Zucchini has gained popularity in the global village because it can be used to make a number of dishes. The most popular dish that is made using zucchini are zoodles, if you have never heard of zoodles, then you really need to look them up and give them a try. Zucchini has a number of health benefits that are backed up by science for example it is high in antioxidants, it contributes to digestion and also it reduces blood sugar levels. For those who have never heard of zucchini this article aims at explaining what zucchini is, what it tastes like and also how it can be used.
Contents
What is Zucchini?
Zucchini is a type of summer squash which grows well in warm weather. It is also referred to as a marrow or a baby marrow depending on where you live. They have the potential to grow up to 1 metre but they are harvested whilst they are still immature at a height between 15 to 20cm hence the skin will be tender and edible. Often zucchini’s are mistaken for cucumbers at first sight because they both have a cylindrical shape, are dark green on the outside and they are both pale on the inside. In botanical terms a zucchini is a fruit, however most people tend to treat it as a vegetable because it was derived from a similar vegetable that is found in Mexico.
How zucchini tastes like
When it is in its raw form, the taste of zucchini is a mild flavour, which is slightly sweet and slightly bitter, but with a rich texture. Furthermore, it has a crunchy peel on the outside and the inside is a bit spongy. When zucchini is cooked, some people suggest that zucchini tastes sweet and the flavour becomes more evident however, zucchini is more of a blank canvas type of a vegetable meaning that it takes the flavour of whatever you cook it with. This means that zucchini tastes based on what it has been cooked with, for example if you incorporate it in a stew it will take the flavour of the stew. When cooked the right way zucchini tends to soften up, but when cooked the wrong way it becomes mushy.
What zucchini can be used for
Use zucchini to make salads
If you are making a salad that requires cucumbers then you can simply substitute them with zucchini, it will add a delicious flavour to that salad. You can also make a zucchini salad, simply slice up you zucchini into small strips, then add lemon juice, olive oil, sun dried tomatoes, feta cheese and fresh herbs. Let them marinate for an hour before serving, you are guaranteed to enjoy.
Use zucchini to make pasta
You can spiralise your zucchini into very thick strips to form what are known as zoodles, they are about the same size as pasta. Sauté the zucchini in a pan and serve them with pasta sauce and grated cheese. This is a great way to use zucchini especially if you are trying to cut down on curbs, it is actually a healthier alternative to pasta. If you want to get your kids to eat vegetables this is another recipe that you can try. The shape that the zucchini gets after you spiralise it is very fascinating to children so they will definitely want to eat.
Use zucchini to make bread
One of the most interesting ways of using Zucchini is by making zucchini bread. If you have kids or adults that do not like eating vegetables then this is a great way of making sure that they eat them. The nice part about zucchini bread is you can eat it either for breakfast or as a snack. In some instances you might find people eating zucchini bread as a dessert. So if you have zucchini in your house don’t be afraid to turn it into bread.
Use zucchini to make sauces and stews
The other way to use zucchini is by slicing it or grating it then incorporating it into your stews or sauces by doing so the zucchini will add more nutrients to your stew. You can also slice the zucchini into small pieces then place them in the freezer, so each time you want to cook your stew you just pop them right out of the freezer.
Use zucchini as a side dish
When you have a lot of zucchini in your house you can use it as a side dish. The first thing you can do is to sauté your sliced zucchini and add onions, red peppers and garlic to it. You can then top it off with cheese if you like it. You can also choose to make side dishes like stuffed zucchini, zucchini gratin casserole, or you can just grill or roast the zucchini together with other vegetables.
Conclusion
Knowing exactly the taste of the food you want to buy is very important. This article has highlighted what zucchini taste like, it has noted that it has a mild flavour when it is raw, but when it is cooked it tends to take the flavour of whatever it is cooked with. Zucchini is often confused with cucumbers because they have a similar shape, however cucumbers have more juice as compared to zucchini. There are a number of ways in which you can use zucchini especially if you want your kids to eat vegetables. You can choose to use zucchini to make zucchini bread or to make zoodles. It is also important to note that zoodles are a healthier alternative to pasta so if you are trying to cut down on curbs then zoodles are the right food for you. Moreover, zucchini can also be placed in stews or sauces and some people also tend to use it as a side dish. So if you come around zucchini in any grocery store do not hesitate to buy it, you can actually use it in a number of ways and it has a number of health benefits especially if you want to cut down on curbs or simply because you want to live a healthy life.
