Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Gourmet Zucchini? Yes!

If you grew up like I did, with gardens overflowing with zucchini, you've probably had zucchini every way you can think of - fried, stuffed, pancaked, breaded, caked, lasagna'ed, yah, yah, yah...

But now that you've tired of zucchini in all these ways, I'd like to introduce you to ... simple zucchini, which comes out surprisingly gourmet.

I've made this recipe three times this summer, and all I want to do is make it more. Each time I take a bite, I fall in love again. It is amazing. And the rice recipe that goes along with it is a little fancy, but a perfect compliment.

Enough talking. Here it is.


Sauteed Zucchini
1 lb. zucchini
table salt
2-3 T. butter
1 T. minced green onion
freshly grated nutmeg
1 T. lemon juice
lemon zest


Grate the zucchini - you should have about 3 1/2 cups. In a colander set over a bowl, layer half the zucchini. Sprinkle with salt. Layer other half of zucchini. Again salt. Let set for 20-30 minutes to allow bitter juices to drain.

Gently squeeze juice out of zucchini by handfuls. Rinse with cold water and again squeeze.

In a saute pan over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the zucchini, green onion, and nutmeg. Cook, tossing until tender, about 4 minutes,* adding lemon juice toward the end. Garnish with lemon zest.

*Do not overcook the zucchini - preferably, the zucchini will be a bright green and not turning brown.

Coconut Jasmine Rice
1/2 c. coconut milk, stirred well
1 1/4 c. water
1 t. peeled, grated fresh ginger
1/2 t. salt
1c. jasmine rice, rinsed & drained


In a heavy saucepan, stir together the coconut milk, water, ginger, and salt. Bring to a rapid boil and gradually add the rice. Reduce heat to simmer for 15-20 minutes until the rice is tender. Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Uncover and fluff with fork.

Thanks to Williams-Sonoma for originally publishing this recipe, and to Janelle for introducing it to me when we lived together on Walnut Street. I think it clinched my place in the Julian family when I had them over for dinner at the Walnut Street apartment: I showed them that I could get Brian to eat vegetables.

3 comments:

Robby said...

A remarkable feat--getting Brian to eat vegetables!

Sarah said...

This looks good! We don't know anyone here with overflowing zucchini gardens since we all live in apartments, but I'll start stockpiling these for that wonderful day when we and friends do have gardens.

meg said...

sounds good, we'll all be over for dinner tomorrow!