For the Zucchini Lover in all of Us
The absolute best zucchini recipes, zucchini holidays, zucchini videos, you name it and if it's about zucchini you'll find it here!
Zucchini is a nutritious and versatile vegetable that often gets overlooked. It's light taste goes well in soups and stews. It's great fried and what would ratatouille be without it?
Zucchini is effortless to grow and it grows so fast after it's sown you'll be overrun in no time. You'll be thankful that there are so many ways to serve it and a holiday for sharing some with your neighbors!
Zucchini is a great source of Vitamin A, Thiamin, Niacin, Phosphorous and copper. It provides needed fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Folate, Potassium, and other good stuff. The bad part is that it also contains natural sugar. (That's what makes it taste so good.)
Photo by Leeks'N'Bounds
Zucchini Linguine Recipe
Zucchini Linguine Recipe(Try saying that 3 times fast!)
Ingredients:
1 One pound package Linguine
2 medium sized Zucchini, sliced thin
4 medium sized fresh Tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 medium sized Onion, chopped
1/4 cup fresh Parsley, chopped
3 Tablespoons Olive oil
3 Garlic cloves, minced
1 Teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and Pepper to taste
Grated Parmesan to season
Directions:
Cook Linguine by following the directions on the package.
Heat Olive oil in large skillet over medium heat.
Add garlic and cook until slightly brown. (approximately 15 seconds)
Add Zucchini and Onion Stir-Fry until tender-crisp. (Approximately 5 minutes)
Add Tomatoes, Parsley, Basil, Oregano and salt and pepper and cook an additional 5 minutes.
Toss the Linguine with the Zucchini mixture in a large bowl, gently.
Top with grated Parmesan.
Serves 6 to 8.
Zucchini Linguine is delicious when served for dinner with Toasted Garlic Bread. Mangia!
Photo by Ned Raggett
Zucchini Nutrition
First and Foremost
Zucchini is high in nutrition and low in calories. Check this chart to see for yourself then go ahead, prepare and enjoy the many zucchini recipes sprinkled throughout this page. It's good for you!Zucchini (raw, chopped with skin), 1 cup
Calories: 17
Protein: 1.4g
Carbohydrate: 3.6g
Total Fat: 0.17g
Fiber: 1.5g
Good source of: Vitamin C
Cute zucchini duck photo by Alex Gee
Zucchini Pie Recipe
Zucchini Pie RecipeIngredients:
2 Tablespoons Margarine
4 Cups thin-sliced Zucchini
½ cup chopped Onions
3 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried Oregano
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 Eggs beaten
2 cups Mozzarella cheese grated
1 can refrigerated Crescent rolls (I use Pillsbury brand)
Directions:
Heat oven to 375 degrees F
Melt margarine in 12 inch skillet over medium heat.
Add Zucchini and onions, cook until tender.
Add parsley, salt, pepper, garlic powder, basil and oregano to zucchini mixture, stir.
In a large bowl combine beaten eggs and grated Mozzarella cheese, mix well. Add the Zucchini mixture to bowl and stir gently.
Separate Crescent roll dough and place into an ungreased pie pan, to form a crust. Press the perforations together to prevent the zucchini mixture from escaping.
Pour Zucchini mixture evenly into the crust-lined pan.
Bake for about 20 minutes (until knife inserted in center comes out clean)
Makes 8 servings
Zucchini Pie is wonderful when served for brunch, lunch or as a light dinner. Enjoy!
Photo by Ned Raggett
Zucchini Cookbooks
Chocolate and Zucchini: Daily Adventures in a Parisian Kitchen
Amazon Price: $12.89 (as of 09/08/2008)
Vegetables from Amaranth to Zucchini: The Essential Reference: 500 Recipes, 275 Photographs
Amazon Price: $40.95 (as of 09/08/2008)
Pickles and Relishes: From Apples to Zucchinis, 150 recipes for preserving the harvest
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 09/08/2008)
From Asparagus to Zucchini: A Guide to Cooking Farm-Fresh Seasonal Produce
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 09/08/2008)
The Classic Zucchini Cookbook: 225 Recipes for All Kinds of Squash
Amazon Price: $16.95 (as of 09/08/2008)
Grilled Fresh Zucchini Recipes
Grilled Fresh Zucchini RecipesHealthy recipes don't have to be boring or bland. By using Olive oil and a bit of heart-happy garlic you can create delectable, good-for-you dishes that will have your family and friends asking for more.
Balsamic Zucchini Recipe
A summertime crowd pleaser for sure, this recipe turns out just a well whether you choose to grill it over gas, or charcoal. Prepare this one a day in advance for even better flavor!
Ingredients:
3 or 4 fresh zucchini (depending on size)
1/4 cup Olive oil
3 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
2 Cloves garlic, minced
2 leaves fresh basil, finely chopped
salt and pepper, to taste
Cooking Spray
Directions:
Wash and cut, un-peeled, zucchini into ½ inch slices.
Combine remaining ingredients into a bowl, or pan, large enough to hold all zucchini slices.
Add zucchini and mix well.
Cover and refrigerate for several hours. (Up to 24 )
Spray grill with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
Preheat grill for approximately 5 minutes.
Grill zucchini 3 to 5 minutes per side, or until desired golden-brown color is obtained.
Lemon-Garlic Zucchini Sticks Recipe
Pop these on the grill alongside of your favorite meat, fish or poultry for a quick, easy summer side dish that's sure to become a family favorite.
Ingredients:
3 or 4 fresh zucchini, (depending on size) halved, peeled and then sliced lengthwise
3 cloves fresh garlic, minced fine
1/4 cup Olive oil
3 tablespoons lemon juice
Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
Combine minced garlic, Olive oil, lemon juice and salt and pepper in a bowl.
Add Zucchini sticks and toss to coat.
Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes.
Preheat grill for approximately 5 minutes.
Grill zucchini sticks for 3 to 5 minutes, per side, or until desired golden-brown color is obtained.
Note:
When the sun is done and old man winter rears his ugly head, you can broil these recipes in your oven or better yet, use an indoor grill like the Lodge Logic Pro combination grill/griddle pan.
Photo by Ned Raggett
Fried Zucchini Recipe
Fried Zucchini Sticks Recipeaka Fried Baseball Bats Recipe
This recipe is perfect for when you find one of those HUGE zucchinis in your garden, the one that somehow got overlooked while harvesting and turned into a giant zucchini baseball bat! Of course you can also use it for your everyday normal sized zucchinis.
Ingredients:
Extra-large zucchini, peeled, and sliced like French fries, eliminating the seeds.
1 Egg
1/4 cup milk
Approximately 1 cup bread crumbs (depends on how well your zucchini hid)
1/4 cup flour
Vegetable oil for frying
Salt to taste
Directions:
Beat egg with milk in bowl.
Mix bread crumbs with flour in another bowl.
Dip your zucchini sticks into the egg mixture and then into the bread crumb mixture until well coated.
Fry in vegetable oil in a large skillet until lightly browned.
Remove from skillet and drain on a bed of paper towels.
Season with salt and serve warm.
Zucchini sticks are so delicious the kids won't even know that they're eating vegetables!
Photo by GrabaDonut
Must Have Zucchini Corer
![World Cuisine Zucchini Corer [World Cuisine]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21851RlvxmL._SL75_.jpg)
World Cuisine Zucchini Corer [World Cuisine]
SPECS: L 4 3/8" - Description: Zucchini Corer, blade length 4 3/8 in. overall length 8.5 in.
Amazon Price: (as of 09/08/2008)
Del.icio.us Zucchini bookmarks
Looking for More Zucchini Information?
Ratatouille Recipe
Ratatouille RecipeRatatouille is a classic Mediterranean vegetable dish made with succulent eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, bell pepper and mushrooms.
Ratatouille is also the name of a new movie released by Pixar featuring the voices of Patton Oswalt, Lou Romano and Janeane Garofalo, about a rat named Remy who dreams of becoming a chef. Cute stuff!
I thought I'd share my recipe for ratatouille for those of you who'd like to try it or serve it in honor of viewing the movie. Hey, it could be a sneaky way to get your kids to eat more vegetables!
Ingredients:
½ cup olive oil (measured and used in separate portions)
1 large onion, diced
2 cloves garlic minced
2 Zucchini sliced (skin on)
1 eggplant, peeled and diced
2 large tomatoes or 4 plum tomatoes, chopped
1 red bell pepper diced
1 cup fresh mushrooms sliced
2 Tablespoons parsley
Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
Heat 1 1/2 tablespoon of Olive oil in a large pot over medium-low heat.
Add onion and garlic. Sauté until soft and golden.
In a large fry pan, heat another 1 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil and sauté the zucchini until lightly browned. (both sides)
Remove the zucchini and place in the pot with the onions and garlic.
Sauté all the remaining vegetables, except the tomatoes, one batch at a time, adding 1 1/2 tablespoon olive oil to the fry pan each time you add a new set of vegetables.
Once each batch has been sautéed add them to the pot with the onions, garlic, and zucchini.
Season with salt and pepper.
Cover the pot.
Cook over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes and parsley to the large pot, cook another 10-15 minutes. Stir as needed.
Serve warm and enjoy!
To make this more of a meal, serve your ratatouille over pasta!
Photo by Sabotrax
Zucchini Flowers
Zucchini Recipes
Best of the Web
- Pizza: Zucchini Pizza by Recipe Cottage
- Casserole recipes including chicken casseroles, bean casseroles, enchilada casseroles, tuna potator, and ground beef recipes.
- Zucchini Bread Recipes
- Zucchini Bread Recipes
AllRecipes.com - Picnic Zucchini Bean Salad Recipe
- Picnic Zucchini Bean Salad
- Potato and Zucchini Casserole Recipe - Patates me Kolokythakia sto Fourno - Greek Food
- Potatoes, zucchini, red and green peppers, and melted feta cheese on top: a delightful light main dish or side.
- Vegan Zucchini Bread Recipe - Vegan Breakfast Recipe - Vegetarian Breakfast Recipe - Vegan Zucchini Bread
- Vegan Zucchini Bread Recipe
- Zucchini Chowder Recipe
- Zucchini Chowder Recipe
Quick Guide to Growing Zucchini
A Quick Guide to Growing ZucchiniGrowing great zucchini is easy. Once it gets established in your garden the stuff grows like a weed. Most gardeners end up with too much zucchini for their own good and have to share it with the neighborhood.
The most important thing to remember about growing zucchini is that it should be picked young, when it is no more than 2 inches in diameter. It just tastes better that way and contains fewer, smaller seeds. Picking it young will also encourage the plant to produce more zucchini.
I do have a warning for you though. Zucchini loves to play hide and seek, and it usually wins. No matter how closely I examine my zucchini plants there is always one zucchini that is growing unwatched and unpicked until it is the size of a Louisville Slugger baseball bat. Never fails! I don't know how they do it. Keep in mind that even at this immense size they are tasty and edible, if you remove the skin and seeds. Try using the big ones for fried zucchini sticks.
I always start my zucchini from seeds. Follow the directions on the package and be sure to give the plants lots of space because their leaves get huge.
Zucchini and all the other squashes in the squash family love full sun and well-drained, nutrition rich soil. Be sure to keep your zucchini plants well watered, especially during the hot, dry days of summer and never plant them in the same spot the following year or they may get diseased.
Harvest your zucchini by twisting it off of the vine carefully so as not to injure the plant. You may also harvest it by cutting the fruit off with a sharp knife.
The beautiful orange flowers of the zucchini plant are also edible and quite delicious when breaded and deep-fried, or used to perk up a boring salad.
Photo by Leeks'N'Bounds
Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Day
August 8th is a fun food holiday that you might not be aware of, Sneak Some Zuchinni onto Your Neighbor's Porch Day.Due to the overzealous reproductive nature of the zucchini plant, and the sometimes overzealous nature of the zucchini gardener, on Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Day, zucchini growers everywhere are expected to drop off baskets of zucchini onto their neighbors' doorsteps.
When dropping off the zucchini remember, get rid of as much as possible. He who sneaks the most zucchini onto his neighbors porch, wins!
Keep in mind that the key word to this holiday is sneak. Don't get caught or next year you may find yourself the victim of this insanely entertaining holiday.
Beautiful Zucchini Artwork
For the True Zucchini Lover
Courgette (Zucchini) Poster Print
Last Name: Vilmorin. Paper Width: 0. 00. Paper Height: 0. 00. Subject: Cuisine:Fruits/Vegetables. Style or Genre: Decorative. Decor: Traditional. Primary Color: Yellow. Secondary Color: Dark Green.
Amazon Price: $12.91 (as of 09/08/2008)
Squash, Squash & Zucchini Art Poster Print by Mark Miller, 24x36
Print Title: Squash
Artist: Mark Miller
Just one of over 3,000 prints from Soups to Nuts in our Cuisine gallery. Get one today.
Size: 24 x 36 inches
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 09/08/2008)
Salad Bar, Art Poster by Greg Brown, size 28" x 24"
Amazon Price: $27.75 (as of 09/08/2008)
Art Poster Print - Squash: Black Zucchini - Artist: unknown- Poster Size: 28 X 19
Squash: Black Zucchini 28 X 19 inches. High Quality Art Work. This Squash: Black Zucchini is made with High Quality Poster paper and is made for years of enjoyment
Amazon Price: (as of 09/08/2008)
Gourmet Zucchini Tasty Treats
La Piana Zucchini Risotto , 8.8 Oz
Authentic Italian Risotto; Made in the Veneto region of Northern Italy
Made with carefully selected Carnaroli rice and the finest vegetables
Exceptional Risotto with creamy texture and bursting vegetable flavor
Pairs well with Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Use as a main dish or as a side dish for chicken, fish or braised meat
Cooking time: 15-16 minutes; Serves 6
Amazon Price: $6.26 (as of 09/08/2008)
Scott's Cakes Zucchini Bread 3 Loaf Box
Baked Fresh
Boxed for safe shipping
Made with quality ingredents
Hand made and baked to perfection
You can enclose a gift message
Amazon Price: (as of 09/08/2008)
My Favorite Zuccini Video
Mr. Zucchinihead from Family Guy
Thanks for Visiting my Zucchini Lens!
Leave a zucchini love note or a big green thumbs up!
Please don't forget to rate this page with the stars above before you leave!
|
CleanerLife
Wish someone would sneak some zucchini onto my porch! Oh, well, I'll get some at the farmers' market! Posted September 01, 2008 |
|
Agagster
5 Stars for your lens : Fat loss 4 Idiots Posted August 30, 2008 |
|
stargazer00
My zucchinis are just starting to get ready. I think I might need this lens soon! Posted August 24, 2008 |
|
redwhiteandgrew
Brilliant idea for a blog...and timely, too. Alas, our zukes, which had a great start, all had some catastrophe befall them--from storms to the dreaded squash bore. Yikes! Posted August 23, 2008 |
|
RufusQuail
I'm a fan of zoosweeney steaks. My friend grows jumbo zoosweeneys. We slice 'em into slabs as wide as your open hand, then grill 'em a bit. Good eatin'. Posted August 18, 2008 |
More of My Food Featured Lenses
Like What You Saw Here? You'll Love These Too!
-
Totally Terrific Tomato Recipes
-
Totally Terrific Tomato - Recipes and Growing Guide is a collection of totally terrific tomato recipes, a treasure trove of tomato information and a growing guide to help you grow the most totally terrific tomatoes ever. You'll find everything you nee...
-
The Absolute Best Home Made Manicotti Recipes
-
Nothing beats a steaming dish of manicotti dripping with tomato sauce and loaded with cheese, and in my opinion, nothing compares to home made. The shells are easy to make once you know how and you can stuff them with all of your fami...
-
Asparagus Recipes and Grow Guide
-
Find everything you need to know about fresh asparagus right here! Learn how to grow asparagus, how to cook asparagus and even some tasty asparagus recipes. Fresh asparagus is delicious on it's own but by adding a few simple ingredients you can turn...
-
The Absolute Best Barbeque Sidedish Recipes
-
Here at The Absolute Best Barbeque Sidedish Recipes I offer you my favorite recipes, links, cook out supplies, and suggestions for what to serve along side of your grilled meats. There's no need to close up the grill whe...
