Zucchini With Garlic And Mint Recipes

ZUCCHINE SOTT'OLIO (ZUCCHINI PRESERVED IN OIL WITH HOT PEPPERS, GARLIC, AND MINT)

Steps:

• Cut the zucchini crosswise into 3-inch (8-centimeter) pieces. Cut each piece in half lengthwise, then cut out all the seeds and spongy pulp from the center. Slice each section crosswise 3?16 inch (41/2 millimeters) thick. (A mandoline or other manual vegetable slicer is helpful for this.)
• Make layers of sliced zucchini and salt in a large bowl, then toss well. Macerate for 12 hours to draw the water out of the zucchini. Drain the zucchini, then squeeze a handful at a time to remove excess water.
• Place the zucchini in a heavy nonreactive pot and add the vinegar and 1 cup (250 milliliters) water. The liquid should barely cover the zucchini.
• Bring to a boil over high heat. Stir to redistribute the zucchini, then reduce the heat to medium and cook until the zucchini slices are cooked through but still whole, about 5 minutes. Do not allow them to break apart. Smaller zucchini will take less time.
• Drain the zucchini and put them in a large colander. Top them with a heavy weight, such as a pot filled with water, to squeeze out the liquid. Let the zucchini drain under the weight for 15 minutes.
• Lay several clean kitchen towels on a table covered with cardboard. Arrange the zucchini slices on the towels, spreading the slices apart. Let dry at room temperature until they feel a little leathery and are no longer damp, 24 to 48 hours. They will shrivel considerably.
• Place the zucchini in a bowl and toss with the mint, garlic, hot peppers, and the 1/2 cup (125 milliliters) olive oil. Taste for salt and let the mixture marinate at room temperature for a day.
• Transfer the zucchini to a 1-pint (1/2-liter) glass jar. Pack them in tightly, pushing them down with a fork or spoon to remove any air gaps. Top with olive oil so they are completely submerged. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 weeks before sampling to give the zucchini time to absorb the seasonings.
• Bring them out of the refrigerator about an hour before you plan to serve them to allow the oil to liquefy. Return any leftover zucchini to the refrigerator, topping with oil so the zucchini remain completely submerged. If kept submerged in olive oil and refrigerated, the zucchini will last for up to 6 months.

ZUCCHINI WITH CHILES AND MINT

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add whole zucchini and cook until a fork inserted in thickest parts meets little resistance, about 8 minutes; drain. When cool enough to handle, cut into 1-inch rounds.
• Heat oil with garlic and chile in a large skillet over medium, stirring occasionally. When garlic is pale golden (about 3 minutes), remove from heat and carefully add wine (it will splatter). Return to medium and cook at a gentle simmer until liquid is reduced to 2/3 cup, about 11 minutes. Stir in vinegar and 2 teaspoons salt; bring to a boil and add zucchini, tossing to coat. Simmer over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until zucchini is soft and has absorbed some of sauce, about 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat; stir in mint. Transfer to a serving bowl and let stand 30 minutes, tossing occasionally. Serve at room temperature.

ZUCCHINI WITH MINT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Heat 2 large roasting pans in the oven for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, toss the zucchini with the olive oil and crushed red pepper.
• Season generously with salt and pepper.
• Spread the zucchini on the hot pans and roast for 30 minutes without stirring, until the rounds are tender and their bottom are golden.
• Transfer to a platter, garnish with mint and serve.

ZUCCHINI WITH GARLIC AND MINT

Steps:

• 1 Scrub the zucchini with a brush under cold running water. Trim off the ends. Cut the zucchini into 1/4-inch slices. 2 Pour 1 inch of oil into a deep heavy skillet or wide saucepan. Heat the oil over medium heat until a small piece of vegetable dropped into the oil sizzles. 3 Pat the zucchini slices dry with paper towels. Carefully slip about one-fourth of the zucchini into the hot oil. Cook until lightly browned around the edges, about 3 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer the zucchini to paper towels to drain. Fry the remainder in the same way. 4 Layer the zucchini in a dish, sprinkling each layer with some of the vinegar, garlic, mint, and salt and pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate at least 24 hours before serving. From "1,000 Italian Recipes." Copyright 2004 by Michele Scicolone. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

ZUCCHINI AND FRESH MINT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to BROIL setting.
• Cut the zucchini in half crosswise, then cut into 1/2" slices, lengthwise.
• In large serving bowl, place the mint and green onion.
• In separate small glass bowl, combine the dressing ingredients and stir well.
• On a baking sheet place the zucchini so that they do not overlap. Baste the zucchini slices with some of the dressing.
• Broil for about 3-4 minutes or until golden.
• Turn zucchini slices over, baste with more dressing and broil another 2-3 minutes or until brown and crispy.
• Watch carefully to make sure the zucchini does not burn!
• Toss the cooked zucchini slices gently with the mint and green onions. Season to taste with salt, pepper and additional dressing. Serve warm.

ZUCCHINI WITH VINEGAR, MINT AND GARLIC

Steps:

• Trim the ends of the zucchini and cut them lengthwise in slices about 1/3 inch thick. Arrange them side by side on a baking sheet lined with foil and brushed with oil. Brush the slices generously with olive oil and sprinkle lightly with salt.
• Cook under a preheated broiler until lightly browned, then turn over and brush the other side with oil and return to the broiler until browned.
• Mix the vinegar with the mint and garlic and brush a little onto each slice. Serve at room temperature.
• Instead of using raw garlic, heat it in 2 tablespoons oil in a small frying pan until the aroma rises, but do not let it color.
• Serve the grilled slices topped with strained Greek-style yogurt.

LINGUINE WITH ZUCCHINI AND MINT

Steps:

• Slice zucchini very thinly with slicer.
• Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then fry zucchini in 3 batches, stirring occasionally, until softened and very pale golden, 3 to 4 minutes per batch. Transfer as fried with a slotted spoon to a baking pan lined with paper towels to drain. Keep zucchini warm, covered with foil.
• Add garlic to oil in skillet and cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until very pale golden, about 30 seconds. Remove skillet from heat.
• Cook pasta in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water , uncovered, until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta-cooking water. Drain pasta in a colander and transfer to a large shallow bowl.
• Toss pasta with garlic oil, zucchini, mint, zest, salt, and pepper. Add some of reserved cooking water to moisten if necessary.

MARINATED ZUCCHINI WITH MINT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 475 degrees. On two large rimmed baking sheets, toss zucchini with 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Roast until zucchini are tender and undersides are browned, 10 to 15 minutes.
• On a serving plate, sprinkle zucchini with minced garlic and drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil and white-wine vinegar. Let stand 1 hour (or refrigerate, up to overnight; bring to room temperature before serving). To serve, sprinkle with torn mint leaves.

PAN-ROASTED ZUCCHINI WITH CILANTRO-MINT GREMOLATA

Steps:

• Put zucchini, cut sides up, on a plate and sprinkle lightly with salt. Set aside for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Put cilantro in a small bowl with mint, garlic, lemon zest, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss with fingertips to evenly disperse; set aside.
• Pour olive oil in a sauté pan large enough to hold zucchini in a single layer. Pat zucchini dry with paper towels and season lightly with pepper. Heat oil over medium-low. Add zucchini to pan, cut sides down, and cook until they are slightly soft but still hold their shape, as little as 5 minutes, adjusting heat if necessary to maintain a light golden color.
• Arrange zucchini on serving plate, browned sides up. Serve warm or at room temperature. Just before serving toss bread crumbs with cilantro-mint mixture and scatter over zucchini. Drizzle with additional extra virgin olive oil, if desired.