This is a great satisfying side dish that will compliment just about any meat, poultry or fish. Try these patties and I promise you won’t miss your potatoes or rice.

Serves: 4
Time to Table: 30 minutes

Healing Nutrient Spotlight
Excellent source of calcium
Good source of vitamin A, vitamin C

Ingredients*
1 large egg 
2/3 cup finely chopped shallots (or green onion and a garlic clove) 
2 T. chopped parsley 
1/4 tsp. salt 
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper 
2 cups shredded seeded summer squash or zucchini, or a mixture of both (2 or 3 medium-sized squash) 
1/2 cup grated hard cheese, i.e., Pecorino Romano or Soy Parmesan 
1 T. olive oil

*Use organic ingredients for optimal nutrition.

Preparation
Preheat oven to 400°F. After shredding squash, place on paper towels or on a kitchen towel and cover with another towel and squeeze to soak up liquid.  (The squash should be very dry or the patties will fall apart.) Beat egg in a large bowl and add shallots, parsley, salt and pepper.  Add the squash and cheese and mix to combine all ingredients well.

Heat oil in a skillet on medium heat.  Measure 1/3 cup of the mixture and form a patty.  Repeat.  Recipe should make about four cakes, 3 inches in diameter each.  Cook patties in skillet until browned and crispy on bottom.  Turn to cook other side.  When browned on both sides transfer patties to a metal baking dish.  Bake in oven for about 10 minutes.  Garnish with a little chopped parsley and serve. 

Nutrition
138 calories, 9 g protein, 7 g carbohydrates, 9 g fat, 4 g saturated fat, 3 g monounsaturated fat, 1 g polyunsaturated fat, 65 mg cholesterol, 2 g sugars, 1 g fiber, 706 IU vitamin A, .07 mg thiamin, .09 mg riboflavin, .17 mg vitamin B-6, 31 mcg folate, 10 mg vitamin C, 208 mg calcium, .88 mg iron, 21 mg magnesium, .16 mg manganese, 299 mg potassium, 4.3 mcg selenium, 377 mg sodium

[Ed. Note: Laura B. LaValle, RD, LD is presently the director of dietetics nutrition at LaValle Metabolic Institute.   Laura and her husband, Jim LaValle, R.Ph, CCN, ND have developed the powerful and life-changing Metabolic Code Diet - containing step-by-step, easy to follow recommendations for harnessing optimal metabolic energy and turning your body's chemical make up into a fat-burning furnace.  To learn more click here now.]

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