· Zucchini are the basis for all sorts of dishes, from pasta sauces to main courses.
· The round variety is especially suited for stuffing, though the elongate ones will also work well.
· Come time to cook them, wash them, pat them dry, and trim off the ends (especially the stem end). If they're small there should be no need to remove the seeds.
· They can be eaten raw or cooked, making them a fast and easy addition to your cooking experience.
· Shred or grate raw zucchini into salads, or cut it into spears for vegetable platters.
· Grill it: Slice zucchini lengthwise, brush it with olive oil, sprinkle both sides with whatever fresh or dried herbs suit your fancy and some salt and pepper to taste. Grill outside on your barbecue or indoors on a grill pan for about 5 minutes on each side until crisp-tender.
· Chilled Zucchini-Basil Soup is the perfect starter for a hot summer night or an afternoon brunch. Make it ahead of time and dish it up right before serving. Add a sprig of fresh basil for a simple but beautiful presentation.
· The Italian version of an omelet, this Zucchini and Leek Oven-Baked Frittata is simple to prepare and versatile. It can be eaten hot or cold, taken to picnics, packed for lunches or served as an appetizer at your next brunch.
· Vary the herbs and cheese and make it a main dish with a salad!
· Here's a super side dish: Sautéed Zucchini with Spinach and Basil Pesto. Whether you make or buy pesto, it's great on just about any summer vegetable.
· A kid-friendly recipe for Broiled Zucchini with Cheese. It's got only three ingredients and it will use up a lot of extra zucchini!
· Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes are so moist, you don't need frosting. Scatter a few chocolate chips on top or dust them with powdered sugar and you're ready for a party!
· Slice zucchini lengthwise and roast with sliced onions, add to soups or crudités, or stew with tomatoes, garlic, and basil.
· Roasted zucchini, cauliflower and potato dish with freshly crushed black cardamom, chili powder, garlic, cumin and S&P, lemon juice and was roasted in the oven, for about an hour
· Thinly slice the zucchini, lightly brown then on one side in a pan with olive oil, then turn over, add chopped tomatoes and minced garlic. Cook until tomatoes and zucchinis are cooked, stirring all the flavors together. Salt and pepper, serve. Good hot, good cold, good two days old.
How to store zucchini, courgrette, summer squash
Zucchini are perishable and should be used promptly, but they can be stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to four days. It can be kept in the fridge for up to one week. When you're ready to use it, wash the zucchini, then slice both ends off. If the skin of the zucchini has been waxed (to extend its shelf-life), peel the skin, but leave the skin on if it's unwaxed. Larger zucchini should be peeled first because the skin can be bitter. Softness is a sign of deterioration.
Cooked zucchini should be covered and refrigerated up to two days. To freeze, slice zucchini into rounds, blanch for two minutes, plunge into cold water, drain, and seal in airtight containers or baggies. Frozen zucchini can be kept for ten to twelve months.
7 Health benefits of zucchini, courgrette, summer squash
1. Weight Loss : Don’t be surprised. Zucchini, as a matter of fact, is a water-filled low calorie vegetable which is sure to keep you full for long time. Looking at its calorie count, a cup of chopped zucchini (around 120 g) gives only 19 calories. The amount of fat it contains is very negligible. It does have a good dose of fiber too.
It can be considered as a low carb, non-starchy vegetable which can be a healthy addition to
weight loss diets and
low carb diets. Combine zucchini with sprouts and red and yellow pepper to make a healthy salad like
Zucchini Bell Pepper and Sprouted Moong Salad. This can be enjoyed as a healthy snack in evening time. It is sure to satiate you and avoid reaching out for those unhealthy deep-fried snacks.
Want to try an appetizer using zucchini. Give a try to
Zucchini and Carrot Clear Soup.
2. Enhances Heart Health : Zucchini, like
apple and
pear, are rich in fiber pectin. This is a polysaccharide responsible for lowering cholesterol and keeping your arteries free of plaque. This further reduces the chances of stroke.
Zucchini itself is also
low in cholesterol and sodium along with being a good source of potassium (314.4 mg / cup), which promotes nerve and cardiac health. Learn about other
potassium rich foods. Moreover, zucchini also abounds in folate – a key nutrient which helps to reduce homocysteine levels and reduce the risk of
high blood pressure and heart attacks. You can learn the art of pairing it with other veggies to make a healthy creation like
Broccoli and Zucchini in Red Capsicum Gravy.
3. Improves Digestion : Zucchini’s water content plays the major role here. The high water content is necessary to bind stools and enhance its easy movement through the digestive tract. This is the same reason why zucchini is suggested for digestive ailments like
constipation,
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and leaky gut syndrome.
Click here to know more about the
7 Amazing Health Benefits of Zucchini.
Nutritive Information for Zucchini:1 Cup of chopped zucchini is about 120 grams
RDA stands for Recommended Daily Allowance.
Energy – 19 calories
Protein – 1.4 g
Carbohydrate – 4 g
Fat – 0.2 g
Fiber – 1.1 g
Vitamins:35.4 mcg of
Folate = 35.4% of RDA (about 100 mcg)
20 mg of
Vitamin C = 51% of RDA (about 40 mg)
Minerals:18 mg of
Calcium = 1.8% of RDA (about 1000 mg)
20.4 mg of
Magnesium = 5.8% of RDA (about 350 mg)
45.6 mg of
Phosphorus = 7.6% of RDA (about 600 mg)
314.4 mg of
Potassium = 6.7% of RDA (about 4700 mg)
Glycemic Index of Zucchini Zucchini has a Glycemic Index of 15 which is low. Glycemic Index are for foods you eat, ranks carbohydrate-containing foods by how quickly they digest and raise your blood sugar or glucose levels. Foods rank from 0 to 50 are low GI, 51 to 69 are medium and 70 to 100 are high. Foods that are high in GI are not suitable for weight loss and diabetics. Foods like Zucchini have a low GI and hence don't spike your glucose level as they are absorbed slowly. Great for
weight loss and
diabetics.