Garlic Zucchini Spears

 

Garlic Zucchini Spears are loaded with aromatic flavor.  This delicious side dish is very easy to make with simple ingredients.

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Pairs well with a variety of mains. I like to serve it roasted spatchock chicken.  

Fresh zucchini is high in nutrients and low in carbs.  Excellent reasons to eat it regularly.

What is zucchini?

Zucchini is a a young fruit (not a vegetable).  It belongs to the Cucurbitaceae plant family, along with cucumbers and gourds.

Zucchini is harvested before it fully matures.  Categorized as a type of summer squash.  The edible skin, seeds, and flesh are all full of phytonutrients.   Colors range from a dark, emerald green to a yellowish hue.

What does zucchini taste like?

Zucchini has a mild, slightly sweet taste.  However, the taste will change with different cooking methods.

 Sauté it in olive oil with a little garlic, and it becomes a crispy and savory. 

Purée it and bake in muffins to obtain a delicious sweet flavor. 

This summer squash adds to a dish and never overpowers the other flavors.  Exactly why it’s a nutritious and popular ingredient in a variety of recipes. 

When is zucchini in season?

Zucchini appears when the weather turns warm and the frost disappears.

It has a short growing season compared to other fruits on the vine, zucchini is best enjoyed June through August. During the summer months, it’s readily available in grocery stores and farmers markets.

Source:   www.eatthis.com

Light golden brown garlic zucchini spears are preferred by many. 

However, the deep, dark brown garlic zucchini spears (pictured good) are super good.  Thankfully, both are equally delicious.

The wonderful fact about making a recipe, is adjustments can be made to suit personal preferences.

How To Read & Follow A Recipe

Reading a recipe is an important life skill.  It starts with knowing how to read a recipe’s ingredients, follow the instructions, prep ingredients, and knowing what equipment to use. 

The following tips and strategies will help beginners or experienced cooks  create a delicious dish as intended in the recipe. 

Start with clean hands and organized kitchen.  Wash hands thoroughly.  Make sure kitchen and countertops are clean before making a recipe.

Create a relaxing environment.  Play favorite music while in the kitchen.  I love listening to classical or gospel music. 

Read the recipe.   Don’t just quickly skim it.  Thoroughly read from start to finish.  Visualize doing each step which will help you avoid missing a step.

If you see ingredient that you and your family don’t use for whatever reason, use a substitutions or omit the ingredient.

My recipes are packed with helpful tips like shortcuts and serving sizes which save time and help with meal planning. 

Pay attention to the order in which ingredients are prepped.  For example, 1 cup of  chopped pecans is not the same as pecans, chopped (measure whole pecans and then chop).  

Know the assumptions.  For example, when my recipe calls for “sugar,” use granulated sugar.  If brown sugar is an ingredient, it will be written as such in the recipe.  

Figure out the timing. Check the listed “prep time” and “total time” to be sure you have enough time to complete the recipe.

Look for hints, such as the words “meanwhile” or “at the same time,” which indicate two or more steps can happen simultaneously.  

For example, my prep time doesn’t include bringing cold butter up to room temperature.  Be sure to include in your timetable.

Watch Recipe Videos.    If you’re a visual learner (like me), watch recipe videos.  Perfect for when you’re learning a new skill or just want to see how a recipe is made.    

Mise en place is a super time saver. This French cooking term translates as “putting in place.”   It means prepping/measuring ingredients and chopping food before you start cooking. It’s the perfect way to get organized and avoid missing an ingredient or missing a step in the instructions.

Organize your tools and kitchen equipment.  Mise en place isn’t just for ingredients.   Before starting, make sure you have parchment paper, aluminum foil, measuring cups, measuring spoons, the right pans, mixing bowls, and other equipment.

Make notes in your recipe. Note any special prep instructions and highlight cooking times.  Make note of ingredients omitted,  favorite substitutions and creative twists.   The notes will be very helpful the next time you make this recipe. 

Enjoy!