What Is Zucchini and How Can I Use It?

If zucchini has turned up in a recipe or caught your eye at the store, here's what you need to use it with confidence and how to choose it, cook it, store it, what to substitute, and 1,075 recipes to try it in.

What is zucchini?

The zucchini is low in calories and contains useful amounts of folate, potassium, and vitamin A. 1/2 cup of zucchini also contains 19% of the recommended amount of manganese.

When used for food, zucchini are usually picked when under 20 cm (8 in.) in length, and the seeds are soft and immature. Mature zucchini can be as much as three feet long but are often fibrous and not as appetizing as the younger zucchini.

Zucchini with the flowers attached is a sign of a truly fresh and immature fruit and is especially sought by many people.

Nutrition

Where found

Zucchini is usually found in the produce section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Zucchini is a member of the Vegetables and Vegetable Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much does zucchini weigh?

Related

Vegetables and Vegetable Products

Recipes using zucchini

There are 1075 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Goat Cheese & Zucchini Omelet for Two

Eggs & zucchini creamily enveloped by warm and creamy tangy goat cheese and sweet caramelized onion mixture. When you've got zucchini overload and aren't sure what to do, this is my go-to recipe that feeds the need.

Zucchini stuffed with Savory Tofu Spread

Easy to cook, but also very healthy and tasty with Tofu Spread.

Farmer's Market Pancakes

Beakfast pancake or muffin batter with zucchini, bananas, and raisins.

Mom's Gazpacho

Fresh vegetable gazpacho with tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, and bell peppers. Quick cold Spanish soup ready in 10 minutes, perfect for summer lunches.

Roasted Veg

This is an awesomely flexible dinner. You basically chop everything up, douse it in oil and some salt, pepper or whichever spices you're in the mood for (or grab first!) and chuck it in the oven for an hour or so.

What to do when your brother gives you a courgette.

What to do when your brother gives you a courgette but you only like potatos.

Easy Gazpacho

Simple gazpacho with fresh garden vegetables in tomato or V8 juice. Classic cold soup that's vegan, gluten-free, and ready in 20 minutes with no cooking required.

Bruschetta Hummus Stuffed Zucchini

Topped with a simple bruschetta this is a perfect side dish to enjoy all summer.

Eva's Zucchini Bread

Eva's zucchini bread bakes a tender, cinnamon-spiced quick bread loaded with shredded zucchini, walnuts, and optional raisins. Two-loaf recipe perfect for using up a summer garden glut.

Japanese Pumpkin Frittata Served with Bush Tomato Chutney

Japanese-style Frittata seasoned with Australian native spices and served with Australian Bush Tomato Chutney.

Beef & Vegetable Kebabs

Beef and vegetable kebabs thread marinated sirloin with sweet red and yellow peppers and zucchini, then grill or broil until charred. A fast, colorful skewer that leans on Italian dressing for an easy marinade.

Mama Delilah's Pasta Primavera

Hearty and zesty, this is my favorite pasta to make. It's a little bit of work, but comes out as stunning visually as it tastes. Definitely worth the effort. Enjoy!!!

Whole Wheat Zucchini Bread with Walnuts & Chocolate Chips

A delicious recipe uses up some of your troublesome zucchinis and makes you take a second look at these summer produce.

Charlo's Sweet Zucchini Bread

Sweet zucchini bread with cinnamon, three loaves' worth of garden zucchini, and a tender oil-based crumb. Two-loaf yield, doubles easily for gifting and freezing.

Garbanzo Potato Pancakes

Garbanzo potato pancakes blend chickpea flour, instant potato flakes, grated zucchini, and onion into vegan, gluten-free pancakes that griddle up tender and savory. Five ingredients, 20 minutes start to finish. A protein-packed side or breakfast.

Papoutsakia with Meatballs

Greek-style meatball and tomato soup with oregano, garlic, optional zucchini, and rice or pasta. Hearty, herby beef meatballs in a rich tomato broth.

Grilled Vegetable Sandwich with Tapenade

Instead of mayonnaise, use green olives tapenade to spread the sandwich, which gives the sandwich tangy flavor. Grilling adds the nice smokiness into the these juicy and tender summer vegetables. Delicious and light summer sandwiches.

Vegetable Curry

Vegetable Curry recipe

Amy's Chili with Hominy (Vegan)

Amy's vegan chili with hominy, pinto beans, chickpeas, zucchini, and a hint of molasses for depth. The dump-and-simmer one-pot weeknight chili that's hearty enough to skip the meat entirely.

Sichuan Fried Rice

An easy yet flavorful sichuan fried rice is packed with goodness. A great week-day meal is all in one pot.

Garden-Fresh Turkey Burgers

Lean turkey burgers loaded with shredded zucchini, sweet bell pepper, and onion. Oats bind everything together for juicy, vegetable-packed patties on whole wheat buns.

Zucchini Brownies

Rich and fudgy brownies with a delightful frosting. You'd never know they contained zucchini!

Sunday Italian Vegetable Soup

This hearty Italian vegetable soup delivers. It is chock full of vegetables, two kinds of beans, pasta, and tomatoes, everything needed for a relaxed Sunday meal.

Best Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

Chocolate chip zucchini bread that bakes up impossibly moist, studded with semisweet chips, toasted pecans, and a whisper of cinnamon, nutmeg, and citrus zest. A sneaky-good way to use up summer zucchini.

Pasta with Grilled Summer Vegetables

Grilled summer vegetables are served on top of spaghetti that is tossed with tomato sauce. A refreshing and tasty summer dish!

All 1,075 recipes