When it comes to zucchini and walnuts, the recipe possibilities are endless. Whether you’re visiting your local farmers market or grocery store, zucchinis are popping up everywhere. They’re the perfect late-summer and early-fall ingredient to pair with walnuts for a light and flavorful seasonal meal or snack. From starters to savory bites, here are five zucchini recipes to try in your summer menu.
Satisfying Snack
Is there anything better than a fresh-baked loaf of bread? The answer is yes, if you add zucchini and some toasted walnuts to the mix. This Zucchini Walnut Bread hits all the high notes. With cinnamon and nutmeg spices, zest of lemon, and just enough brown sugar and vanilla, this baked good will feel like a sweet treat to indulge in any time of the day. Pair it with fresh yogurt and top with walnuts and berries for breakfast or an afternoon snack.
Flavorful Lunch
Ditch the traditional bed of lettuce to serve an out-of-the-box lunch for your midday pick-me-up. For this Lemony Zucchini Salad with Walnuts, spiralized zucchini tossed in some lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil provides an invigorating taste with a vibrant appeal. Savory ricotta cheese and fresh herbs from the garden elevate this lunchtime salad. The satisfying crunch of the walnuts and a spritz of lemon juice top off this perfect blend of summer vegetables and herbs to fill you up without weighing you down.
Teriyaki bowls are another great lunch for a summer weekday. This Teriyaki Pork and Walnut Zucchini Noodle Bowl is a modern take on the traditional noodle dish. It’s a bright combination of carrots and bell peppers and anything else you want to add to give it some tangy flavor and seasonal color.
Atop a bed of spiral zoodles (zucchini noodles), the crunchy walnuts and a sweet teriyaki sauce make for a unique, veggie-packed meal.
Simple Yet Satisfying Dinner
Lasagna isn’t just a comfort food to serve in the middle of winter. This Walnut Tomato Sauce with Zucchini Lasagna Noodles is a modern plant-based take on your favorite Italian dish. Thin zucchini slices take the place of traditional pasta sheets, and chopped walnuts are an excellent substitute for ground beef.
Anyone who has ever grown zucchini plants knows that they are prolific producers when it comes time to harvest. If you’re tired of the usual oven-roasted or grilled zucchini recipes, this Chicken and Walnut Zoodle Bowl with Curry Vinaigrette will be your new go-to dish. It’s the perfect way to use up your zucchini as well as those fresh cherry tomatoes in your garden. Best of all, it can be prepared in 15 minutes.
Experiment with Zucchini Recipes
In celebration of the warm weather, get creative and break out some new recipes this summer. Prepped with earthy California walnuts and versatile zucchini, the possibilities are endless, and the recipe options are delicious.
