Zucchini Patties

These cheesy zucchini patties are easy to make and an excellent way to use up that abundance of zucchini from the garden.

Ingredients

• 2 cups grated zucchini

• 2 eggs, beaten

• ½ cup all-purpose flour

• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

• ¼ cup chopped onion

• salt to taste

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions

1. Place zucchini, eggs, flour, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, onion, and salt in a medium bowl; stir until well combined.

2. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.

3. Scoop tablespoonfuls of zucchini mixture into hot oil and fry, working in batches, until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side.

Zucchini-Chocolate Chip Muffins

These zucchini muffins are packed with shredded zucchini, chocolate chips, and walnuts and make a perfect on-the-go snack.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• ¾ cup white sugar

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 1 egg, lightly beaten

• ½ cup vegetable oil

• ¼ cup milk

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 cup shredded zucchini

• ½ cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

• ½ cup chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 12 muffin cups, or line with paper muffin liners.

2. Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Mix egg, oil, milk, lemon juice, and vanilla extract in a bowl. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients until just moistened. Fold in zucchini, chocolate chips, and walnuts.

3. Fill prepared muffin cups 2/3 full with batter.

4. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.

Zucchini Roses

I have a confession to make. I’m a guy that watches British fashion vloggers. Well … my wife does, and I’m just there for the gardening bits. One of the vloggers she follows recently posted a video making Courgette Roses. (“Courgettes” are what Brits call zucchini and summer squash. They have some weird names for veggies. Aubergine? Really?) Anyway, I found a version of the recipe with the temperatures and measurements converted to US units. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed (about 8 ounces)

• All-purpose flour, for rolling out dough

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan

• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves

• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest

• 1 small summer squash (about 6 ounces), cut in half lengthwise and thinly sliced diagonally

• 1 small zucchini (about 6 ounces), cut in half lengthwise and thinly sliced diagonally

• Nonstick cooking spray

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Roll the puff pastry out to a 12-inch square on a floured work surface.

2. Brush lightly with the olive oil and sprinkle evenly with the cheese, thyme and lemon zest.

3. Cut into 6 even strips.

4. Shingle alternating yellow and green slices of squash and zucchini along the length of each strip of dough making sure to leave half the dough strip uncovered and allowing the green and yellow skins to hang over one edge slightly.

5. Fold the uncovered dough over the squash and pinch together at the two ends.

6. Starting at one end, roll each strip into a spiral.

7. Lightly press the rolled tarts into a muffin tin sprayed with cooking spray.

8. Bake until the crusts are browned and crisp on the bottom, the top is dry and crisp and the squash is tender and browned on the edges, about 40 minutes.

9. Remove to a rack to cool slightly. Serve warm.

Zucchini Pizza Bake

I walked into our production building today to be greeted by a bag of zucchini on a table. We’ve now reached that give-it-to-anyone time of the season. Really. One plant is enough.

Ingredients

• 4 cups shredded unpeeled zucchini

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 2 eggs, lightly beaten

• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

• 1 pound ground beef

• ½ cup chopped onion

• 1 (15 ounce) can Italian-style tomato sauce

• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

• 1 green bell pepper, chopped

• ½ cup sliced fresh mushrooms

• ½ cup sliced black olives

Directions

• Step 1

  Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place the zucchini in a colander and sprinkle with salt; let drain for 15 minutes then squeeze out the moisture.

• Step 2

  Combine the zucchini, eggs, Parmesan, 1 cup mozzarella, and 1/2 cup Monterey Jack in a large bowl. Press the mixture into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.

• Step 3

  While the zucchini crust is baking, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and stir in the ground beef and onion. Cook and stir until the beef is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink. Drain and discard any excess grease. Stir in the tomato sauce and Italian seasoning.

• Step 4

  Spoon the sauce mixture over the baked zucchini crust. Top with the bell pepper, mushrooms, black olives, and the remaining mozzarella and Monterey Jack cheeses. Return to the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes or until heated through. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Zucceazy

The great zucchini harvest is upon us! Here is another recipe to add to your repertoire of zucchini cookery.

Ingredients

• 2 medium zucchini, sliced lengthwise

• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

• Step 1

Season zucchini with salt and pepper and brush lightly with olive oil.

• Step 2

Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Place zucchini slices, a few at a time, into hot pan and cook until the pattern of the pan is imprinted into zucchini, about 4 minutes. Turn and cook an additional 3 to 4 minutes.

• Step 3

Combine olive oil, vinegar, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Brush cooked zucchini with olive oil mixture and serve.

Chicken Zoodle Soup

Do you have too many zucchinis? Obviously! Anyone who has ever grown a zucchini plant has had too many! Here is a great recipe to use some of your surplus zucchini.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 cup diced onions

• 1 cup diced celery

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 5 (14.5 ounce) cans low-sodium chicken broth

• 1 cup sliced carrots

• 3/4 pound cooked chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces

• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil

• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1 pinch dried thyme (optional)

• salt and ground black pepper to taste

• 3 zucchini squash, cut into 'noodles' using a spiral slicer or vegetable peeler

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Saute onion, celery, and garlic in hot oil until just tender, about 5 minutes.

2. Pour chicken broth into the pot; add carrots, chicken, basil, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring the broth to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer mixture until the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.

3. Divide zucchini 'noodles' between six soup bowls; ladle broth mixture over the 'noodles.'