101 ways to eat zucchini!

[Jennie@ifish]

You want it all year, and then you plant it, and then... you have too much of it!

That, and tomotoes! But... I have learned through too many seasons of too many zucchini some really great ways to use it!

Did you know it makes everything more moist? It makes cheese cheesier?

So, when the kids were little, this was a great one:

My kids loved cheese, but weren't so hot on 100 days of zucchini for dinner.

Get some mozzerella, (sp) grate it, or buy the cheap grated stuff. Peel and grate a zucchini, and add it to the cheese. Mix it well.

(Now, the fun starts! Don't tell the kids there is green veggies in the cheese, either!)

Set out a bag of english muffins, some spaghetti sauce and a bit of pepperoni.

Invite the kids in for a pizza making party. I can't believe how good it is, either!

The kids had a blast making their own "pizza" and they got some vegetables without even knowing it!

I have a chocolate zucchini cake recipe that's killer too. If you want it, I'll go get it for you.

If you guys have great recipes for zucchini, please let me know!

Jen

[Gus Orviston]

I would like to place my order of Zukini bread...if each of us got a loaf you might grow membership....OR, how about a Zukini bread with every nice post :wink:

gus, and yes I love zukes fried, or in bread, but am willing to try new treats.

[happybrew]

Egads we've got tons of the things coming in right now. That and cucumbers. I've been slicing them and freezing them. They make a good addition to soups if sliced small enough that the kids can't identify them for what they are.

happybrew

[Jennie@ifish]

Man, cukes just don't grow well down here.
If you have any to spare, I'll take lots! :smile:

Jen

[RvW]

Add them zukes to bananna bread!

I dont make deliveries, but your welcome to stop by the next time you're fishing the Siletz and help yourself to the cukes in my makeshift garden.

(look for the "...beware of owner" sign :laugh: )

I love zuchinni, one of my favorite side-dishes is simply thick sliced zukes, onion, tomatoes and garlic flashed in a skillet with a little butter and basil.

[Snapset]

Zucchini is great if you pick it before it gets bigger than oh, say, a Kielbasa. The great big ones are ok for grinding for Zucchini bread, but bias slice the little ones and stir fry very fast and hot with onions, just enough to caramelize the outside a little bit, but leaving the inside slightly crisp. It only takes about 30 seconds to do this if you start with a hot pan. Season them with a little Cayenne pepper for some zip. If you have extra from the stir fry, use the remaining planks as sandwich fillers, these really add to the texture of a BLT.
This goes for all the summer squashes.

[k9jeff]

Slice it into "disks" about 1/2" thick,,,Bread it in corn meal and fry it. I know its not good for you... but man it is good eating...

[BuckisMunz]

That's just wrong Jennie!!! hehe

[Smj]

Try taking a zush that's about a foot long and 4" in diameter(you know, the one that wasn't there yesterday) and slice it length wise. Scoop out about half the inside and fill it with spagetti sauce(meat or not), top with a bunch of mozzerella and parmesean and bake at 350 deg. for about 30 min. Salad and garlic bread,...Voila!

Smj

[Jacks or Better]

Jennie, Here's one my wife and I have used for a long time.
Makes 4 medium (a little larger than store size) zucchini
Blanch the zucchini for 5 min. Dig out the center so it looks like a canoe. (Stuffed baked potato style)
Combine: 1 Tbs chopped chives, 2 cups of corn (we use frozen), 2/3 cup ricotta cheese, 1 Tbs jalapeno :blush: (we substitue one small can of green chilies - diced - not as hot), salt and pepper.
Stuff the zucchini with this mix and sprinkle cheddar cheese (Tillamook, of course) on top. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 - 40 minutes.
Serve with a good french bread and a glass of red wine. It's a full meal all in itself. Meatless to if that strikes your fancy. Enjoy

[Jacks or Better]

Forgot - here's another we use. Buy one of those Boboli bread disks and make your own pizzas. Cover it with olive oil, fresh garden basil, sliced mushrooms, zucchini, tomatoe slices, artichoke hearts, olives, sprinkle with a few herbs and bake. Use cheese and meat if you wish but doc says my cholesterol is too high for pizza very often. This makes a great substitute. Again a wine seems to taste better than a beer with this one.

[Fish_N_Russ]

Jennie,
You should try the new 'bush' varieties of zucchini. They produce nice small zucs in a small space and if you stagger plantings by a couple weeks you will have them into october.


I always use zucs in stir fry dishes, grilled on kabobs with meat or other veggies (onion, shrooms, red potatoes, bell pepper etc), just plain steamed with a little butter and salt is great too.

Smj, that sounds good but thats what spaghetti squash are for :smile:

[Fshklr]

In large frying pan, saute fresh chopped garlic, scallions, and onion in 2 TBLs olive oil till tender..2 or 3 mins on med heat. Add 2 or 3 Zukes 1 1/2 in diameter sliced in the round 1/4" thick and add 2-15oz cans of italian stewed tomatoes. Simmer with lid on until firm yet tender. Serve as a side dish with Steak, Chicken, or fish!

[Firedog]

I like to dice up zukes and add them to chicken enchiladas. They turn out excellent that way.

[Boatdog]

Thanks everyone for these GREAT Zuchini recipe ideas.

I am getting over run with these things, and the ideas you have shared sound great! I wish I had a zuch recipe for you - sorry.

Those 'scooped out' and 'stuffed' recipes will be the first ones I try, then the stewed ones. I have always had them fried or sauteed until now.

We pickled some two years ago, but they weren't that good.

[Jennie@ifish]

How long does this season last? I'm done with all of these recipes, and even some new from off the net.

I hate that stuff now! :smile:

Well, out to go pick some more. graemlins/1zhelp.gif

Jen

[jokester]

k9jeff, i'm with ya there buddy! Nothing like fresh fried zucchini! We did it a little different back in Southern IL though. We cut it into disks about 1/4", dip them in an egg batter, throw them in some flour to coat both sides, salt a pepper a bit, and then fry them up! Not the best health-wise, but mmmmm mmmmm good! :grin:

[Jennie@ifish]

BUMP! For the other zucchini thread! :smile:

This is last year's thread on the multiplying flowers of squash!

Jen

[Spotted Owl]

Zucchini is best kept with the liver and pickled beats.
Anywere but of the plate or table even better would be not even in the house.

[Chromaflage]

My favorite zuch recipe:

Peel the skin off, dice it up, scrape into sink and run it throught the garbage disposal where it belongs!!! :sick:

That ranks right up there with liver in my book.

ORS