What Does it Taste Like?

Zucchini has a mild and delicate flavor that can complement any dish. It's slightly sweet and nutty, with a hint of earthiness. Zucchini has a crisp and crunchy texture when raw, and a soft and tender texture when cooked. It can absorb the flavors of the ingredients it is cooked with, making it a versatile and adaptable vegetable.

Varieties we grow

Caserta

The Caserta variety of zucchini is distinguished by its light green skin adorned with darker green stripes and speckles. Its flesh is firm and tender, offering a mild, slightly sweet flavor with a hint of nuttiness. Ideal for grilling, sautéing, or baking, this zucchini variety retains its texture well, making it a versatile addition to a wide range of dishes.

Why Should I Eat It?

Zucchini is a nutritious vegetable that can provide various health benefits. Some of the nutritional benefits of zucchini are:

Nutrient Rich: Zucchini is rich in many nutrients, such as vitamins A, C, B6, K, folate, manganese, potassium, magnesium, and copper. These nutrients can support your vision, immune system, heart health, bone health, and metabolism.
Antioxidants: It is high in antioxidants, especially carotenoids, which can protect your eyes, skin, and cells from oxidative stress and inflammation. Zucchini also has more antioxidants in its skin, so it is better to eat it unpeeled.
Digestion: It contributes to healthy digestion, as it is high in water and fiber. Water and fiber can help prevent constipation, lower cholesterol, regulate blood sugar, and promote weight loss.
Potassium: It may lower blood pressure, as it is low in sodium and high in potassium. A diet rich in potassium can help balance the effects of sodium and reduce the risk of hypertension and stroke.
Low Carb: It may improve blood sugar control, as it is low in carbs and glycemic load. Zucchini can also be used as a substitute for higher-carb foods, such as pasta, bread, or rice. This can help people with diabetes or prediabetes manage their blood sugar levels.

Zucchini

June - September

Zucchini is a green wonder that can transform any dish with its freshness and flavor. It's a member of the squash family that grows in the warm months of the year. Zucchini has a smooth and shiny skin that hides a tender and juicy flesh. It can be sliced, diced, shredded, or spiralized to create different shapes and textures.

Recommended Storage

Refrigerate

Pickle

Can

Freeze

Dehydrate

How Do I Store It?

Short Term

Zucchini is best stored in the fridge, preferably in a crisper drawer for 1 week. Excess moisture will cause it to wilt more quickly, so don't wash it until you're ready to use it, and make sure it gets proper ventilation.

Long Term

Freezing: You can absolutely freeze zucchini in sliced, diced, shredded, or spiralized form. But, to prevent it from turning brown and mushy, you'll want to blanch it first. After blanching, pat the zucchini dry and freeze on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Pickling: You can swap zucchini for cucumber using your favorite pickling recipe. You can quickly blanch the zucchini to help it retain it's lovely green color.
Canning: Since zucchini is a low-acid food, you should only can it using the pressure-cooker canning method to ensure food safety.
Dehydrating: Dehydrated zucchini chips make for a delightfully crispy snack! Stick with small - medium squash here, cut into 1/8 in thick slices, and season with some salt and spices of your choice.

How Do I Cook It?

Roasting: Roasting zucchini in the oven gives it a crispy and caramelized texture, and enhances its natural sweetness. You can season it with butter, herbs, cheese, or any other toppings you like. Roasting zucchini is easy and versatile, and you can use it as a side dish, a salad ingredient, or a snack.
Grilling: Grilling zucchini on a hot grill or a grill pan creates charred and smoky flavors, and makes the zucchini tender and juicy. You can marinate it with olive oil, garlic, lemon, or spices before grilling, or drizzle some dressing or sauce over it after grilling. Grilling zucchini is a great way to enjoy the summer produce and add some color and freshness to your plate.
Sautéing: Sautéing zucchini in a skillet over medium-high heat is a quick and simple way to cook zucchini, and it works well with pasta dishes, stir-fries, or frittatas. You can sauté zucchini with oil, butter, garlic, onion, salt, pepper, or any other seasonings you prefer. Sautéing zucchini brings out its mild and nutty flavor, and gives it a crisp and crunchy texture.
Air-frying: Air-frying zucchini is a healthy and fun way to make zucchini fries, chips, or nuggets. You can coat the zucchini slices with flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, or use a gluten-free or low-carb alternative. Then, you can air-fry them until they are golden and crispy, and serve them with your favorite dipping sauce. Air-frying zucchini is a great way to satisfy your cravings without adding too much oil or calories.
Zoodles: Zoodles are a low-carb and gluten-free, alternative to regular pasta noodles. Zoodles are made by spiralizing, peeling, or grating zucchini into thin strands that resemble spaghetti, fettuccine, or linguine. Zoodles can be eaten raw or cooked, and can be paired with any sauce, dressing, or topping you like. Zoodles are a delicious and healthy way to enjoy zucchini and add more vegetables to your diet.

Recommended Recipes

Pasta Primavera with Italian Sausage

Roasted Summer Veggies with Creamy Polenta

Zucchini Falafel (Baked or Fried)

Lemony Orzo with Roasted Vegetables and Fried Halloumi

Zucchini Gratin

What Goes Well With It?

Zucchini is a vegetable that can pair well with many different flavors, depending on how you cook it and what you serve it with. Some of the best flavor pairings for zucchini are:

Garlic, basil, oregano, parsley, pepper, salt, and thyme: These herbs and spices can enhance the mild and nutty flavor of zucchini, and give it a Mediterranean flair. You can use them to make a zucchini and tomato sauce, a zucchini and cheese gratin, or a zucchini and herb frittata.
Lemon, onion, and feta cheese: These ingredients can bring some brightness and tanginess to zucchini, and make it a refreshing salad or side dish. You can use them to make a zucchini and lemon salad, a zucchini and onion tart, or a zucchini and feta fritter.
Chocolate: Chocolate and zucchini may sound like an odd pairing, but trust me, it works! Zucchini adds moisture and texture to chocolate cakes, brownies, cookies, or muffins, without affecting the flavor. Chocolate and zucchini are a great way to sneak in some veggies into your dessert, and make it more nutritious and delicious.
Dill: Dill and zucchini are a fresh and fragrant pairing that can add some brightness and herbiness to your dish. You can use fresh or dried dill to season zucchini, or make a dill sauce or dressing to drizzle over it. Dill and zucchini are wonderful for making salads, dips, pickles, or fish dishes.
Tomatoes: Tomatoes and zucchini share a similar growing season, so both of these ingredients are at their peak at the same time. They go well together roasted or stewed and a pile of zoodles topped with marinara is a fantastic summer-time meal.