Seasonality
Summer/Early Fall
Quick Tips
How to cook PRODUCE
Zucchini is a summer staple that can be grilled, roasted, sautéed, steamed, braised, or served raw. Although there is no wrong method to cooking zucchini, they do have a high water content, which can easily throw off a dish. Salting zucchini before cooking can help coax the water out and concentrate the flavor.
How to buy PRODUCE
Size is important when looking for zucchini. Overly large zucchini has a mute flavor and the skin can be tough. Look for medium-sized zucchini that have a solid color, minimal cuts, and are firm when pressed. The skin should also have shine to it.
How to store PRODUCE
Keep unwashed zucchini on the counter for a couple of days or for a few more days, wrap in a tea towel and place in the crisper. Wait to wash until right before using, which should be done within within a few days of purchasing.
Varieties
Eight Ball
Payload
Laminio
Goldmine
Magda
Safari
Tigress
About
Zucchini is a summer squash and can easily be interchanged with other summer squash. There are many different varieties of zucchini that range in color from green to yellow (not to be confused with yellow summer squash), size, and shape. One of my favorites is the eight ball. This round zucchini is perfect for stuffing with grains and herbs!
Zucchini is a fairly easy item to use: no peeling or de-seeding is needed. If you plan on using it in a dish where extra liquid would be a problem, it’s highly recommend that you salt the zucchini first to draw out the moisture. I use zucchini in curries, grilled as a side dish, and tossed onto pizza. Of course, I also make my fair share of zucchini bread.
To freeze zucchini, I cube it first. From there you go through the normal cycle: blanch for two minutes, ice bath, pat dry, and sit in a freezer safe container. You can also shred zucchini using the same process.
All Vegetarian Zucchini Recipes
Black Lentil Enchiladas with Zucchini
Buckwheat and Tomato Stuffed Zucchini
Caramelized Zucchini Frittata
Chimichurri Chickpea Zucchini Noodles
Corn Cilantro Cakes with Roasted Zucchini Salsa
Curry Grilled Vegetables with Chickpeas and Creamy Polenta
Grilled Cumin-Lime Zucchini Quesadilla
Grilled Halloumi Skewers with Cilantro-Tahini Sauce
Grilled Summer Veg Bowl with Kidney Beans
Grilled Zucchini with Lemon Labneh and Za'atar
Herbed Zucchini Summer Rolls
Loaded Summer Veg Burger with Fried Egg
Pesto Zucchini Lasagna
Pinto Bean Quesadilla with Spiced Zucchini
Quinoa and Zucchini Stuffed Peppers
Roasted Cherry, Barley, and Goat Cheese Salad
Spiced Zucchini | Component Cooking
Summer Buckwheat Salad
Summer Squash Pasta with Yogurt Sauce
Summer Veg Nachos with Black Beans
Summer Vegetable Frittata
Summer Vegetable Pasta with Chickpeas
Summer Vegetarian Paella
Summer Vegetarian Tacos with Avocado Cream
Summer Veggie Omelette
Zucchini (Summer) Paella
Zucchini Bake with Farro and Ricotta
Zucchini Bread Pancakes
Zucchini Lentil Fritters with Spread and Extra Veg
Zucchini Ribbon, Quinoa, and Pesto Salad
Zucchini Soba Bowl with Tahini Sauce
Zucchini Sweet Corn Hash Egg Skillet