This sautéed zucchini recipe is a straightforward, flavorful weeknight facet 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 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 purple pepper flakes, parsley, and/or Parmesan for savory depth.
Out of the numerous, many zucchini recipes I’ve shared over time, this straightforward sautéed zucchini is one I make most frequently. It’s so fast and so flavorful, with scrumptious caramelization from the recent skillet.
I’ve eaten half the batch straight from the pan on extra events than I’d prefer to admit (oops!), however I additionally adore it alongside summer season pastas, egg dishes, and something off the grill. I hope it turns into considered one 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 an inclination to have firmer flesh and smaller seeds than bigger zucchini do. Search for ones which can be agency and easy. 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 an actual measurement right here—simply minimize a lemon wedge and squeeze it over the zucchini after cooking.
- Chopped parsley – It gives a pleasant contemporary distinction to the browned, tender zucchini.
- Purple pepper flakes – Non-compulsory, for warmth. Be happy to skip them should you’re delicate to spice!
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese – Additionally non-compulsory, however oh-so-delicious. It provides savory, nutty taste to this straightforward facet dish. When you’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 beneath.
Easy methods 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, minimize the cash in half to kind 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 facet. Warmth the oil or butter in a big skillet over medium-high warmth. Use the biggest pan you’ve gotten—you need the zucchini to slot in as near a single layer as it could actually. 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. This may take about one other 5 minutes. Stir often 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. Take pleasure in!
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 couple 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. You probably have garlic scapes helpful in early summer season, you may 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. Prime the sautéed zucchini with dollops of pesto or romesco sauce.
Let me know what variations you strive!
Easy methods to Retailer
Retailer leftover sautéed zucchini in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. It reheats nicely 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
When you love this straightforward sautéed zucchini, strive considered one of these zucchini recipes subsequent:
Sautéed Zucchini
Serves 4
This sauteed zucchini recipe is considered one of my favourite straightforward, wholesome facet dishes! Good for weeknights, it is prepared in underneath 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 doable), 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 a number of other grinds of pepper. Cook dinner, stirring often, 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 purple pepper flakes, if utilizing. Garnish with parsley and serve with Parmesan, if desired.
