Cheesy Vegetables

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PRESENTATION

If you've ever wanted to try one of those classic vegetable cheese recipes from Italy, you gotta try 'verdure al formaggio.' It's like everyone in Italy makes it at some point. Super simple stuff, really. The thing is, it is flexible—no need for crazy steps or weird ingredients. Just grab whatever veggies you've got lying around, like broccoli, zucchini, tender carrots, potatoes, and maybe toss in some sweet cherry tomatoes. Chop 'em up, throw them into a baking dish, and then—and here's the thing—cover everything with chunks of smoked scamorza cheese plus a sprinkle of Parmigiano. Really really good. This combo gives the dish its golden crust and moist, cheesy center. And listen, a layer of crispy bread crumbs adds that crunch in every bite. The result? A dish with a melty cheese vibe and loads of flavor, yet it still feels light thanks to the veggies. It’s a taste of Italian home cooking—simple and so so tasty.

This kind of cheesy vegetable dish is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or as an easy side when guests come over. Pretty much a lifesaver for using up leftover veggies—think of it as Italy’s version of a vegetable cheese bake. The scamorza melts beautifully, holding everything together and giving you that stretchy, savory bite, while the Parmigiano adds a sharp finish. Even kids who usually dodge veggies seem to love this dish, thanks to the gooey cheese and crispy topping. Different regions might swap in local cheeses or add more garlic and herbs, showing the flexible, practical approach of Italian cooking. Whether served hot from the oven or eaten cold the next day, it’s one of those vegetables with cheese recipes that never gets old—a feel-good dish ready in about 30 minutes, no stress. Anyone who enjoys a good tangy bite and a melty finish will definitely come back for seconds. For real.

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INGREDIENTS
Broccoli 4 cups (380 g) - to be cleaned
Cauliflower 3 ¼ cups (350 g) - to be cleaned
Potatoes 0.8 lb (350 g)
Zucchini 2 ½ cups (300 g)
Carrots 2.3 cups (300 g)
Cherry tomatoes 1 cup (150 g)
Smoked scamorza cheese 8 oz (220 g)
Parmigiano Reggiano PDO cheese 3 oz (80 g)
Breadcrumbs 1.8 oz (50 g)
Extra virgin olive oil to taste
Fine salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
Preparation

How to prepare Cheesy Vegetables

To prepare the cheesy vegetables, start with the zucchini: after trimming the ends and cutting them in half, slice them first 1, then cut into sticks 2 and finally into cubes about 3/8 in 3.

Do the same with the carrots 4 and the potatoes 5, after peeling them. Coarsely chop the cauliflower 6.

Clean the broccoli and separate into small florets 7, then cut the cherry tomatoes in half 8. Finally, cut the smoked scamorza into cubes of the same size 9.

In a large bowl, add the carrots, the potatoes 10, the broccoli 11 and the cauliflower 12.

Add the cherry tomatoes and the zucchini 13, then add the cubed scamorza 14 and a generous drizzle of olive oil 15.

Season with salt 16, pepper and mix everything well 17. Now line a baking sheet with parchment paper and sprinkle the base with half of the breadcrumbs 18.

Spread the vegetables on the baking sheet 19, then cover with the remaining breadcrumbs 20 and grated Parmigiano Reggiano 21.

Bake in a preheated conventional oven at 356°F for about 30 minutes 22. After this time, switch to convection mode with the broiler on at 428°F for about 5–8 minutes, until the vegetables are nicely gratinated 23. Your cheesy vegetables are ready to be served 34!

Storage

Cheesy vegetables can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 days in an airtight container.

Tip

Vary the vegetables as you like depending on the season and availability, adding for example pumpkin, mushrooms or asparagus!

Instead of smoked scamorza you can use other melting cheeses such as caciocavallo, fontina or Emmental.

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.