How to Cook Zucchini

Zucchini is a versatile summer vegetable that can be eaten on its own, added to salads, or used to make bread. It can be prepared in many different ways, including sliced, diced, sautéed, roasted, and baked. This article presents three ways to prepare zucchini.

Ingredients

Sautéed Zucchini

  • 1 medium garlic clove, peeled
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 4 medium zucchini, cut into 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) slices
  • Salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Servings: 4 | Total Time: 20 minutes

Healthy Zucchini Fries

  • 2 zucchini
  • 1 egg white
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs

Yield: 32 fries | Total Time: 40 minutes

Zucchini Bread

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 1/4 cups white sugar
  • 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups grated zucchini
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts

Yield: 2 loaves | 1 hour and 40 minutes

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Sautéed Zucchini

  1. Image titled Cook Zucchini Step 1
    1
    Finely chop the garlic clove. Use a cutting board and a cooking knife.
  2. 2
    Heat olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring occasionally. Remove the garlic (optional).
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  3. 3
    Add zucchini slices to the pan. Stir the zucchini slices with a wooden spoon until each piece is coated in oil.
    • When sautéeing zucchini, be aware that zucchini render a significant amount of water. Thinly sliced or cut slices are therefore a better option over thicker slices. A mandolin slicer is a handy choice for slicing.
  4. 4
    Allow each side to cook until browned, and then flip over and cook for another minute. Remove pan from heat and season with salt and pepper.
  5. Image titled Cook Zucchini Step 5
    5
    Transfer to a dish and serve immediately. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired.
    • The slices can be enjoyed on their own, as a side dish. Or, if thinly sliced, added to a pasta dish.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Healthy Zucchini Fries

  1. Image titled Cook Zucchini Step 6
    1
    Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (218 degrees C).
  2. 2
    Cut the zucchini into sticks. They should be about 3 inches (7.6 cm) long and 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) wide, like french fries.
  3. 3
    Whisk the egg white and milk in a small bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together cheese and bread crumbs.
  4. Image titled Cook Zucchini Step 9
    4
    Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Alternatively, you can use aluminum foil to cover the sheet to prevent sticking.
  5. 5
    Dip each zucchini stick into the egg white mixture first, and then coat it with the breadcrumb mixture. Place the zucchini onto the baking sheet.
  6. Image titled Cook Zucchini Step 11
    6
    Bake for 20-25 minutes. Zucchini fries should be golden brown when finished.
  7. Image titled Cook Zucchini Step 12
    7
    Remove from the oven and enjoy!
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Zucchini Bread

  1. Image titled Cook Zucchini Step 13
    1
    Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (162 degrees C). Grease and flour two 5 by 9 inch loaf pans.
  2. 2
    Use a cheese grater to grate the zucchini. The zucchini does not have to be peeled, necessarily.
  3. 3
    Mix together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon in a large bowl.
  4. 4
    Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar in a separate bowl.
  5. 5
    Add egg mixture to the flour mixture.
  6. 6
    Stir in the zucchini and nuts. Pour the batter into the pans.
  7. Image titled Cook Zucchini Step 19
    7
    Bake for 40-60 minutes. Stick a fork into the loaf to determine whether it is cooked; fork should come out clean.
  8. Image titled Cook Zucchini Step 20
    8
    Remove from the oven. Cool for about 20 minutes, and then remove bread from the pan.
  9. Image titled Cook Zucchini Step 21
    9
    Serve and enjoy!
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Where is the best place to get the zucchini? Should I try to find the vegetable at a farmer's market or something or is it fine to just get them from a grocery store?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    It is a personal choice, since zucchini can be found at either of these places.
  • Question
    How long should I bake zucchini?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    I would recommend baking zucchini at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes, checking regularly to prevent burning.
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Warnings

  • Use an oven mitt when removing trays from a hot oven. Don't forget to turn off the oven or stove after you finish cooking.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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Things You'll Need

Sautéed Zucchini

  • Frying pan
  • Cooking knife
  • Wooden spoon (for stirring)

Zucchini Fries

  • Cooking spray
  • Baking sheet
  • Two small bowls
  • Cooking knife

Zucchini Bread

  • Cheese grater
  • Large bowl
  • Smaller bowl
  • Fork for whisking
  • 2 loaf pans

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References

  1. http://www.chow.com/recipes/29698-sauteed-zucchini
  2. http://www.health.com/health/recipe/0,,10000001831902,00.html
  3. http://allrecipes.com/recipe/moms-zucchini-bread/

About This Article

Ollie George Cigliano
Co-authored by:
Ollie George Cigliano
Private Chef & Food Educator
This article was co-authored by Ollie George Cigliano. Ollie George Cigliano is a Private Chef, Food Educator, and Owner of Ollie George Cooks, based in Long Beach, California. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in utilizing fresh, fun ingredients and mixing traditional and innovative cooking techniques. Ollie George holds a BA in Comparative Literature from The University of California, Berkeley, and a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from eCornell University. This article has been viewed 429,038 times.
1 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 21
Updated: December 22, 2022
Views: 429,038
Categories: Squash
Article SummaryX

To cook sautéed zucchini, start by chopping a garlic clove and heating the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Put the chopped garlic and red pepper flakes in the pan, cooking them for 30 seconds while stirring occasionally. Then add the zucchini slices to the pan, stirring with a wooden spoon until each slice is coated in oil. Let each side cook until it’s browned, then flip the zucchini one more time and cook for just a minute more. Finally, take the pan off the heat, and season with salt and pepper. If you want to learn how to make zucchini fries or zucchini bread, keep reading the article!

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