Posted by Tastefully Simple on August 14, 2020
‘Tis the season! No, I don’t mean Christmas. I like to think of this period of late summer as Zucchinifest – that time when those long, green summer squash start appearing everywhere. You open your front door to find a plastic bag full of ’em, a “gift” from a neighbor. Neat stacks of them show up on break room counters at work. At roadside vegetable stands, amid the bushel baskets of corn, green beans and tomatoes, a sign: “Free zucchini with every purchase.”
Here’s the thing about zucchini: there’s always a LOT of it.
I find myself singing that well-known holiday tune: the 12 Days of Christmas. Except in my version, instead of partridges, lords a’leaping and maids a’milking, you get more and more zucchini every day. Happily, there are almost as many ways to prepare and enjoy zucchini as there are zucchini. Hum along with me:
On the first day of Zucchinifest, my true love gave to me … Garlic Grilled Zucchini! Grilling tonight? Slice up a couple of those zucchini, season with Garlic Garlic™ Seasoning and toss ’em on the grate next to those steaks. Done in less than 10 minutes!
On the second day of Zucchinifest, my true love gave to me … Ultimate Sauteed Zucchini! Simply chunk up that zucchini, sprinkle with Ultimate Steak™ Seasoning and saute until tender. A side dish that’s delish!
On the third day of Zucchinifest, my true love gave to me … Zucchini Ribbon Salad! A light, refreshing salad featuring walnuts, goat cheese and delicate strips of zucchini. Fresh!
On the fourth day of Zucchinifest, my true love gave to me … Zucchini Chicken Enchiladas! Can’t get the kids to touch a zucchini with a 10-foot pole? Disguise it as the “tortilla” in this cheesy Mexican favorite.
On the fifth day of Zucchinifest, my true love gave to me … Zucchini Boats! Almost too cute to eat, these hollowed out zucchini are stuffed with a filling of brown rice, beef, corn and cheese, with a jaunty zucchini sail. Another great way to get the kids to eat their veggies.
On the sixth day of Zucchinifest, my true love gave to me … Zucchini Turkey Burgers! Cutting carbs? Substitute grilled zucchini slices for the bun in this savory dish.
On the seventh day of Zucchinifest, my true love gave to me … Garlicky Shrimp & Veggies! Shrimp tossed with Spinach & Herb Seasoning and Garlic Garlic™ Seasoning then air fried with zucchini and sweet peppers.
On the eighth day of Zucchifest, my true love gave to me … Zoodle Carbonara! Dust off that zoodle-making machine you got for Christmas – you finally have a use for it! Zucchini zoodles in a creamy bacon and egg sauce.
On the ninth day of Zucchinifest, my true love gave to me … Shrimp and Veggie Foil Packets! Sliced zucchini join a medley of other veggies alongside Citrus Herb-seasoned shrimp in this quick and easy packet meal.
On the tenth day of Zucchinifest, my true love gave to me … Rustic Zucchini Summer Tart! Flaky picnic-perfect tart, filled with ricotta and garden veggies.
On the eleventh day of Zucchinifest, my true love gave to me … Creamy Paleo Spinach Herb Chicken! Yes, even cave men ate zucchini. This Paleo-friendly recipe is perfect for busy weeknights.
On the twelfth day of Zucchinifest, my true love gave to me … Bountiful Zucchini Bread! Zucchini for dessert? Absolutely, when its this sweet, chocolate chip-studded bread, made simple with Bountiful Beer Bread Mix®.
Still have some zucchini on hand even after all this? Not to worry: there are dozens MORE delicious recipes on tastefullysimple.com. You never need to dread zucchini season again!
kgm