Zucchini, not quite ready for picking
UPDATE: In early October, the abundance of zucchini continues. Today’s Seasonal Pantry features my all-time favorite zucchini recipes. You’ll find them here:
Hot weather is to zucchini what steroids are to baseball players, with the obvious exception that steroids are optional and intense sun is not. Even so, that’s the image that pops into my head whenever I head out into my garden and see what has happened in what seems like a few hours. Although I’ve never tested it myself, I suspect if you are willing to sit in the hot sun in front of a plant you can actually see the zucchini grow. Mine seem to go from a tad smaller than perfect–about 5 inches long, to my thinking–to scary-big overnight. Even one zucchini plant can be overwhelming, especially if you are not feeding a crowd.
But as luck–or nature’s wisdom–would have it, zucchini is about as easy to cook as it is easy to grow. If you have a favorite way to prepare zucchini, tell us about it here. And while you’re at it, what do you think is the perfect size for zucchini? Do you prefer a greater or lesser skin-to-flesh ratio?
One of my favorite ways to enjoy zucchini is to slice it lengthwise and grill it either outside over charcoal or on a stove top grill and top it with Yogurt-Tahini Sauce. If you want to gild the lily, pour about 1/4 inch of good olive oil into a small saucepan, add 2 or 3 tablespoons of pine nuts and heat over a low flame until the pine nuts just begin to take on a bit of color. Pour the hot oil and pine nuts over the zucchini after you’ve added the sauce. YUM! Seriously, it is extraordinarily great.
If you need more inspiration, I’ve searched the Seasonal Pantry archives for favorite zucchini recipes. By the time you’ve cooked your way through all of them, you’ll likely have tamed the zucchini monster, at least until next year.
Chilled Zucchini Soup with Pesto
Spaghettini with Zucchini Strands, Wax Beans and Basil
Pappardelle with Green Beans, Zucchini Ribbons & Tomatoes
Risotto with Zucchini, Peppercorns & Basil
Zucchini & Sausage with Oven Polenta
Grilled Tuna Salad with Zucchini, Roasted Peppers & Tomatoes
Zucchini Ribbons with Cherry Tomato Vinaigrette
