Baked Zucchini

I happened to catch Sunny Anderson on Food Network make this one recently.  If you're tired of zucchini bread, fried zucchini, etc. this is a nice alternative.

1 t. olive oil

1 pound zucchini, sliced 1/4-inch thick, at an angle

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Pinch of Hungarian paprikia

For the Topping:

1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs (Japanese)

1/4 cup grated Paremesan cheese

8 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves stripped from the stem, lightly chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Brush 1 teaspoon olive oil on the bottom of an 8 by 8-inch baking dish. Arrange the slices of zucchini in the dish with an overlapping pattern in rows or a spiral in a pie dish. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and paprika.

To make the topping: In a bowl, stir together the panko breadcrumbs, thyme, Parmesan cheese and season with a sprinkle of salt and a few grinds of pepper. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and stir until all the breadcrumbs are soaked with the yellow tint of the oil. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the dish.

Bake until the top is golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes.