Packed with flavor and nutrients, summer squash is a delicious and versatile addition to any meal. Try these summer squash recipes to add a unique twist to your veggies.
Zucchini and summer squash are an absolute staple of summertime farmers’ markets and produce stands. The plants are incredibly productive, and we have no shortage of squash in our house during the summer months!
To keep things from getting boring, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite summer squash recipes to help you spruce up your meals. Zucchini, pattypans, crooknecks—no matter what summer squash you have lingering in the fridge, these recipes will help you get through your stash.
How to avoid mushy zucchini
A light touch is the key to keeping summer squash and zucchini delicious. Don’t over-steam, boil, or stir-fry your squash vegetables—they simply fall apart and get mushy when cooked too vigorously. You want to cook your squash until it is crisp-tender.
Uncooked squash
Most folks can handle uncooked summer squash just fine (think: raw zucchini noodles or shaved zucchini salad), but if you have digestive issues after eating raw summer squash, consider cooking them first to see if it helps alleviate the problems.
Protip: Leave the peel on!
We recommend that you keep the peel on your yellow squash and zucchini. Not only does it hold a lot of the color and vitamins, but it also keeps your squash from falling apart when you cook it.
Salting zucchini
You can use salt on zucchini to help remove some of the moisture. This is helpful when you want a “drier” final result for your summer squash—like is the case for our vegetable chips or zucchini noodles. It’s not necessary to salt it prior to cooking for most recipes, though.
Can I freeze summer squash?
Let’s face it—no matter how much you shred, sauté, and bake your zucchini and summer squash, you could still have some left over. Those plants can be productive, baby!
Luckily, freezing summer squash is a breeze—no blanching required. We’ll teach you how to freeze zucchini slices, shreds, and noodles, so you can make your favorite summer squash recipes year-round.
What can I do with a lot of summer squash and zucchini?
You’ve come to the right place, because we’ve gathered all our favorite recipes in one spot. Let’s dig in to our best summer squash recipes!
