What To Make When You've Got Zucchini

Zucchini or summer squash (“courgette” if you think everything sounds delicious in French) is every backyard farmer’s dream of a crop. High yields and low maintenance have earned these veggies a special place in suburban gardeners’ hearts and commercial growers’ beds alike, meaning - as zucchini devotees - we can always be sure of healthy helpings of summertime sustenance.

Both flowers and the more familiar fruit (yes technically, zucchini is a fruit ) of the zucchini plant can be devoured. The bright yellow blossoms add a splash of highly nourishing colour to garnishes and salady dishes, and arguably make excellent tempura and decorative toppings.

Zucchini’s relatively mild taste and firm flesh make it a very versatile base for an array of wholesomely gratifying main dishes, soups, salads, baked goods and even desserts.

And hurrah for fibre, phytonutrients and vitamins A & C, for all come packaged in decent doses in every variety of zucchini, squash and marrow.

So to get your taste buds trembling, here’s six of the best from a multitude of locally inspired ways to use zucchini on Australian.Kitchen.

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  Zucchini And Olive Hummus by Claire K Creations
  Zucchini makes a stunning base ingredient in dips - mild flavoured and easily pureed.
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  Zucchini, Pea & Mint Salad by Vegan Sparkles
  Zucchini looks amazing ribboned up as a basic salad or lower carb version 'noodles'.
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  Zucchini & Ham Muffins by Bake Play Smile
  A lunchbox staple, delicious all-in-one handy sized muffins, they're make-ahead freezable too.
• 
  Zucchini-wrapped Lamb Koftas by Ooh, Look
  A simple idea to incorporate zucchini into a meaty meal and add some interest along the way.
• 
  Zucchini Chocolate Cake by The Shady Baker
  Yep, you've gotta do it. Carrot cake isn't strange and neither is zucchini cake - fluffy and delicious.
• 
  Stuffed Zucchini Boats by Cooking for Oscar
  Fun idea for little and big kids alike, make the sails with flatbread and go all out on the stuffing.

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