Help! My Garden Has Exploded. I Need More Zucchini and Yellow Squash Recipes STAT!
A Collection Of Zucchini And Yellow Squash Recipes And Ideas
Do you have a crap-ton of zucchini and yellow squash in your garden? Are some of your zucchini overripe and extra large and consequently just a tad bit intimidating? Or maybe you just want to take advantage of these lovely vegetables while they are in peak season and at their prime.
Do you have a crap-ton of zucchini and yellow squash in your garden? Are some of your zucchini overripe and extra large and consequently just a tad bit intimidating? Or maybe you just want to take advantage of these lovely vegetables while they are in peak season and at their prime.
If you are running low on ideas on how to handle the overabundance of these two members of the cucurbita pepo family (How's that for some fun trivia?! I didn't know that before writing this either!), then this post is for you!
Here are my favorite ways to use zucchini and yellow squash. And I promise you nothing is over-complicated and all the recipes listed here are quick, easy, and sure to nourish your body.
1) Add Them To Your Eggs
My absolute favorite breakfast these days is egg scramble. It's super colorful and so easy! Chop up a bunch of veggies, mix them in with your scrambled eggs, and serve over diced avocado. Use your zucchini and squash as two of your veggies of choice.
Your options are truly endless with this recipe. In the photo below, I used squash, zucchini, and red peppers but you can add whatever vegetables you like or have on hand. I absolutely love to mix in some sort of dark leafy green right before serving too.
I'm telling you, it's delicious! I like it so much, I wrote an entire post about it and even created a recipe video for it. Check it out here.
Side Note Story: I went to the beach with my parents, brother, and sister-in-law a few weeks ago. I made this for breakfast and offered it to my family. Although a little reluctant, my dad, mom, and sister-in-law all agreed to try it. The end result was a bunch of "hey, that's really good!".
2) Grill Them
This one is perfect for those overripe and overgrown zucchini that you aren't quite sure what to do with. Simply cut into 1/2 inch slices, brush with olive oil, sprinkle with your spices of choice, and slap on the grill.
You could also do these kabob style by cutting your zucchini and/or squash into bite-sized pieces and layering on a wooden skewer with peppers and onions.
Either way, you wind up with a perfect side to most any summer meal.
3) Roast And Serve Over Quinoa
This meal has recently become a regular in my top 10 meal rotation. It is quick, easy, and super yummy.
One of the things I love most about it is that it is easy to prep and even easier to time. I've always struggled with the timing of things in the kitchen. I will get one part of a recipe done only to let it get cold while I am finishing another part of it. The beauty of this recipe is that the the vegetables finish roasting at the same time the quinoa is finished cooking. There isn't a whole lot of thought involved. And on busy evenings, it is nice to have meals in your recipe arsenal that you can whip together and don't require a whole lot of brain power.
All you have to do is roast a bunch of veggies (ahem zucchini and squash!!) and serve them over cooked quinoa. It really is that simple. Top with a little feta cheese and you have a meal that is quick, healthy, and delicious. You can find the full recipe in my Resource Library.
4) Zoodle Them Or Sqoodle Them
Have you tried making noodles out of your zucchini or squash? It is a fabulous way to add in another vegetable to your meal and creates two words that are just plain fun to say - zoodles and sqoodles!
You don't need a fancy spiralizer to make them either - the sqoodles below were created with one that I purchased on Amazon for less than $10.
You can use these noodles as a substitute for spaghetti or most any pasta. There are also loads of recipes out there made exclusively for zoodles and sqoodles. Just ask Siri. ;)
Tip: I have recently learned that it pays to salt them and extract the water first. This ensures that you don't end up with a watery dish. Simply place noodles on a paper towel before using. Salt and let them sit for 10-15 minutes. Place another paper towel on top and remove any excess water.
5) Raw With Hummus
Raw zucchini and squash make the perfect dipping companion for hummus. Hummus is a wonderful snack choice and offers a great source of fiber, plant-based protein, and healthy fats.
The picture below features a black bean hummus (perhaps my favorite type!) and you can find the recipe in my Resource Library.
6) Add To Soups
I don't know about you but when I think of zucchini and squash, I think of minestrone. While not exactly a popular summer-time meal option, I will say it makes an easy dinner and tastes pretty darn good after coming home from a long day at work or out with the kids.
You could make a farmer's market minestrone (pictured above) or a ratatouille with your excess zucchini and squash. And yep, I hope you know I've got you covered here because you will find recipes for each in my Resource Library.
7) Freeze And Save
I like to chop up any extra zucchini and squash and add it to my bag of vegetable scraps that I keep in the freezer. I add these frozen veggies to the stock I make in the crockpot. You can see how I do that here.
Another option is to shred and freeze your zucchini and squash. You can use it later for things like zucchini muffins, zucchini bread, and zucchini cakes.
8) Share And/Or Donate
What happens when you've eaten all the zucchini and squash you can handle and still have some leftover? Don't let it go to waste! Share with a friend or donate to a local food pantry. Food pantries are in desperate need of fresh food and your extra harvest could help feed a hungry family.
A friend of mine recently told me about the organization AmpleHarvest.org which helps gardeners and farmers find local places to donate their extra crops. Check them out. They have an amazing mission and can connect you to a place in your area that will accept donations.
Putting It All Together
I hope you found this article to be helpful. I always like to leave you with a way to take action so I put together a PDF of recipes and resources for each one of these tips. I know first-hand how easy it is to read something online and then forget about where you saw it or how to implement it!
The PDF features all the recipes and resources listed here (plus a few others!) and is available in my Resource Library along with a bunch of other tools, resources, and information designed to help you on your journey to better health and to live a more vibrant life!