How to Cook Summer Squash: 7 Tasty Ways
Characterized by its thin skin and tender flesh, the entire squash can be eaten. Even the leaves can be used in making vegetable stock or stews.
When purchasing your squash, try to find a medium sized squash that has shiny and firm skin. If you’re growing and picking your own squash, try to avoid picking them when they are too small, as they will be bitter. Furthermore, try to keep from waiting too long because squash that are too large become thick skinned and sometimes fibrous.
Wait to wash your squash until right before you plan to use it. It’s also very easy to substitute one kind of summer squash for another, so if you find a great recipe, feel free to interchange any summer squash you may have on hand.
Raw or Steamed
Summer squash can be sliced into sticks and eaten with your favorite vegetable dip or diced into cubes and tossed into salad. You can also slice or dice the squash and steam it for about 5-8 minutes. You can add it to a variety of different salads and dressings. The subtle flavor can be enjoyed on its own, with salt and pepper, or with a variety of different seasonings; whatever you’re in the mood for.
Grilled or Sautéed
To grill your summer squash, you’ll want to start by slicing it into thick slices and brushing the slices with olive oil, and then adding whatever seasonings you like. Pop them on the grill for 5 minutes on each side and enjoy. You can also try brushing the slices with soy sauce or any kind of sauce you have on hand. To sauté, use thinner slices, and add to a pan with butter or olive oil and seasonings.
Stuffing the Squash
For larger squash with thicker flesh or for those squash with seeds, you can cut the squash in half, scoop out the seeds, and fill the cavity with a stuffing of your choice. You can use rice, bread, or cheese based stuffing. Then you’ll want to bake the entire squash until it’s heated through.
Bake With Chunks or Puree
You can bake with summer squash by finely dicing it and adding it to bread and casserole dishes. If you want a finer texture, you can shred or puree the squash. You can also add pureed squash to other meals to add an extra vegetable serving to your meal. Try adding squash to mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, or scrambled eggs. This is a great way to hide vegetables when you are trying to get your family to eat healthier.
Freezing Summer Squash
Summer squash can be frozen by slicing or shredding it, and then blanching it in water for about three minutes. Stop the cooking process by removing the squash from the boiling water and placing it into cold water. Store it in a Tupperware or a freezer bag removing as much air as possible.
Summer squash is about as versatile a vegetable as you can find, and you’re limited in how to cook summer squash only by your own imagination. Get creative and add different spices and sauces for different meals. Summer squash can be made into a healthy snack, side dish, or main course. Post a comment with your favorite way to cook and serve summer squash.
References:
https://www.recipetips.com/kitchen-tips/t–828/all-about-summer-squash.asp