This sautéed zucchini recipe is a straightforward, flavorful weeknight aspect dish! Simple 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 time. Prepared in quarter-hour, it’s such a straightforward aspect 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 pink pepper flakes, parsley, and/or Parmesan for savory depth.
Out of the various, 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 prefer to admit (oops!), however I additionally find it irresistible alongside summer time pastas, egg dishes, and something off the grill. I hope it turns into one among your go-to summer time aspect dishes too.
Sautéed Zucchini Components
Right here’s what you’ll have to make this sautéed zucchini recipe:
- Zucchini, after all! Small to medium summer time squash are greatest right here, as they have an inclination to have firmer flesh and smaller seeds than bigger zucchini do. Search for ones which are agency and clean. Keep away from wrinkled pores and skin or gentle 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 reduce a lemon wedge and squeeze it over the zucchini after cooking.
- Chopped parsley – It presents a pleasant contemporary distinction to the browned, tender zucchini.
- Pink pepper flakes – Non-obligatory, for warmth. Be at liberty to skip them should you’re delicate to spice!
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese – Additionally non-obligatory, however oh-so-delicious. It provides savory, nutty taste to this straightforward aspect dish. For those who’re vegan, my vegan Parmesan cheese is a good 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, reduce the cash in half to type half-moons.
- Tip: Do your greatest to chop the items to a constant thickness in order that they prepare dinner evenly.
Subsequent, brown the zucchini on the primary aspect. Warmth the oil or butter in a big skillet over medium-high warmth. Use the biggest pan you may have—you need the zucchini to slot in as near a single layer as it may well. 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 prepare dinner till the zucchini is tender. It will take about one other 5 minutes. Stir sometimes throughout this time in order that the second aspect 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 possibly can play with on this recipe! Listed below are a number of enjoyable methods I like to alter it up:
- Use one other herb, or many herbs. Substitute the parsley with contemporary thyme, basil, oregano, chives, or mint, or use a mixture of a number of herbs!
- No contemporary garlic? Use 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder as a substitute. When you’ve got garlic scapes useful in early summer time, you might 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 time 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 properly within the microwave, however I additionally take pleasure in it at room temp.
Serve it as a aspect dish, or use it in a easy pasta, a frittata, or as a filling for an omelette.
Extra Zucchini Recipes to Strive
For those who love this simple sautéed zucchini, strive one among these zucchini recipes subsequent:
Sautéed Zucchini
Serves 4
This sauteed zucchini recipe is one among my favourite simple, wholesome aspect dishes! Excellent for weeknights, it is prepared in underneath quarter-hour. Olive oil or butter, garlic, and lemon fill it with scrumptious taste.
Stop your display from going darkish
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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 potential), and prepare dinner with out stirring for 3 to 4 minutes, or till browned beneath.
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Stir within the garlic, salt, and several 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 prime and season with salt and pepper to style. Sprinkle with pink pepper flakes, if utilizing. Garnish with parsley and serve with Parmesan, if desired.
