Zucchini is in abundance at this time of year, especially in my parents’ garden. We don’t grow any since we have a small backyard garden, but we get plenty from them.
My kids aren’t horribly crazy about eating it (unless it’s shredded and hidden in bread) but they do enjoy it grilled. And something about the char marks makes things just look tasty to me! Here’s a simple guide to grilling zucchini.
Choose and Prep Your Zucchini
The best zucchinis for grilling are those that are young, small-ish and firm. If you have a very large zucchini, it is usually quite “seedy”, which isn’t as tasty. Either green or yellow, also known as summer squash, tastes great grilled.
Find a nice looking zucchini and slice it into similar size pieces so they cook in the same amount of time. They should be somewhat thick so they hold together and don’t burn when grilled.
Season your zucchini accordingly. You may want to use your favorite seasoning, marinade them in some salad dressing or just brush on canola oil.
Prep Your Grill and Cook Your Zucchini
Preheat your grill to medium high. Cook your zucchini for 3 or 4 minutes on one side, rotate a quarter turn and grill for another 3 minutes. Flip over your zucchini and cook about 4 minutes more or until your zucchini gets a little soft and is grilled golden brown. Carefully take them off the grill and season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve hot!
Other Uses for Zucchini
When I have lots of extra zucchini, I just wash the outside, cut them into chunks and shred them in my salad shooter. Then I portion them into freezer bags so we can freeze and enjoy zucchini all winter long (check out a tutorial on freezing zucchini here).
If you want to use the shredded zucchini immediately, you can make a big batch of zucchini bread with whole wheat flour and unsweetened applesauce. This recipe for chocolate zucchini bread from Joy of Baking is also delish!
Need some other ideas? Try adding sliced zucchini to this homemade stir-fry sauce recipe from Angela here at UTH, or use your shredded zucchini in homemade spaghetti sauce.
Don’t let your good vegetables go to waste! If you can’t use them all yourself, check with a local food pantry to see if they take fresh fruits and veggies from your garden.
There are lots of ways to use zucchini, and grilling them is just one way to get your whole family to enjoy your harvest.
I love zucchini but usually just roast it in the oven. Thanks for the tip! 🙂