There’s a GIANT ZUCCHINI in my kitchen

One of the local farm-to-table restaurants has a crate outside their front door with a sign on it that says feel free to take one. I’ve done this once before, and took home something I was hoping might be a very pale butternut squash but I think was actually closer to spaghetti squash.

Last night on a whim I brought home a zucchini almost as long as my arm. And you know what happens when you google “how to butcher a giant zucchini”? My top hit was of someone cutting a large zucchini (not as large as this one, score one for me) while background spectators yelled encouragement and various suggestions. It was not actually helpful.

So, this post is going to serve as a collection of resources for WHAT TO DO WITH THIS THING. I haven’t yet taken the time to try or even really read through these too critically, so I will probably keep coming back to this post and adding notes.

Do you have a recipe or any other zucchini-related notes, anecdotes, or adventures? Let me know!

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Preparation:

• Definitely peel them, as the skin on zucchini this big is quite tough
• Scrape out and discard the spongy center, separate out the seeds first
• When baking, squeeze the zucchini shreds dry to avoid gummy breads and cakes
• Score the skin with a fork before freezing

Appetizers & Snacks:

• Zucchini Butter
• Summer Zucchini Boats with Mozzarella & Olives
• Roasted & Spiced Zucchini Seeds
• Zucchini Rice Pancakes
  • or Savory Zucchini & Carrot Pancakes

Breads & Cakes:

• Sweet Zucchini Bread with Oats
  • Or flavored with orange
• Savory zucchini bread with lots of cheese
• Zucchini & Olive Breakfast Cake, French style
• Harvest Cake with Goat Cheese Frosting

Juice (since that has to be strained out for the breads and cakes):

• Use as a base for minestrone soup
• Add to smoothies

Salads, Soups, & Sides:

• Corn & Zucchini Salad with Chives
• Grilled Zucchini & Cherry Tomato Salad
• Zucchini Garlic Soup
• Zucchini with Potatoes & Thyme

Entrees:

• Zucchini with Eggs Baked Inside <— SO EXCITED ABOUT TRYING THIS
• Giant Zucchini Stuffed with Sausage, Mushrooms, & Sage
• Zucchini Succotash
• Squash Frittata with Herbs
  • or Zucchini-Potato Frittata
• Zucchini Herb Fritters with Garlic Yogurt
  • or Zucchini Fritters
  • or zucchini-feta fritters
• Zucchini Patties
• Grilled Zucchini & Ricotta Flatbread