SET UP: Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Oil a 5-quart baking dish.
MARINATE THE ZUCCHINI: Thinly slice the zucchini into rounds. Toss with the lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon salt and a couple turns of pepper. Layer the zucchini in the prepared dish, slightly overlapping the slices; the zucchini should just cover the bottom of the dish.
PREP THE SALMON: Rub the salmon with the lemon zest, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and a couple turns of pepper. Put the salmon on top of the zucchini, skin-side down. Stir together the butter, olives, and thyme and spread over the salmon. Sprinkle the panko over the olives.
COOK THE SALMON: Bake the salmon until it's firm and just cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes. Turn the broiler to high and broil the salmon 2 to 3 inches from the heat until the panko is browned, about 1 minute.
Recipes from "The Chopped Cookbook: Use What you've Got to Cook Something Great" (c) Copyright 2014 by Television Food Network, G.P. By arrangement with Clarkson Potter/Publishers.