This sautéed zucchini recipe is a straightforward, flavorful weeknight facet dish! Straightforward to make in quarter-hour, it is seasoned to perfection with garlic and lemon.
This sautéed zucchini recipe is on repeat in my kitchen each summer season. Prepared in quarter-hour, it’s such a straightforward facet dish. The zucchini cooks on the stovetop with olive oil or butter, garlic, salt, and pepper. When it’s tender and browned, I season it with a squeeze of lemon for brightness, then add garnishes like crimson pepper flakes, parsley, and/or Parmesan for savory depth.
Out of the numerous, many zucchini recipes I’ve shared through the years, this straightforward sautéed zucchini is one I make most frequently. It’s so fast and so flavorful, with scrumptious caramelization from the new skillet.
I’ve eaten half the batch straight from the pan on extra events than I’d wish to admit (oops!), however I additionally like it alongside summer season pastas, egg dishes, and something off the grill. I hope it turns into one in every of your go-to summer season facet dishes too.
Sautéed Zucchini Substances
Right here’s what you’ll must make this sautéed zucchini recipe:
- Zucchini, in fact! Small to medium summer season squash are greatest right here, as they have a tendency to have firmer flesh and smaller seeds than bigger zucchini do. Search for ones which are agency and easy. Keep away from wrinkled pores and skin or tender spots.
- Olive oil or unsalted butter – It provides wealthy taste and helps the zucchini brown because it cooks. Select one or the opposite, or use a mixture of the 2!
- Garlic – For savory depth of taste.
- Contemporary lemon juice – For brilliant, tangy taste. You don’t want a precise measurement right here—simply lower a lemon wedge and squeeze it over the zucchini after cooking.
- Chopped parsley – It gives a pleasant recent distinction to the browned, tender zucchini.
- Purple pepper flakes – Non-compulsory, for warmth. Be at liberty to skip them for those who’re delicate to spice!
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese – Additionally non-obligatory, however oh-so-delicious. It provides savory, nutty taste to this straightforward facet dish. In the event you’re vegan, my vegan Parmesan cheese is a superb non-dairy substitute.
- And salt and pepper – To make all of the flavors pop!
Discover the whole recipe with measurements under.
The right way to Sauté Zucchini
Step one on this recipe is prepping the zucchini. Trim off the stems and use a pointy knife to slice the zucchini into 1/2-inch-thick cash. In case your zucchini are massive, lower the cash in half to kind half-moons.
- Tip: Do your greatest to chop the items to a constant thickness in order that they cook dinner evenly.
Subsequent, brown the zucchini on the primary facet. Warmth the oil or butter in a big skillet over medium-high warmth. Use the biggest pan you could have—you need the zucchini to slot in as near a single layer as it may. Cook dinner with out stirring till the zucchini is browned beneath, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Tip: Don’t add salt but! It is going to draw moisture out of the zucchini, inflicting it to steam and soften as a substitute of brown.
Now add the garlic, salt, and pepper and cook dinner till the zucchini is tender. It will take about one other 5 minutes. Stir sometimes throughout this time in order that the second facet of the zucchini makes contact with the pan.
Lastly, season to style! Squeeze with lemon juice and add your required garnishes. Get pleasure from!
Recipe Variations
There are such a lot of ingredient swaps and taste variations you’ll be able to play with on this recipe! Listed here are just a few enjoyable methods I like to alter it up:
- Use one other herb, or many herbs. Change the parsley with recent thyme, basil, oregano, chives, or mint, or use a mixture of a number of herbs!
- No recent garlic? Use 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder as a substitute. If in case you have garlic scapes helpful in early summer season, you can chop one up and use it as a substitute of the common garlic right here too.
- Change the cheese. Use pecorino or feta as a substitute of Parmesan.
- Brighten it up. Sprinkle the summer season squash with lemon zest.
- Make it saucy. High the sautéed zucchini with dollops of pesto or romesco sauce.
Let me know what variations you strive!
The right way to Retailer
Retailer leftover sautéed zucchini in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. It reheats effectively within the microwave, however I additionally get pleasure from it at room temp.
Serve it as a facet dish, or use it in a easy pasta, a frittata, or as a filling for an omelette.
Extra Zucchini Recipes to Strive
In the event you love this straightforward sautéed zucchini, strive one in every of these zucchini recipes subsequent:
Sautéed Zucchini
Serves 4
This sauteed zucchini recipe is one in every of my favourite straightforward, wholesome facet dishes! Excellent for weeknights, it is prepared in beneath quarter-hour. Olive oil or butter, garlic, and lemon fill it with scrumptious taste.
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Warmth the olive oil in a big skillet over medium-high warmth. Add the zucchini in a single layer (as a lot as attainable), and cook dinner with out stirring for 3 to 4 minutes, or till browned beneath.
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Stir within the garlic, salt, and a number of other grinds of pepper. Cook dinner, stirring sometimes, for five to eight minutes, or till the zucchini is tender and browned in locations.
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Squeeze lemon juice on high and season with salt and pepper to style. Sprinkle with crimson pepper flakes, if utilizing. Garnish with parsley and serve with Parmesan, if desired.
