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Snack & Appetizers

Grilled Zucchini Roll

This grilled zucchini roll with ham and cream cheese is a quick, easy appetizer, also great as finger food for an aperitivo.
Recipe Grilled Zucchini Roll
  • Difficulty Medium
  • Preparation 20 minutes
  • Servings for 4 people

The Zucchini Roll is a quick and easy summer recipe, perfect as a tasty appetizer or a light main course for hot summer days. You can make this Zucchini Roll Recipe with the ingredients you like best: for example, you can replace the ham with bresaola (Italian air-dried beef) to make a Zucchini Roll with Bresaola, or with salmon for a Salmon Zucchini Roll.

The Zucchini Roll with Ham and Cream Cheese can also be made with arugula instead of the baby lettuce, for a Zucchini, Ham and Arugula Roll that makes a tasty finger food for a really special aperitivo or apericena (an aperitivo hearty enough to replace dinner).

This special Grilled Zucchini Roll is a perfect cold dish for summer that we are sure you will love from the first bite and that you can serve on any occasion. A clever recipe for summer 2026 that, once you try it, will earn its place among your best summer recipes.

Ingredients for 4 people

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Method

  1. To make the Zucchini Roll, start by washing the zucchini carefully and trimming them, then slice them lengthwise with a mandoline into slices about 5 mm (1/4 inch) thick and grill them on a very hot grill pan. Then lay the zucchini slices on a sheet of plastic wrap, overlapping them slightly.
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  2. Lightly salt the zucchini, then arrange a layer of ham on top, followed by a layer of cream cheese.
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  3. Now scatter over a little baby lettuce and roll everything up very carefully. Wrap it tightly in the plastic wrap and let it rest in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
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  4. Once it has rested and firmed up, take it out of the fridge and remove the plastic wrap. Your Zucchini Roll is now ready to serve and enjoy. Finally, remember to download our App with exclusive content and fewer ads!
    Grilled zucchini roll

Variations and Alternatives

If you like, you can fill your Zucchini Roll with arugula or fresh baby spinach, and you can also replace the ham with bresaola or prosciutto.

Tips

For a perfect Zucchini Roll, remember first of all to overlap the zucchini slices well, and then let the roll rest on the coldest shelf of the fridge.

Storage

The Zucchini Roll keeps in the fridge for 2-3 days without any problem.

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