchini to another bowl.
• Then whisk the eggs well. In a separate bowl, mix salt, pepper, advieh spice mix, saffron, turmeric, flour and baking powder.
• First, add a third of the whisked eggs into the spice-flour mixture and mix very well. Pour the remaining whisked eggs and stir.
• Then add the sautéed vegetables to eggs and combine. Adjust seasoning as per taste.
• Heat remaining oil in the skillet. Then pour egg-vegetable mixture and bake uncovered for 20 minutes.
• Remove skillet from oven and spread 1/2 to 1 tbsp butter or olive oil and sprinkle chopped green onions, chives or basil.
• Return skillet to oven and bake for another 5-10 minutes, until it turns golden brown on top. If needed, may broil the top for a minute or so.
• Run a knife around the baked zucchini omelette to loosen from the pan and cut it into wedges.
• This Persian zucchini frittata may be served with bread and yogurt if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

1. Use organic zucchini, scrub it nicely and try to retain the peel for better nutrition.
2. If you prefer, add up to 1/2 cup some parmesan, feta or goat cheese - 2/3rd in the mixture and rest on the top. For a creamy frittata you may add 2 tbsp heavy cream, half-and-half, whole milk, sour cream, yogurt or crème fraîche. Adding cheese or other creamy additions to kuku (frittata) is not typical in Persian cuisine.
3. Persian spice mix (Advieh) recipe is on the blog. Ready made advieh is available at Persian or middle eastern grocery stores or online. It can also be substituted with a ‘mild’ middle-eastern or eastern Mediterranean spice blend.
4. The Zucchini kuku is gluten free when using rice flour and not the alternative option (all purpose flour).
5. Bake the frittata at a low temperature and don't overcook. It needs to be puffed, but tender in the center.
6. Storage and Leftovers: It keeps well in the refrigerator for a few days or freeze up to two months. Thaw and reheat loosely covered in an oven or in a skillet.
7. Make ahead: Cook zucchini and drain well. Whisk eggs with all other ingredients except baking powder, which should be added just prior to cooking.

This post was first published on January 2016 and has been updated with improvements in recipe, formatting, tips, and additional enhancements.