As soon as summer starts to arrive, seasonal produce lovers know exactly what that means: It’s officially zucchini season! Summer is when this versatile veggie is harvested and at its peak, and most abundant and easy to find at farmer’s markets and in home gardens alike. It’s contains many important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can help support multiple facets of our health.
Health Benefits
Zucchini is packed with many important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It has a high fiber content and a low-calorie count. Fiber plays an important role in digestion and may limit the likelihood of suffering from a variety of GI issues.
Cancer Prevention
Zucchini contains zeaxanthin and several other compounds that can play a role in preventing oxidative stress. This, in turn, may limit the likelihood of developing cancer.
Diabetes Prevention and Management
Zucchini is rich in vitamin B6. Research suggests that this vitamin can help with regulating blood glucose. The vitamin may even play a protective role against diabetes.
If you’ve been reserving zucchini as a side dish, it’s time to move this summer vegetable to the center of the table as the main course. Whether you make it the star of a low-carb lasagna or add it to a savory summer tart, you simply can’t go wrong.
Creamy Zucchini Pasta
Got a bit of zucchini on hand? Here’s one way to turn it into dinner: this Creamy Zucchini Pasta! It’s luxuriously creamy, coating the noodles in a silky Parmesan and Pecorino sauce. Add rounds of savory sautéed zucchini, garlic, lemon zest, and a pop of herbaceous basil, and each bite is a symphony of flavor.
breakfast tacos
breakfast tacos are about as simple a way to use zucchini as you'll find. To make the filling, just cook the sliced zucchini and bell pepper in a skillet until they're browned, then season with salt and pepper. Of course, no breakfast taco is complete without eggs, so we combine the vegetables with soft-scrambled eggs and salsa verde, then serve it all in warmed tortillas with avocado, Cotija cheese, and crema.
baked zucchini
One of our favorite zucchini recipes is baked zucchini! It’s the opposite of soggy or slimy: coat this tasty veggie lightly with breadcrumbs and a little Parmesan cheese. Even better, it’s not so labor intensive as zucchini fries (where you dip in flour and egg): so you get the best of both worlds! Pop it in the oven and it’s a tasty and easy side dish for summer meals.
zucchini bread
Yep, we think it’s one of the best zucchini bread recipes out there! What makes it the best? Well, it’s the perfect texture: moist, but not oily. And it’s got the best flavor: cinnamon-scented, with just the right sweetness. To us, it’s everything that zucchini bread should be!
squash and zucchini casserole
What’s more homey than squash and zucchini casserole? It’s got the vibe of Sunday dinners and summer evenings where the sun stretches into the late evening. This one is packed with flavor and quickly disappeared into our house. A light Parmesan sauce covers the tender squash, and it’s topped with crunchy breadcrumbs. It’s a cozy casserole that’s not too rich and heavy.
In reality, Zucchini is one of the healthy, nutritious fruits. It is a good source of essential micronutrients and macronutrients.
