When zucchini start to get ripe, it can feel like you have way more than you know what to do with! Here are some ideas about how to get the most out of your zucchini:
Easy Sautéed Zucchini Recipe
Ingredients:
2 medium zucchini
4 cloves of garlic
4 tablespoons of olive oil
salt
Cut the zucchini into 1/4 inch-thick medallions. Set aside.
Peel and dice the garlic.
Heat olive oil in a large pan.
Add the garlic and zucchini to the pan, stirring occasionally . Let it cook until the zucchini is golden brown on both sides.
Top with salt to taste and serve hot.
Zucchini Lasagna That You Can Freeze
Ingredients:
3 medium zucchini
3 cups ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella
2 cups shredded parmesan
4 cups tomato sauce
2 handfuls fresh basil
1 handful fresh thyme
olive oil
salt
optional: ground beef, turkey, or meat substitute such as Impossible Burger
Heat the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.
Cut either end off of the zucchini and cut lengthwise into thin strips, no more than 1/8" thick. Lightly salt the strips of zucchini and set them aside on paper towels.
If you're using meat or a meat substitute, cook it in a frying pan until well done. Set aside.
Wash and chop the basil and thyme. Set aside.
In a large baking dish, lay some zucchini strips down in a single layer. Top with 1 cup tomato sauce, then sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of the fresh chopped herbs on top. If you're using the meat, you can spread some on top of the tomato sauce and herbs. Top with 1 cup ricotta, 1/2 cup parmesan, and 1/2 cup mozzarella.
Continue to layer the ingredients as described in step 5 until all of the ingredients are used up.
Bake for about 30 minutes or until the middle is hot and the top is golden brown.
Serve hot or freeze for up to a year.
Preserving Zucchini
Did you know that you can freeze zucchini for up to a year? Simply wash the zucchini, cut them into 1-inch cubes or grate them, and freeze in freezer bags or in airtight containers. Although the zucchini won't seem fresh after reheating them, you can still do a lot with frozen zucchini. Zucchini bread and zucchini soup are some of the best uses for frozen zucchini.