There’s no such thing as “too much zucchini”

The joke is “Leave your car windows rolled up in the summertime or someone will deposit a bunch of zucchini in your car.”

But the truth is, there is no such thing as “too much zucchini.” Honestly, there are so many amazing ways to use zucchini, why would you ever want to give away this amazing and productive vegetable?

Zucchini is best picked when it’s small–about the size of a cucumber. Slice and sauté it with onions and a little garlic and top it with a bit a cheese. That’s my husband’s favorite way of eating zucchini and it only takes minutes to prepare. Or brush with garlic-infused olive oil, sprinkle with a little salt and grill it. Yum!

Recipes, recipes and  more recipes

But don’t stop there. There’s Zucchini Supreme, our family’s favorite zucchini dish. Serve that with sliced tomatoes and you have yourself the best summer-time meal imaginable.  Zucchini Fiesta Casserole takes the same idea but with a Tex-Mex flavor. Or dip zucchini slices into a beaten egg, dredge in seasoned breadcrumbs and fry.

Try Zucchini Fritata, Zucchini Fritters and of course, who doesn’t love Chocolate Zucchini Cake, Zucchini Bread and Zucchini Cookies? If you invest in a

spiralizer you can easily make Zucchini Noodles. A spiralizer isn’t expensive (the one I have costs about $12. As I write  this, this highly-rated model is on sale for half price) and it gives you an endless supply of healthy veggie-noodles. Zucchini Noodles are delicious with a little pesto.

These recipes are just the tip of the iceberg. Check out my zucchini cookbook. Over 90 recipes using zucchini for everything from breakfast to dessert.

Try growing these round varieties

I love growing round zucchini. Eight Ball is the most common hybrid variety, but there’s also Cousa and Round Zucchini. They are perfect for making a lovely, personal-sized stuffed zucchini.

Gad-ZUKES!

Yeah, but what do you do with those giant zucchini? You know, the one hiding underneath the leaves and now it’s the size of a three-month old baby?

Well, I have discovered the best recipe EVER to put those giant zucchini to good use: Zucchini Gummies. These tasty little treats are so yummy, no one will ever suspect they are made from a vegetable, much less the lowly and unfairly maligned zucchini. They are incredibly easy to make. Spend a half hour prepping these tasty treasures, put them into your dehydrator this evening and tomorrow morning

wake up to a yummy candy-like treat. You will have a hard time keeping them through the winter, the kids will love them that much. Here is the recipe with complete instructions.

Preserve zucchini goodness for later

There are other ways to preserve zucchini goodness for later in the year besides the Zucchini Gummies. One of my favorites is Dried Zucchini Chips. Remember, zucchini is the tofu of the vegetable world. Just like the gummies absorb the fruit juice flavor, you can make Faux Pineapple by canning zucchini pieces in pineapple juice. And last (but not least) freeze your zucchini. Slice it and freeze for use in soups and casseroles or grate it and freeze in 2-3 cup portions for use in cookies, bread or cake.

You’ll be hard pressed to find a vegetable as prolific and versatile as the zucchini. So go! Plant some today. Leave your car windows open.
Enjoy!