Food

5 Ways to Use the Zucchini Growing in Your Garden

Zucchini plants in my garden this time of year are so prolific that I have to start giving them away to people to use them up. After a while though people don’t want them so I either have to do a drive-by zucchini ambush or figure out different ways to prepare them. The neighbors might even get some if my plants keep producing the way they have been!

Over the years I have discovered some really delicious ways to prepare zucchini and today I want to share my top 5 ways I love to use mine. As always, store-bought zucchinis work just as well for these but the thing I love about growing mine is that I can harvest at all different sizes for what I need. So here are 5 of my favorite ways to use zucchini from my garden!

5 Ways to Use the Zucchini Growing in Your Garden

Zucchini Bread

I am a HUGE fan of zucchini bread. I have been since I was a kid and there are so many great recipes out there. My favorite one is from my Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook. Zucchini bread is a great option to use up excess zucchini. The recipe I use calls for 2 1/2 cups of shredded zucchini, making it easy to get through at least 2 good-sized zucchini. I also love to put the crystalized sugar on the top for an extra crunch!

Grilled Zucchini

During the Summer, we love to use the BBQ to cook. This helps keep the house cooler and I love the flavor the bbq gives to the food. Zucchini is so easy and tasty to make on the BBQ. Depending on the size, I cut them in half, score the cut side, and smother them in olive oil, herbs, and salt and pepper. They make the perfect size for any easy Summertime dinner.

Sauteed Zucchini

Sauteed zucchini is so simple and so delicious! I love adding zucchini to a Summer stir fry or just sauteeing it as a side for dinner.

Raw Zucchini Salad

Raw zucchini may sound like a weird concept but trust me…it is delicious. The small zucchinis are best for this because they have a crunchier texture than their large counterparts and have fewer seeds. It’s something different and tastes refreshing on a hot Summer day. All I do is use a vegetable peeler and create little ribbons and then toss them with herbs (parsley, basil, or mint works great for this recipe), olive oil, and lemon juice. Once it’s at the table I top it with some shaved parm!

Zucchini Fritters

I love a crispy fritter situation and zucchini’s lend themselves well to a fritter recipe! It is an easy way to use up the excess zucchini that is coming out of the garden. My favorite recipe is from Love & Lemons…it is *chef’s kiss*.

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