{{Short description|Dish common in Australia and New Zealand}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Infobox food | name = Zucchini slice | image = Zucchini Slice (cropped).jpg | image_upright =1.2 | image_alt = | caption = | alternate_name = | type = | course = Main dish, side dish | place_of_origin = | region = Australia and New Zealand | associated_cuisine = Australia, New Zealand | creator = <!-- or | creators = --> | year = | mintime = | maxtime = | served = Warm, room temperature, hot | main_ingredient = Zucchini, eggs, cheese, flour | minor_ingredient = Bacon, onions | variations = | serving_size = 100 g | calories = | calories_ref = | protein = | fat = | carbohydrate = | glycemic_index = | similar_dish = frittata, quiche, quickbread | cookbook = | commons = | other = | no_recipes = true }} '''Zucchini slice''' is a dish common in Australia and New Zealand that bears similarities to frittatas and quick breads. It consists of zucchini, eggs, cheese, usually bacon, and flour, baked to form a flat loaf. It is then cut into squares and served as a main dish or a side dish, often eaten for lunch.
It is one of a category of similarly-named and -served dishes common in the region, both sweet and savory.
== History == In Australia and New Zealand the dish is a "beloved lunchbox staple or café snack", according to the ''New York Times''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Melissa |author-link=Melissa Clark |date=15 July 2022 |title=Make the Most of Too Much Summer Squash With the Zucchini Slice |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/15/dining/zucchini-slice-recipe-australia-new-zealand.html |access-date=25 August 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> It is one of a category of slices, both sweet and savory, common in the region.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Volger |first=Lukas |title=Snacks for dinner : small bites, full plates, can't lose |year=2022 |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers |isbn=978-0-06-314322-7 |oclc=1308436735}}</ref>
The dish may have roots in Europe<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=31 August 2012 |title=Zucchini slice |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/food/recipes/zucchini-slice-0 |access-date=25 August 2022 |website=Special Broadcasting Service |language=en}}</ref> or the Middle East.{{Cn|date=August 2022}}
== Description == ''The New York Times'' calls it "a cross between a frittata and savory quick bread".<ref name=":0" /> The main flavors are of egg and cheese.<ref name=":0" />
== Ingredients, preparation, and serving == The dish combines zucchini, eggs, cheese, flour, and usually bacon, along with seasonings and sometimes other ingredients.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
The dish takes approximately an hour to produce.<ref name=":2" /> The zucchini is grated and combined with the other ingredients into a thick batter and baked until firm, typically in a Lamington pan.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /> It is served in flat slices, usually warm or at room temperature, and eaten out of hand.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> It can also be served hot.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Faulkner |first=Lisa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UlpeDAAAQBAJ&dq=%22zucchini+slice%22+australia&pg=PA149 |title=From Mother to Mother: Recipes from a family kitchen |date=9 March 2017 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-4711-6085-1 |language=en}}</ref>
The dish is typically eaten as an entree or a side dish.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=How to make a classic zucchini slice |url=https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/recipes/zucchini-slice-6436 |access-date=25 August 2022 |website=Australian Women's Weekly |language=en}}</ref>
== Popularity == The dish is very common in Australia and New Zealand;<ref name=":0" /> ''Australian Women's Weekly'' introduces their version with the phrase "No introduction needed" and named it to their 2003 list of six "all time reader favourite meals".<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bannerman |first=Colin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sq7ekDGLqhAC&dq=%22zucchini+slice%22+australia&pg=PA46 |title=Seed Cake and Honey Prawns: Fashion and Fad in Australian Food |date=2008 |publisher=National Library Australia |isbn=978-0-642-27624-7 |language=en}}</ref> According to ''Taste.com.au'', it is their most popular recipe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zucchini slice |url=https://www.taste.com.au/recipes/zucchini-slice/eb7eed59-5f53-4f6f-bfb5-9b7e3f81a702 |website=Taste.com.au}}</ref> ''Magic Little Meals'' refers to it as "a favorite with young and old".<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Houbein |first1=Lolo |author1-link=Lolo Houbein |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WFXYDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22zucchini+slice%22&pg=PA185 |title=Magic Little Meals: Making the most of homegrown produce |last2=Arbon |first2=Tori |date=22 February 2019 |publisher=Wakefield Press |isbn=978-1-74305-579-3 |language=en}}</ref> According to ''More'' it is perennially at the top of online search lists during zucchini season in Australia.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Preston |first=Matt |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VlmrDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22zucchini+slice%22&pg=PA149 |title=More |date=29 October 2019 |publisher=Plum |isbn=978-1-76078-908-4 |pages=149 |language=en}}</ref>
== Similar dishes == Dishes similar to the category of slices include bar cookies, frittatas, and sheet cakes.<ref name=":1" /> The zucchini slice is most similar to a frittata, although the inclusion of flour makes it according to Lukas Volger similar in texture to "somewhere between a quiche and a savory muffin".<ref name=":1" />
== See also ==
* Mucver * Vanilla slice
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Australian cuisine}}
Category:Australian cuisine Category:New Zealand cuisine Category:Squash and pumpkin dishes Category:Egg dishes Category:Cheese dishes