What to Make With... Zucchini

Have you ever been in the produce section of the grocery store and purchased a fruit or vegetable just because it seemed delicious at the time, only to see it in the kitchen a few days later and have no clue what to do with it? We've all been there, which is how this new section on the Greenwala Food Channel came about. Tune in every week to find out what to do with the odd piece of produce waiting to be used in the kitchen. 

Today's post features zucchini, which shows up in all kinds of dishes, from pastas to pizzas, but rarely finds it's way onto the dinner plate. This green plant is part of the gourd family and is similar to squash. Though it's often used as and considered a vegetable, zucchini is actually a fruit because it contains seeds. You can buy it for under a dollar a pound, and it will stay fresh in the fridge for up to one week. Once washed, you can slice it with or without peeling the skin off, then enjoy it baked, grilled, fried, or even raw. Here are some ideas on how to use it in dishes:

• Grate it raw into a salad
• Cut into spears and pair with other veggies to make a platter
• Grill it with a little bit of oil, herbs, and salt & pepper. Tastes great as part of a kabob
• Turn it into soup (hot or cold)
• Pan fry it and then mix it into pasta or use as a pizza topping
• Stir fry it with vegetables and some oil
• Hollow out the inside and stuff with your favorite vegetables and seasonings, then bake in the oven
• Shred it and enjoy as a fried "pancake" for breakfast
• Slice it with a mandolin then use in place of pasta for a healthy, raw dish
• Cut into french fry shapes, roll pieces in oil, sprinkle with salt, then bake in oven
• Make bread or cake with it