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Zucchini Recipes: 40+ easy dishes to make with summery zucchini

Do you have a lot of fresh zucchini at home? Try our 40+ easy recipes including tasty dinner ideas, fritters, baked goods, yummy sides and even delicious zucchini desserts.

By Cookist
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Don't waste your bunch of fresh zucchini this year, so use it to make many healthy and tasty recipes. With their delicate flavor and its antioxidant power, zucchini are the quintessential summer vegetables.

They're rich in nutrients and vitamins, but what makes them special is their high water and fiber content, which makes zucchini a healthy ingredient you can find from June until late August.

Luckily, zucchini are super versatile, so if you have too many of these vegetables at home, don't worry and make one of these 40+ easy, tasty zucchini recipes we've selected for you.

You can use them for some quick and easy dishes like yummy fritters, rosti, or toss them into pasta, salads or tacos. If you're in the mood for baked goods, don't miss stuffed zucchini or a soft bread. Want to keep it simple? Enjoy zucchini as is, then sauté, bake, or roast them. Do you love zucchini more than anything else? Make them the main ingredient of your desserts too, and mix them with chocolate to jazz up the recipe.

So, what are you still waiting for? Try our delicious zucchini recipes to enjoy at any occasion. Serve them anytime, from an appetizer to a tasty main dish, as well as a healthy side dish or an incredible decadent dessert you hadn't thought of. You'll love them!

Best Zucchini Recipes

1. Grilled Zucchini: the easy recipe for a healthy side dish
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Light, healthy, and oh-so-perfect for summer, grilled zucchini is the easy-to-make side dish that needs to be on your radar. It takes less than 15 minutes to make, which makes it ideal if you're in a rush but don't want to sacrifice having a few healthy vegetables on the dinner table. This grilled zucchini recipe calls for dried herbs, but you could just as easily add fresh herbs from your garden for a more vibrant flavor. Give it a try the next time you fire up the grill!

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2. Zucchini Bread: the delicious, simple recipe for a fantastic quick bread
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Moist, lightly sweet with a hint of spice zucchini bread is an amazing quick bread recipe to make this summer when zucchini is in season. Zucchini bread is a great-tasting quick bread that's ideal for any time of the day. Enjoy it toasted with a pat of butter at breakfast, as a dense, moist snack, or even as a dessert (maybe with some chocolate drizzled over the top!).

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3. Baked Zucchini Fries: the tasty side dish recipe for parmesan zucchini fries
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Love crispy fries but looking to eat a bit healthier? Then these parmesan-baked zucchini fries are just what you need! It’s an easy appetizer recipe, you can also serve it as a side and is a delicious way to eat more veggies (even picky eaters will approve).

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4. Zucchini Fritters: the easy, low-carb appetizer recipe for your summer
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Who doesn’t like a well-made, tasty fritter? There’s a reason why zucchini fritters are a childhood appetizer favorite in summer. They’re quick and easy to make, and it’s a great way to sneak in leftover vegetables!

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5. Roasted Zucchini: a delicious, easy to prepare healthy dish
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For a simple healthy side dish that goes brilliantly with almost any savory meal, try roasted zucchini. This nutritious, flavorful vegetable is stellar during the summer when zucchini is in season and at its more flavorful. The combination of the smoky roasted flavors with the nuttiness of Parmesan makes a winning combination you can enjoy all season long. Roasted zucchini is ideal for those busy weeknights when you want to serve something tasty and rich in nutrients to your family but don't have the time to while away in the kitchen. You can also double or even triple this recipe if you're hosting a backyard barbecue bash – roasted zucchini works wonderfully with anything off the grill.

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Baked Zucchini Dishes

6. Zucchini Lasagne: a delicious pasta-free meal
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For those of us who love lasagne – you can enjoy your favorite dish without the calories or guilt!

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7. Beef Stuffed Zucchini: the tasty zucchini recipe for your summer
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This is an easy summer recipe to make if you have an overabundance of zucchinis from the garden. Beef Stuffed Zucchini is quite the tradition in Italy, where it is often enjoyed, with each family having their own twist on the recipe. With ingredients like ground beef, zucchini, tomato, and cheese, it’s a great low-carb recipe—healthy and full of nutrients. It’s also easy to customize the recipe with ingredients you like. This dish is packed in beefy flavor, with rich tomato sauce. This will become your new favorite summer recipe… try it today!

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8. Baked Zucchini Fritters: the healthy and tasty appetizers for the whole family
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No matter where you’re from, chances are you’ve had zucchini fritters before. And there’s a reason why they’re a childhood favorite. They’re quick and easy to make, and it’s a great way to sneak in leftover vegetables! These Baked Zucchini Fritters are a step-up from the old versions you used to have. They’re crispy on the outside, but soft on the inside. Because they’re not fried, they’re even healthier than the former ones (they’re low-carb too). If you have too many zucchinis in your kitchen, then these Baked Zucchini Fritters are perfect for summer zucchini surplus. A delicious guilt-free snack that the whole family can enjoy!

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9. Savory Zucchini Pie: the recipe for a greedy and stringy savory pie
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The savory zucchini pie is a simple and tasty pie recipe that will solve any last-minute dinner with guests. It's a puff pastry shell stuffed with sautéed zucchini, zucchini flowers and scamorza cheese, then baked in the oven until golden brown. The final result will be a fragrant savory pie with a tasty and stringy filling.

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10. Cheesy zucchini gratin: the delicious recipe to enjoy zucchini
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This preparation is actually pretty easy to prepare and tastes very comforting. Serve it with some lightly tossed pasta or spaghetti Aglio olio to enjoy a full meal that will satisfy your taste buds and the appetite like no other! Surprisingly, it is quite restricted in calories, even after being a heavy cream based preparation. So, you do not have to worry too much about the calories part.

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11. Baked zucchini rolls: the recipe for a light and delicious appetizer
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The baked zucchini rolls are an appetizer really simple to prepare and very delicious. The zucchini, incredibly tender in this season, must be cut into thin slices and stuffed with breadcrumbs, aromatic herbs and provola cheese. Roll them up, and bake in the oven just enough time to melt the provola cheese, they will become an irresistible delicacy. Perfect to serve as an appetizer or finger food on the occasion of a summer party or dinner.

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12. Zucchini Parmesan: the tasty Italian main dish recipe perfect for summer
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Zucchini parmesan (or zucchini parmigiana) is a popular Italian main dish recipe. It’s a fresh recipe perfect for summertime. It’s also a great recipe to make if you have an overabundance of zucchini in the garden that needs to be used up.

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13. Lemon Zucchini Bread: a sweet, tangy quick bread recipe perfect for summer
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Zesty lemon zucchini bread is a phenomenal quick bread to make this summer. This easy recipe is a lemony variation on traditional zucchini bread and is a little sweet, a little tart, and so tangy. Lemon zucchini bread is tender and moist on the inside and topped with a sweet lemon glaze, making it perfect for any time of day. The glaze not only makes it pretty but also add additional lemon flavor. Of course, if you want to make it a bit healthier, you can easily leave out the glaze.

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14. Zucchini Pizza Crust: the fantastic low-carb pizza crust recipe you’ll love
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If you've been on the hunt for a tasty low-carb dinner you can whip up in no time, look no further than this amazing zucchini pizza crust recipe. This delicious, easy-to-make pizza is a perfect weeknight dinner, whether you're looking to cut down your carbs or simply trying to find clever, mouthwatering ways to add more veggies to your diet even if you're craving pizza.

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15. Vegetarian Moussaka: the delicious recipe for meat-free moussaka
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Vegetarian moussaka is a wonderful, exceptionally flavorful, simple-to-make recipe that both vegetarians and people who eat meat will fall in love with. This meat-free take on the traditional Greek lamb moussaka is chock-full of hearty vegetables, beautifully seasoned with spices, and is an absolute delight to the taste buds. Eggplant, zucchini, and potato form the base of the vegetarian moussaka, followed by a richly flavored layer of lentil and tomato sauce, all topped off with a homemade bechamel. Overall, this vegetarian moussaka is thick, creamy, with tender veggies, and so much mouthwatering savory flavor. It's a great healthy recipe to make and perfect for feeding a large group.

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16. The light zucchini savory pie: the recipe for a light and super delicious dish
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This zucchini savory pie is a light preparation but equally irresistible and rich in taste. It is a savory pie made with zucchini, ricotta cheese, eggs and aromatic herbs, very simple and quick to make, to be enjoyed hot or at room temperature and perfect for any occasion; from a standing buffet to an informal dinner, from a out of town trip to a park break. Accompanied with a side dish of vegetables, it can be also brought to the office and eaten for lunch. So let’s find out how to prepare the light zucchini savory pie with our recipe.

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Zucchini Main Dishes

17. Pasta with Zucchini: the vegetarian recipe for a light, tasty main dish
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Pasta with zucchini is a quick and easy vegetarian main dish recipe, suitable for any family lunch or dinner in summer. It is a tasty, slightly creamy pasta recipe perfect for when you are in a hurry. Super versatile, you can cook the pasta al dente and zucchini in the same pot, for a very appetizing result.

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18. Spaghetti alla Nerano: the tasty Italian recipe of pasta with fried zucchini
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Spaghetti alla Nerano is an easy Italian main dish which belongs to the Campania region tradition. Simple, humble and incredibly tasty, it seems that this recipe was made for the first time in the 1952 in the Maria Grazia restaurant in the Bay of Nerano (on the Sorrento peninsula) – hence the name of the recipe. The success was immediate when the chef who gave her name to the restaurant combined pasta with fried zucchini and provolone del monaco, a large, semi-aged cheese with a melon shape from the Lattari mountains.

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19. Pureed Vegetable Soup: the recipe for a light, tasty soup
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The pureed vegetable soup is the ideal recipe for those who want a light, healthy but at the same time tasty and satisfying dish. Made with eggplants, peppers and zucchini, and a potato to give the right creaminess, it can be enjoyed hot or at room temperature.

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20. Crepe Roll Stuffed with Zucchini: the recipe for a delicious and stringy dish
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The crepe roll stuffed with zucchini is a tasty and inviting main course, perfect to amaze and delight guests for a festive lunch or a special occasion. Although the preparation may appear a bit elaborate, actually it is very simple; you just need to make the classic crepes, stuff them with zucchini and cheeses, then roll them up and cut them into slices. Finally, you just have to sprinkle them with a few flakes of butter, a sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese and put all in the oven to brown, for a golden and super stringy final result. So let’s find out how to make crepe roll stuffed with zucchini by following our recipe step by step.

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21. Zucchini Rice Casserole: the delicate, stringy main dish recipe
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Zucchini rice casserole is a rich and super stringy main dish recipe, perfect for any family lunch or dinner. Very easy to make, it is slightly crisp on the outside and soft, creamy on the inside thanks to its stringy center.

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22. Cheesy Zucchini Skillet Pie: the perfect savory recipe for summer
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The cheesy zucchini skillet pie is a savory pie that is made in a few steps and without using the oven. It is a delicious recipe in which a crispy shell of dough contains a tasty, stringy filling based on zucchini, parmesan cheese and cheese. Cook this pie in a non-stick pan, a quick and perfect solution for the hottest days.

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23. Zucchini Meatballs: the tasty main dish recipe for zucchini balls in tomato sauce
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Zucchini meatballs are an easy, creamy, vegetarian main course, perfect for any family lunch or dinner. These tasty bite-sized balls are made with zucchini, stale bread, egg and grated parmesan cheese, cooked in a tomato sauce and then enriched with slices of mozzarella cheese. Soft and deliciously stringy, they will win everyone over.

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24. Zucchini Panzerotti: the original and delicious recipe
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Zucchini panzerotti are very easy and tasty. It is the simple and unleavened reinterpretation of the the traditional fried panzerotto, the typical specialty of Apulian gastronomy, in Italy. In this recipe, the dough is based on semolina flour and grated zucchini, which give the final product a truly surprising fragrance and softness, and it is very quick to make, as it does not require the classic rest.

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Zucchini Side Dishes and Appetizer

25. Fried Zucchini: the quick, easy side dish recipe for super crispy fried zucchini
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Fried zucchini are a quick, easy recipe perfect for the summer season. You can serve it as a vegetarian side dish or a tasty appetizer. These crispy fried zucchini are sliced, coated with semolina flour and fried until golden brown like zucchini fries.

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26. Zucchini Chips: the effortless, tasty appetizer recipe for making baked zucchini chips
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Zucchini chips are an easy, healthy appetizer recipe, a light and vegan variant of the classic fried potato chips. These thin, baked zucchini chips are super crispy yet not greasy. Serve this naturally vegan recipe with your favorite dipping sauce such as mayonnaise, or hummus.

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27. Easy French Ratatouille: The Recipe to Cook it in the Frying Pan
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The ratatouille is a course made of seasonal vegetables that was born in France, more precisely in Nice, in fact the recipe is originally called ratatouille niçoise. Born as a peasant food prepared by Provençal farmers to use vegetables, only later spread throughout Europe, also thanks to the animated movie of Disney Pixar.
It is a vegan and light recipe, perfect as a side dish for meat and fish courses, reminiscent of Italian peperonata. It can be prepared either in the oven or in a frying pan.

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28. Zucchini Ham Mozzarella Rolls: the recipe for the delicious savory roll
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The Zucchini Ham Mozzarella Rolls are a delicious and nice appetizer you can serve at a standing dinner, a buffet or an aperitif with friends. They are made with the same dough as the pizza which, once rolled out, is greedily stuffed, cut into slices and then baked in the oven until golden brown.

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29. Zucchini Muffins: the easy and healthy muffin recipe
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These zucchini muffins are an easy and quick muffin recipe you can make in the summer. It’s packed with nutritious veggies, which makes it the perfect option for a snack on the go, or to pack into lunch boxes. The Zucchini Bread Muffins are moist and fluffy, and savory in flavor. To make them, you only need a handful of pantry staples: zucchini, red pepper, eggs, cheese, flour, baking powder, and salt and pepper. Simply mix together your batter ingredients, pour into the molds and bake! These muffins are a variation of the classic zucchini bread, so can be served as a side, a snack, or even a quick light lunch. It’s a great way to eat more vegetables! So easy to make, everyone will love them!

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30. Crispy Zucchini Bites
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Fancy something crunchy and indulgent without it being wildly unhealthy?

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31. Zucchini Pickles: the simple, fast zucchini recipe
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Pickling vegetables is a great way of having veggies available all year round, and not just when they’re in season. These zucchini pickles are an easy and quick summery recipe to use up extra zucchini and enjoy all year long—especially useful if you grow zucchini in your garden and have an abundance of them! Zucchini pickles not only add a tangy flavor to foods but also adds texture.

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32. Greek Zucchini Fritters: the delicious appetizer everyone will love
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Greek zucchini fritters are an incredibly delicious  fried appetizer that you can make in no time. Delightfully crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, Greek zucchini fritters are a simple and healthy dish that boasts plenty of flavor. The recipe is called Kolokithokeftedes in Greek and hails from Crete, the largest of Greece's many islands. This traditional dish calls for tasty feta and a variety of fresh herbs, giving the fritters a wonderful, vibrant flavor. It's especially well-suited to warm weather, but they're so good, don't be surprised if you find yourself making Greek zucchini fritters all year long!

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33. Grilled Piota Potatoes: the recipe for the typical Valtellina side dish
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Grilled piota potatoes is a side dish that belongs to the Valtellina tradition, in Lombardy (Italy). It is a typical cooking method, particularly widespread in alpine cottages, which involves grilling food on a red-hot stone slab called pioda (a kind of soapstone in home version). It's a gentle technique which gradually releases the heat, and very light, since the seasoning is added only raw, but which allows to make potatoes that are golden, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. It's a perfect side dish to serve with meat recipes. So let’s find out how to make perfect grilled piota potatoes by following our recipe step by step.

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34. Roasted Vegetables: the effortless recipe for a delicious, healthy side dish
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For a healthy, flavorful side dish that will go with just about any main dish, there's nothing better than roasted vegetables. Crispy and golden brown on the outside, tender on the inside, oven-roasted vegetables are the perfect nutritious side dish to make with everything from roasts to pasta, stews, casseroles, burgers, and more.

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35. Zucchini skewers: the tasty recipe for quick lunches
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Zucchini skewers are a tasty and very simple idea to prepare for the summer. In a short time you can make nice finger food, to serve as an appetizer or as a second dish. The basic recipe that we present today is a completely vegetarian dish, but of course you can indulge yourself in enriching it as you like.

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36. Zucchini fried with bread, a nice and tasty recipe
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Zucchini fried with bread are a creative and super delicious recipe perfect for a summer appetizer. In this recipe, the sandwich bread wrap a tasty filling made with zucchini and scamorza cheese and, once fried in boiling oil, they turn into small sandwiches to be enjoyed hot and stringy. Very easy to make, zucchini fried with bread are a real delicacy; perfect as a tasty appetizer or irresistible single dish, accompanied by a nice fresh and colorful salad.

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37. Zucchini Rosti: the tasty and light recipe
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Zucchini rosti is a tasty yet light recipe, very similar to a vegetable fritter. You can serve it hot, but also cold, as an appetizer or on a buffet table for an aperitif. The zucchini version is a variant of the classic potato rosti, typical of Switzerland, Austria and South Tyrol. Quick and easy recipe, you only need to mix grated zucchini, egg, flour, parmesan cheese, and herbs, before pan-frying them.

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38. Zucchini cutlets: the recipe for a delicious and very simple dish
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Zucchini cutlets are a simple and very tasty appetizer or side dish. Very easy to make, just cut the zucchini into oblique slices, pass them in a delicious and rich breading and you can bake them in the oven (or alternatively fry them in hot oil), to obtain a crunchy and irresistibly fragrant preparation. Here is a delicious and original idea to let even the children t of the house eat vegetables or to serve it at a buffet with friends. Zucchini cutlets can also be prepared in advance and heated at the last moment; success will always be guaranteed.

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Zucchini Desserts

39. Chocolate Zucchini Bread: a sensational sweet recipe for a summery quick bread
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If you're looking for a healthy(ish) dessert you can make using fresh, in-season produce, you'll love this easy chocolate zucchini bread. Perfect for a sweet, summery breakfast, snack, or light dessert, chocolate zucchini bread is a brilliant way to eat more veggies without feeling like you're eating more veggies.

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40. Chocolate Zucchini Cake: The Best Way to Enjoy A Bumper Crop of Zucchini
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Chocolate Zucchini Cake is incredibly moist and fudgy but surprisingly quick and easy to make with extra zucchini. It’s dense, chocolaty, and speckled with moist zucchini for flavor and texture. Make this cake with yogurt for extra moisture, as well as flour, sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, cinnamon, and grated zucchini.

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