I’m really looking forward to zucchini season coming around again. I use it in so many recipes that it makes me sad to see the miniature little organic zucchinis that are available this time of year. That said, grab a bunch of them, because this is one of the tastiest, most delicate side dishes you can make.
SAUTEED ZUCCHINI RIBBONS WITH SHALLOTS & GARLIC (serves 2-3)
– 5 small or 3 large zucchini
– 2 shallots, sliced into thin moons
– 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
– 1 Tbsp. butter
– Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
1. Wash the zucchini, then peel it. Even though the skin will be removed, they’ve still grown in the ground and are dirty – so wash them to get rid of anything that’s lingering. With a vegetable peeler, remove the outside layer of the zucchini – the greenest part – and discard. Then, continue to peel the zucchini into ribbons until you get to the seeds in the middle. Throw away the “core” of the zucchini, and set aside the ribbons.
2. In a large saute pan, melt the butter over medium heat. When melted, add the garlic and shallots, and saute, stirring frequently, approx. 3 minutes.
3. Add the zucchini, then saute until wilted and beginning to color, approx. 5-7 minutes. If too much brown starts to appear on the bottom of the pan, add 1 tbsp. of water and scrape the bottom of the pan to remove the brown bits and incorporate them back into the zucchini. Add kosher salt & pepper to taste at the end, so that the zucchini gains some color and doesn’t “sweat” as much.
4. Serve alongside your favorite “main” – I love this with steak, but it works with just about anything.