Basil Zucchini Food

LEMON-BASIL CHICKEN WITH ZUCCHINI NOODLES

Steps:

• Spread 1/4 cup flour on a large plate. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then dredge in the flour and shake off the excess. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and heat until shimmering, then add the chicken and cook until golden and almost cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes per side.
• Push the chicken to the edges of the skillet, add the shallot and basil stems to the middle and cook until softened but not browned, about 1 minute. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon flour and cook 1 minute. Add the chicken broth and lemon juice and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits. Reduce the heat and simmer, turning the chicken occasionally, until cooked through and the sauce is thick, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn off the heat and swirl in 2 tablespoons butter until melted. Add the lemon zest and season with salt and pepper.
• Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the zucchini noodles and season with salt and pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until just softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Toss in half the torn basil. Divide among plates and top with the chicken, lemon sauce, remaining basil and red pepper flakes.

ZUCCHINI AND BASIL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the potatoes, thyme, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook, stirring, until the potatoes are well coated, 2 to 3 minutes more. Pour in the broth and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add the zucchini, bring back to a simmer and cook until tender, about 10 minutes, adjusting the heat as needed to maintain a simmer. Remove from the heat, discard the thyme and let cool at least 5 minutes. Stir the basil into the soup and carefully puree until smooth with a handheld immersion blender or in 2 to 3 batches in a blender (do not fill the blender more than halfway full).
• Reheat the soup if necessary, adjusting the consistency and seasoning with additional water, salt and pepper.
• Serve hot and garnish with a sprinkle of almonds, basil leaves and a drizzle of oil.

CREAMED ZUCCHINI WITH GARLIC & BASIL

Steps:

• Grate the zucchini by hand with a box grater or in a food processor fitted with the shredding disk. Wrap the shredded zucchini in a clean kitchen towel and wring out as much excess water as possible. Repeat a few times, replacing the towel if necessary.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shredded zucchini and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until the zucchini is tender, about 6 minutes. Turn the heat down to low; add the heavy cream, salt, pepper and basil and simmer until the cream is absorbed. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve warm.
• Make Ahead Instructions: The whole recipe ahead of time. Just cover and refrigerate. You can reheat it in the microwave right before serving.

ZUCCHINI-BASIL SOUP

Steps:

• Julienne skin (only) from half of zucchini with slicer; toss with 1/2 teaspoon salt and drain in a sieve until wilted, at least 20 minutes. Coarsely chop remaining zucchini.
• Cook onion and garlic in oil in a 3- to 4-quarts heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add chopped zucchini and 1 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Add 3 cups water and simmer, partially covered, until tender, about 15 minutes. Purée soup with basil in 2 batches in a blender (use caution when blending hot liquids).
• Bring remaining cup water to a boil in a small saucepan and blanch julienned zucchini 1 minute. Drain in a sieve set over a bowl (use liquid to thin soup if necessary).
• Season soup with salt and pepper. Serve in shallow bowls with julienned zucchini mounded on top.

HEATHER'S ZUCCHINI NOODLES WITH BASIL-PUMPKIN SEED PESTO

Steps:

• To prepare the pesto: In a food processor, combine the onion (if using, see notes), garlic, basil, toasted pepitas, olive oil, vinegar and red pepper flakes. Blend until smooth and season with salt, to taste (I added about 1/2 teaspoon-if the mixture tastes overwhelmingly oniony, don't worry, it will mellow in a few minutes. I added another teaspoon of vinegar to help balance the flavors).
• To prepare the noodles: Spiralize the zucchini with a spiralizer (here's how), or turn the zucchini into noodles with a julienne peeler, or grate the zucchini the long way on a large box grater. Toss the zucchini with pesto until well coated, and season with salt (I added another 1/4 teaspoon).
• Transfer the pesto noodles to a large platter and sprinkle with the cherry tomatoes. Tuck the fresh basil in to the corners to garnish.

ZUCCHINI PIZZA WITH BASIL MINT PESTO

Steps:

• For the pizza dough: Mix together the flour, salt and yeast in a bowl, then stir in 350 grams (1 1/2 cups) water until combined. Cover with plastic wrap and put it down for an 18- to 24-hour nap at room temperature until it's doubled in sized and bubbling.
• For the pizza toppings: Preheat the grill with a pizza stone over medium-high heat. (If you don't have a pizza stone, you can use a baking sheet.)
• Combine the pine nuts, garlic, basil, mint, crushed red pepper, juice of half a lemon, 1/4 teaspoon salt, a few turns of black pepper and the Parmesan in a food processor and pulse to a coarse crumb. With the processor running, drizzle in the olive oil and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust the seasonings as desired.
• Divide the pizza dough in half. On a floured pizza peel or baking sheet, flatten out one half of the dough into a 10- to 11-inch round. Spread with a thin layer of the pesto and top with half of the mozzarella. Bring it out to the grill. Grill the zucchini and remaining lemon half on the grates until charred, a few minutes. Add half the zucchini to the pizza and slide it onto the pizza stone. Close the grill and cook until the bottom is browned and cheese is melty, 6 to 9 minutes. Drizzle with more pesto, squeeze with juice from the charred lemon and add more Parmesan, crushed red pepper and basil and serve.
• Repeat with the other half of the pizza dough and ingredients.

EASY ROASTED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200℃/gas mark 6/180℃ fan
• Lightly bash the garlic in your pestle and mortar (or roughly chop). Cut the zucchini into roughly 10cm batons. Add the batons to a roasting tray in a single layer and toss them with the garlic, a tablespoon of the oil and a tocuh of salt and pepper. Roast for 25-30 minutes (or until lightly browned).
• Whilst the zucchini is roasting, make the dressing by adding the basil to a pestle and mortar with a pinch of salt. Grind to a paste and then muddle in the lemon zest, juice and remaining olive oil.
• When the zucchini are cooked, transfer to a serving plate and drizzle over the dressing.

ZUCCHINI NOODLES WITH TOMATO, BASIL & PARMESAN

Steps:

• Spiralize the zucchini.
• In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Sauté spiralized zucchini for about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook another minute or so. Toss in sliced fresh cherry tomatoes. Heat just until the tomatoes are warm. Add in the crushed red pepper flakes, kosher salt and pepper. Toss to combine evenly.
• Remove from the heat. Sprinkle on torn fresh basil and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Twirl!
• Double the portion for a (very) light dinner or plate these zoodles with a side of salmon and a glass of white wine served on a backyard deck.

MOZZARELLA, BASIL & ZUCCHINI FRITTATA

Steps:

• Position rack in upper third of oven; preheat broiler.
• Heat oil in a large broiler-safe nonstick or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and zucchini and cook, stirring frequently, until soft, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk eggs, salt and pepper in a bowl. Pour the eggs over the vegetables in the pan. Cook, lifting the edges to allow uncooked egg from the middle to flow underneath, until nearly set, about 2 minutes. Arrange mozzarella and sun-dried tomatoes on top and place the skillet under the broiler until the eggs are slightly browned, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Let stand for 3 minutes. Top with basil.
• To release the frittata from the pan, run a spatula around the edge, then underneath, until you can slide or lift it out onto a cutting board or serving plate. Cut into 4 slices and serve.

SAVORY BASIL ZUCCHINI MUFFINS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F
• In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and the pepper; set aside.
• In a large bowl cream together the shortening [I used olive oil spread instead of shortening]and sugar; beat in the egg and the buttermilk, beating until the mixture is combined well.
• Stir in the zucchini and the basil. Add the prepared flour mixture to the zucchini mixture, stirring the batter until it is just combined.
• Spoon mixture into well-greased muffin or mini-muffin tins. Bake the muffins on the middle rack of your oven approximately 18 to 20 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean. (Subtract a few minutes for mini-muffins).
• Remove from oven and turn the muffins out on a wire rack and let them cool.
• To serve tea sandwiches: Halve the muffins horizontally, spread the cut sides with the butter, and sandwich the radish slices between the muffin halves.

SPAGHETTI WITH ZUCCHINI, LEMON, AND BASIL

Steps:

• Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the packet instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water and drain the pasta.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium-low heat, warm 1 tablespoon olive oil, add the shallot and cook until soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and chile flakes and cook for 1 minute more.
• Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and the zucchini, season with salt and pepper, and cook just long enough for the zucchini to soften and absorb some of the flavor from the garlic, shallot, and chile, 4 to 7 minutes.
• Remove from the heat, add the basil leaves and allow the basil to wilt slightly. Add the lemon zest and juice.
• Add the pasta to the skillet. Stir, adding a little pasta water, if necessary to thin the sauce.
• Serve hot, with plenty of grated Parmesan and pine nuts scattered on top.

CHILLED ZUCCHINI BASIL SOUP

Steps:

• In a skillet over medium-low heat, heat half the olive oil and add 1 minced clove garlic, 2 thinly sliced zucchini, and 1 sliced stalk celery. Add ¼ teaspoon sea salt.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender for about 5 minutes.
• In a jar of a high-speed blender, add the cooked vegetables, 1 ½ cups filtered water, 8-10 basil leaves, 1 strip lemon peel, ¼ cup raw pumpkin seeds, and ½ tablespoon hemp seeds.
• Blend on high until smooth.
• Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours.
• Season with salt and black pepper to taste and serve with toppings of choice.

BASIL ZUCCHINI ORZO SALAD

Steps:

• Sprinkle zucchini with salt in a colander and toss (this allows the zucchini to"sweat" out excess water); let stand for 30 minutes, stirring once or twice, then remove and gently squeeze liquid from zucchini.
• In a food processor whir together the basil leaves, oil, garlic, and oregano until well incorporated.
• Place mixture in a large bowl and stir together with the zucchini and set aside.
• In a large pot over high heat, bring the chicken broth to a boil; add orzo and reduce the heat to medium, cooking until orzo is just tender, about 10-12 minutes; drain the pasta well.
• Stir the pasta into the zucchini mixture, then add the lemon juice, grated cheese, and fresh parsley.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Chill for at least an hour before serving as a salad, or serve warm at room temperature as a dinner side dish.
• Makes about 8 servings.

BASIL AND ZUCCHINI SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan and lightly cook the onion and garlic untilgolden..
• Add the water, stock, zucchini and basil.
• Bring to the boil, lower heat and simmer for about 10 minutes or until vegetables are soft.
• Process in a food processor until smooth Return to pan, add the milk
• and heat Do not boil.

7-MINUTE SAUTEED ZUCCHINI WITH GARLIC & BASIL

Steps:

• Place a medium saute pan over medium heat. When hot, add the olive oil and then the garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, for one minute. Add the zucchini along with a pinch or two of salt and black pepper. Saute, stirring occasionally, until bright green and fork tender, 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and top with basil leaves. Add additional salt and pepper if desired. Serve.

ZUCCHINI RIBBONS WITH BASIL BUTTER

Steps:

• Bring pot of water to boil.
• Mean-while, with vegetable peeler-slice zucchini lengthwise into ribbons. Add zucchini to boiling water; cook until tender, 30-60 seconds.
• Drain and transfer zucchini to serving bowl.
• Add butter, oil, parmesan, basil, and red pepper flakes; gently toss until butter is melted and zucchini are coated.
• I also added 1/2 tsp of garlic powder to this!

BASIL ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy medium nonstick skillet. Add zucchini, 1 tablespoon basil and garlic and stir-fry until zucchini is just tender, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with remaining basil.