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Our Best Summer Squash Recipes to Prepare This Season

Our Best Summer Squash Recipes to Prepare This Season

February 13, 2011

Summer squash are a mild-tasting, versatile vegetable (alright, technically a fruit) that are equally delicious in savory and sweet dishes.

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Ah, summer. A notoriously glorious time for a bounty of plump tomatoes, juicy berries, sweet stone fruits, and other crisp produce like zucchini and squash. Don't overlook the green and yellow vegetables at the farm stand. While fresh corn on the cob and vibrant blueberries may catch your eye first, summer squash offer a lot in terms of flavor, versatility, and nutrition.

As their name implies, summer squash are in season during the summer, peaking at the very end. When shopping, look for summer squash that are firm and heavy for their size; the skin should be brightly colored and blemish-free. Because they are harvested on the early side, smaller squash are more tender than larger ones and have thinner skins; choose squash that are less than eight inches long. To store, refrigerate in a plastic bag for up to four days; do not wash until ready to use.

What can you do with zucchini beyond roasting, grilling, or sautéing it? The answer is actually quite a lot. Zucchini is equally delicious in savory and sweet recipes. Yes, you read that right: Zucchini adds incredible moisture and a unique texture to desserts. Zucchini Chocolate Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is a total crowd-pleaser and is perfect for feeding a large group. For skeptical kids (and perhaps a few adults, too), the zucchini is disguised by indulgent chocolate flavor and a rich frosting, but its gentle crunch and moistness doesn't go unnoticed. If you want to bake something in between a sweet and savory treat, try loafs and muffins with zucchini. It stands out in a Zucchini Waffle with Smoked Salmon and Greens, Zucchini-Parmesan Bread with Poppy Seeds, and Zucchini Cornbread Muffins. Want to preserve the taste of summer all year long? Prepare these easy Zucchini Dill Pickles so you can enjoy warm weather produce in the middle of winter.

Whichever way you slice, dice, or peel it, zucchini's time to shine is happening now so make the most of it with these summer squash recipes.

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Greek Shrimp Skewers with Chopped-Zucchini Salad

Credit: Chris Simpson

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Our Best Summer Squash Recipes to Prepare This Season

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Greek Shrimp Skewers with Chopped-Zucchini Salad

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Grilled-Chicken-and-Zucchini Salad

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Zucchini Dill Pickles

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Zucchini, Avocado, and Jalapeño Tartine

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Zucchini-Almond Cake

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Zucchini Tart

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Pici with Summer Squashes and Tarragon

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Beef-Zucchini Meatballs

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Chocolate Zucchini Sheet Cake with Cream-Cheese Frosting

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Zucchini and Caramelized-Onion Pizza

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Thai Zucchini-Coconut Soup

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Grilled Zucchini With Miso

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Zucchini Waffle with Smoked Salmon and Greens

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Zucchini-Parmesan Bread with Poppy Seeds

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Zucchini-and-Squash Salad

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Perfect Frittata with Zucchini and Provolone

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One-Pot Penne with Zucchini and Parmesan

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Chocolate Zucchini Bread

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Zucchini Babaghanouj

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Zucchini, Gruyere, and Black Pepper Muffins

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Zucchini Tacos

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Crisp Zucchini-Panko Fries

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Campanelle with Zucchini and Mint

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Zucchini Slaw

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Zucchini Cornbread Muffins

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