What to do with zucchini

Six Ways to Use Up Excess Zucchini

by Chelsea / Helpful How-Tos and DIY

Today I’m sharing 6 ways to use up excess zucchini, since we are right in the middle of peak zucchini season and everyone I know is drowning in it! 

Whether you’re pulling a large zucchini a day out of your garden, hitting up your local farmer’s market, or just shopping at the grocery store, it’s hard to ignore the abundance of zucchini everywhere right now. 

So, to help use up all those beautiful vegetables (er…they’re technically fruit? whatever…), I rounded up a few ideas for you. Here we go…

Whole Wheat Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread

SIX WAYS TO USE UP EXCESS ZUCCHINI:

  1. Grill + Freeze to use all winter long. Follow this tutorial to easily preserve some of your zucchini for throwing into pasta, soups stews, and sandwiches all fall and winter! By grilling the zucchini first, you avoid that watery, mushy texture that zucchini otherwise has when frozen and defrosted!
  2. Cut + Freeze for smoothies! While frozen raw zucchini doesn’t taste good once defrosted and cooked, raw zucchini acts like vegetable ice cubes for any smoothie you love- the best part is, raw zucchini has almost no flavor whatsoever, so it just adds an icy, cold element to any smoothie you love. Try adding a handful of frozen zucchini chunks to my Blueberry Banana Smoothie Bowl, Tahini, Banana & Date Smoothie, Mango & Mint Green Smoothie Bowls, or in any smoothie you love! 
  3. Shred and add to homemade sauerkraut or kimchi. Or, follow the same general method for making either, and use very thinly sliced zucchini instead of the cabbage called for in either recipe. Once fermented, your zucchini kraut or zucchini kimchi will last in the fridge for six months!
  4. Shred and freeze in single portions (say, 1 cup per bag/container) for adding to pasta sauces, baked goods, or oatmeal all winter long! Once defrosted, use your hands to squeeze out any excess liquid before using.
  5. Bake something with it! Recipes like my Whole Wheat Zucchini Bread, Zucchini Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies, Whole Wheat Zucchini Pancakes, Chocolate Chunk Zucchini Banana Bread, Double Chocolate Zucchini Cookies, or Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread are all great ways to use up your zucchini. 
  6. Spiralize and use like noodles! While they certainly don’t replace the carby goodness of pasta, turning your zucchini into noodles is a fun way to eat them- use like spaghetti (i.e., top with sauce, Mushroom & White Bean Meat(less)balls, and parm) or use them as the base of my My Go-To Weeknight Stir-Fry in addition to, or in place of, the noodles. We love this little handlheld spiralizer. (<–affiliate link) 

I hope these ideas were helpful. Tell me, what’s your favorite way to use up all your excess zucchini? Leave a comment below with your ideas! 

 

XO,

Chelsea

#, #, #, #, #