Adapted from NYT cooking

- SAUCE:
- 1 (28 oz.) can of whole peeled tomatoes
- 1 small onion, chopped (I don’t use onion)
- 4 medium cloves garlic (I use 3 cloves, sliced thin)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (I use 1/2 teaspoon)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
- ROASTED ZUCCHINI:
- 2 1/2 to 3 pounds zucchini
- Salt and pepper
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan (I use 1/2 cup)
- Optional – I like to add a bread crumb topping
- 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon melted butter or olive oil
- Pasta, for serving
- SAUCE:
- Add 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat and add onion.
- Cook, stirring often, until tender, about 5 minutes.Add garlic. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute.
- Add tomatoes, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and basil sprigs.
- Increase heat to medium-high.
- When tomatoes are bubbling briskly, stir and simmer about 20 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in basil.
- ZUCCHINI
- Heat oven to 475-F. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper.
- Trim ends off zucchini and cut in half crosswise, then into lengthwise slices, about 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick.
- Place sliced zucchini in a bowl and toss with olive oil.
- Arrange zucchini slices on baking sheets in one layer and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Roast for 15 minutes, until lightly browned on the underside and tender (it’s ok if it doesn’t get browned).
- Remove zucchini from oven and reduce heat to 375-F.
- To assemble: Spread 1/4 cup tomato sauce over bottom of dish.
- Arrange a third of the zucchini in an even layer over tomato sauce.
- Spoon a third of remaining sauce over zucchini.
- Sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan.
- Repeat with 2 more layers, ending with 1/4 cup Parmesan (if adding bread crumb topping, mix the 1/4 cup parmesan into the crumb/butter mixture and sprinkle on top).
- Drizzle on little bit of olive oil. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, until bubbling and browned on the top and edges.
- Remove from heat and allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
