Grilled Zucchini is one of my favorite veggies to cook in the summer. It comes out tender and delicious in less than 10 minutes.
INGREDIENT :
Zucchini: Pick firm and fresh medium-sized zucchini that are not too big and bulky. You want them to be about the same size so they all cook evenly. Use all zucchini or add in some summer squash (yellow zucchini ) as well.
Olive oil: Tossing the zucchini in olive oil helps it stay moist while grilling. Feel free to use another oil like avocado, grapeseed, or sunflower oil.
Garlic powder: I recommend using garlic powder instead of fresh minced garlic to avoid burning it on the grill. The powder will still give you great flavors, and it will also get evenly distributed over the zucchini.
Italian seasoning: I’m keeping it simple with just salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Italian seasoning is a great shortcut since it contains dried basil, oregano, parsley, thyme, and sometimes a touch of red pepper flakes.
Other seasonings: Zucchini works with almost any dried herbs and spices. Favorites include dried basil, thyme, rosemary, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and curry powder.
RECIPE DIRECTION :
Preheat the grill (or grill pan) over medium heat. You want it hot enough to cook the zucchini evenly while achieving those beautiful grill marks. If your grill tends to stick, clean the grates and lightly oil them.
Prep the zucchini. Most of the time, I grill zucchini in spears since it's one of the easiest options. Start by cutting the zucchini in half and then in half again so you have four quarters. For large zucchini, you may need to cut them into eighths. I find that this will give you the perfect size for grilling.
Season the zucchini. Add the zucchini to a large bowl and toss it with olive oil, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, ensuring it is well seasoned.
Grill zucchini. Place the zucchini spears directly on the grill. Cook for 3-5 minutes and then flip over carefully using tongs. Cook for 3-5 minutes on the other side or until tender with dark grill marks. If your zucchini is not as tender as you would like, cook for a few more minutes at a lower heat.
