Ingredient Highlight

Zesty Zucchini

vegetables-2356884_640The zucchini itself may not be zesty (a word that means energetic/lively) but its delicious taste might make you feel zesty.

Zucchini is a squash grown during the summer, which makes it a summer squash, opposed to a winter squash.

Zucchinis can get really big if they’re left on the vine too long. The largest zucchini on record was 5 feet, 9 inches long and 65 lbs – that’s big!! It is recommended to harvest zucchini once it is around 7-8 inches long. As a zucchini gets bigger, it also gets a tougher texture.

Zucchini is a very popular vegetable. Every year in Ohio there is a Zucchinifest, which is a big party to celebrate zucchini! The party lasts four days and includes concerts, pageants, car shows, and more. People can even receive prizes for “Best Dressed Zucchini” – that’s right, they dress up the zucchinis!

Look for zucchini at the farmers market!

 

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95% of a zucchini is actually water – so if your thirsty, consider eating a zucchini. 😉 In addition to all that water, zucchini contains high amounts of vitamins and minerals, some of which are listed below.

 

Vitamin C helps your immune system stay sharp.

Riboflavin helps turn food into energy.

Vitamin B6 is used to turn protein into energy.

Manganese helps with bone formation and turning food into energy.

All these nutrients that help the body have energy will definitely leave you feeling zesty!

 

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Zucchini is good raw but it can also take on a lot of flavors and add texture to different recipes!

  • Eat it with some hummus
  • Use zucchini in a green salad or a pasta salad
  • Slice, season, then grill it.
  • Sprinkle zucchini with parmesan then roast in the oven.
  • Bake zucchini slices into chips
  • Bake zucchini bread or muffins
  • Use zucchini instead of broccoli in this recipe: Broccoli Zucchini Bites
  • Make zoodles (zucchini noodles)
  • Use as a pizza topping
  • Add zucchini to spaghetti sauce

How do you like to eat zucchini??

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varieties

 

 

 

Zucchinis are a variety of summer squash, other varieties of summer squash include:

Yellow croockneck: similar taste to a zucchini but its yellow with a curved end.

Pattypan squash: shaped like a little UFO but can be eaten just like zucchini.

Yellow Zucchini: the only difference is color, it’s yellow!

Round Zucchini: instead of long and narrow, this zucchini is round.

 

recipes

 

 

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Zucchini Pizza Bites
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Summertime Corn Salad

 

 

Information came from smartyplant.com.au, verywellfit.com, foodchannel.com

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