Oh so good! This Balsamic Grilled Zucchini is the best summer side dish that your family will be asking for again and again.
Why you will love this Balsamic Grilled Zucchini.
This balsamic grilled zucchini is simple, low carb, low calorie, and most importantly, delicious. It comes together in no time at all and pairs perfectly with just about everything from burgers to my sheet pan chicken with roasted grapes.
The weather isn’t grill friendly? No worries, it works just as well cooked inside on a grill pan.
Ingredients for Grilled Zucchini
- Zucchini
- Olive Oil
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Thyme
- Basil
- Rosemary
- Salt and Pepper
How to Grill Zucchini
1. Preheat grill or grill pan over medium heat. The zucchini cooks very quickly and if your heat it too high it can cook too quickly and become mushy.
2. Cut the zucchini lengthwise into quarters. If your zucchini is long, you can cut it into 5″ spears.
3. Mix together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, thyme, basil, rosemary, salt, and pepper, and brush over the zucchini.
4. Grill zucchini horizontally until charred and soft. Make sure not to cook it too long or it will get mushy.
Zucchini Fun Facts
- Zucchini is a summer squash and although zucchini is often considered a vegetable, it is actually classified as a fruit and is the only fruit that starts with the letter “Z”.
- Zucchini grows fast and can start producing fruit in as little as 35 days. It can also grow 1-2 inches per day and produce approximately 10 pounds of fruit per plant.
- The word zucchini comes from the Italian word for squash – “zucca” – and was first brought to the United States in the 1920’s by the Italians.
- The entire zucchini is eatable including the flower, which is considered a delicacy by some.
How to Choose and Store Zucchini
- Ranging from yellow-green to almost black, zucchini can grow over 3 feet in length, but is best harvested when it is immature – about 6 – 10 inches. The larger the zucchini the more watery and flavorless it tends to be.
- Zucchini should still have the stem attached and will last longer than those that do not.
- The zucchini should be smooth, firm, and blemish free.
- Store your zucchini in a paper bag in the vegetable drawer or your refrigerator. It should last up to a week.
Zucchini Nutrition and Health Benefits
- Low in calories and fat, one cup of cooked zucchini contains about 40% of your daily intake of Vitamin A.
- Zucchini is high in antioxidants which is most concentrated in the skin of the fruit. Antioxidants can benefit your skin, eyes, and heart. Research shows that they also offer some protection against certain types of cancer.
- The high fiber content in zucchini also contributes to heart health and can be effective in removing bad cholesterol levels. It is also rich in potassium, which may help reduce high pressure.
- Zucchini is high in Vitamin C and beta-carotene which are essential for your eyes health. The antioxidants contained in zucchini can help to improve your visions, reduce your risk of age related eye diseases, including resulting in a lower risk of macular degeneration, and may decrease your changes of development cataracts.
- The fiber in zucchini may also help reduce blood sugar and helps stabilize blood sugar, preventing levels from spiking after meals. It is also a great low-carb alternative to pasta.
Some of our Other Favorite Side Dishes
If you love it, leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you and this would help me with future recipes!
Contact me if you would like to see any of your childhood favorites updated or reinvented.
Balsamic Grilled Zucchini
Equipment
- Grill or Grill Pan
Ingredients
- 2 lbs zucchini
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 tsp thyme dried
- 1/2 tsp basil dried
- 1/2 tsp rosemary dried
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat grill or grill pan to medium heat.
- Trim ends off of the zucchini. Cut zucchini lengthwise into quarters.
- Mix remaining ingredients in a small bowl.
- Brush zucchini with olive oil and balsamic vinegar mixture.
- Grill zucchini 3-5 minutes per side until charred and tender but not breaking down.
Notes
Nutrition
All health content on mimisrecipebox.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider. See our website privacy policy for more information.
I normally do not care for zucchini but my family requested it so I tried this recipe, and I am now a believer. They all declared this to be a winner, and now I like it as well.
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