These vegan zucchini recipes are here to answer: “What do I do with all my zucchini?“
If you have ever grown zucchini, you’ve asked that question. When zucchini get going in the garden, they can become very abundant… and big!
Today I deliver healthy zucchini recipes for you to make good use of all those summer squash.
Even if you don’t grow zucchini yourself, zukes are so inexpensive at markets this time of year that it’s a good reason to stock up.
An even better reason? These vegan zucchini recipes are delicious! In fact, they are some of my most popular recipes.
Let’s start this zucchini recipe roundup!
Zucchini Recipes from Savory to Sweet
Zucchini Fritters This is a very popular recipe. It comes from Dreena’s Kind Kitchen and is one of the best ways to use up those big and plentiful summer squash. Bookmark this one for sure, it’s a zucchini recipe you’ll turn to time and again.
Chocolate Zucchini Bread Another gem from Dreena’s Kind Kitchen (on sale now on Amazon), readers have been raving about this vegan zucchini bread. It’s delicious, easy, low-fat, and oil-free… and best of all? You don’t even have to grate the zucchini!
Zucchini Bread Since my chocolate zucchini bread was so popular, I decided to create another vegan zucchini bread – without the chocolate. Because it’s not as simple as removing the cocoa from a recipe. You can, but the recipe changes in the volume of dry ingredients, and cocoa is bitter, so more adjustments are usually needed. Just as easy and delicious, and yep, no grating zucchini! 🙌
Summer Pasta with Tomatoes and Zucchini I love this dish. It’s one of those “kitchen sink” types of recipes, throwing in delicately flavored zukes and fresh tomatoes along with robust garlic. I make versions of this zucchini pasta dish year-round using different veg. In the summer, make the best of those garden zucchini and tomatoes.
Vegetable Teriyaki Stir-Fry Another reader favorite, this recipe has been loved since the release of Plant-Powered Families. While it uses other vegetables like broccoli and bell peppers, you can easily sub in more fresh zucchini in place of some of those veg. The sauce is delicious, people tell me all the time that it’s “better than takeout“!
Vegan Scramble Again, even though this recipe isn’t heavy on zucchini, you can easily sub in more yellow or green zucchini in place of the cauliflower or potato.
Vegan Pad Thai Alright, if you haven’t tried this pad thai recipe, you must! (Ditto on the scramble, it’s unlike others you’ve tried, I promise). You can add in more zucchini to replace another veg… or… use zucchini noodles in place of the pasta for a very light summer meal.
Zucchini Recipes FAQ
Any of these recipes, and I highly suggest the Summer Pasta and both Zucchini Breads, as they will use a good amount of those zukes!
Beyond vegan zucchini recipes, try grilling them on your BBQ or indoor grill, or add thinly sliced zucchini or zucchini ribbons (or grated zucchini) to salads.
You don’t need to peel zucchini! You can if you want, but that deep green color (or yellow color in the case of yellow squash) is a signal that it houses many nutrients and phytochemicals.
Rinse zucchini (scrub a little if needed), then trim the ends. If there are any blemishes you can also trim those away. Then your zucchini is ready to chop or otherwise prep.
In the fridge. After rinsing/washing, let dry and then store in the crisper drawer of your fridge. I like to place storage bags in the crisper drawer.
You can, however the texture changes with thawing. Zucchini become watery with thawing, but you can still use it in recipes where the texture won’t be noticed – such as quick breads.
Chocolate. 😆 Joking aside, I think zucchini is one of the most versatile vegetables. Some people may think it’s bland or uninteresting. I feel its that unpronounced flavor that makes zucchini “the friendly” vegetable! It doesn’t have a strong flavor or texture like asparagus or mushrooms. And, unlike the nightshade vegetables, it is also a vegetable that’s well tolerated by most.
Comment & let me know how you love to use up summer squash, and any of your favorite healthy zucchini recipes.
Enjoy! x Dreena
Anne says
Was just trying to remember where I had the recipe for your chocolate zucchini bread! Cheers
Dreena Burton says
Thanks Anne, now you can enjoy!