Zucchini Scampi Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

murphy

Better to put the garlic into a tablespoon of oil and the microwave for 30 seconds at half power. The infused oil can be used for the cooking and the garlic will loose that raw bite.

Rebecca

I toasted some bread crumbs in olive oil before I started cooking the zucchini and sprinkled it over the top at the end. Added a nice texture. Also I threw the garlic into the pan with the wine to take a little of the rawness away.

MegS

Is there a reason not to add the squash back to the pan at the end? I would think a minute in the pan would take the edge off the raw garlic and also reheat the squash.

Susie

How about grilling the zucchini slices and while that’s going on, make the sauce on the stove. When zucchini/squash is done, plate it, pour the sauce on top and sprinkle with parsley and/or other herbs.

Clayton

Classic. (For those protesting, “Scampi” is used here because of the white wine, garlic, and butter – the underpinning of scampi.)The secret to doing squash like this – in my experience – is don’t try to caramelize both sides, and don’t slice it too thin- doing either will break down the squash too much – and you’ll get a very soft result.Some might like this – but I think these need a bit of snap to them.Go with the full half inch thickness and a very hot pan.

elena

I liked this. The zucchini was nutty in that lovely way zucchini can get, and crisp-ish. I used the microplane to grate the garlic over the zucchini slices, it had a nice bite that seemed right, like on pizza. Didn't add the squash back to the pan because the sauce would have pulled out some crispness. Now. Why isn't this just pan-fried zucchini? Seems gimmicky to compare it to scampi. Nah.

LS

If you’re going to add this to pasta, as I did. Double the sauce. Delicious!

CL

I regularly sub apple juice for wine in recipes. I use 1/2 the amt of wine the recipe indicates. A vegetarian X20 yrs, I cannot call zucchini in lemon-garlic-butter “Scampi”, but I am eager to try any recipe that takes the bland and makes it flavourful! Thanks for this new take on zucchini— my garden overflow-eth already!

gigi

long ago, i learned to use a small pinch of sugar when sauteing squash - much better flavor. i also definitely agree with the notes recommending sauteing the garlic briefly. the raw garlic is unpleasant and difficult to digest.

Kentfield Barbara

I added an extra step and ingredient. After Step 2 I seared some scallops in the same pan which, with a side of rice completed the dinner.

Melinda

So I also added the garlic and red pepper flakes with the white wine and butter to cook the rawness off, then once the sauce was finished, added the squash back into the pan for a minute off heat to help meld the flavors. Used mint as the herb; it was really delicious. Salting then patting dry the squash is essential; don’t skip this step, really put a beautiful brown sear on the squash. And I did sear the squash quickly on the second side as well. Would absolutely made again…

BAS

cooked sliced squash in oil, with some onion, then added lemon juice and sprinkled with parsley -- VG

kaylaps

I made the sauce with a few mods, a la Murphy below: a smaller amount of vegan butter mixed with some olive oil & finely minced garlic, microwaved for 30 seconds to get it started & then into the pan to pick up the fond after the veg was cooked; plenty of lemon juice, but skipped the wine (none open on a weeknight!). Prepared the zucchini itself with the cooking method recommended & poured the hot sauce over it. Yum! Great texture. Will do it again & modify sauce as the fridge/pantry dictates.

Richard

That's why these things are called accidents: they are not planned. I'm pretty sure that a note of caution is a good thing. Some food writers state that the flame should be OFF before adding wine.

Norman of BC

This seems like a bit of a reach. Many dishes can be manipulated to have a texture of a dissimilar food. This recipe is a good one but scampi-like it is not.

Chey

This is so good! Perfect for a meatless meal that's still filling

R

Empty the oil from the pan before adding the wine to avoid disaster!

S

I make a version of this but I use baby zucchini instead. It holds its crunch better. A super quick version for a side is baby zucchini, high quality mild olive oil (my favorite is Terre dell'Abbazia from Ursini available at Eataly), garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Cooked in the oven for 10-15 minutes. Delicious!

Melody

Delicious! My meat-eating friends said it tasted just like shrimp scampi (only with zucchini). It was such a big hit I was forced to share the recipe.

Melissa P

they aren't kidding about reducing down the wine. I didn't reduce it enough, but then I was able to use the remaining sauce (after plating the zuccinis) for a small amount of spaghetti and it was perfect! I also cooked the garlic and pepper flakes in the remaining oil in the pan just quick enough to start to toast the garlic before adding the wine.

WanjikuN

Loved this recipe. I used three garlic cloves, olive oil instead of butter, and topped it with basil instead of parsley. I don’t love zucchini but cutting this one inch thick and just browning them on one side kept the texture firm. Even convinced other family members who don’t love zucchini to give it a chance!

Alexandra

I tossed the garlic into the butter. Yum!

Hank

Just okay. Need to pair this with the right main course, we had it with Mexican food and they did not align. The sauce is rich.

karen b

So happy to find yet another way to make zucchini! Did everything per the recipe except the raw garlic. I turned off the heat on the pan, added the butter and the garlic, then quickly added the other ingredients. Perfect.

kahki57

Too sweet with pino grigio. Omit wine. Took way longer to brown than suggested.

Claire in SF

Anything would taste great with this much butter. I will try this again with half the butter.

Barbara Aschenbrenner

I’d double the garlic, particularly if cooking it.

Add Shrimp!

I browned the zucchini (be sure to slice 1/2”) in two batches, with a slight browning on the opposite side. Then sprinkled the fresh garlic and red pepper flakes before placing in a 250 oven to keep warm. Heated the wine, but then added shrimp while it reduced. When cooked, added to Pyrex dish while I finished the sauce. Poured over the shrimp/zucchini and served over rice. Delicious!

Name Linda

Good with salmon

mary

Loved this. Will add toasted pine nuts next time.

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Zucchini Scampi Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you get water out of zucchini spirals? ›

Cooking is what really makes zucchini release moisture. However, sometimes even uncooked zucchini can get a little limp after it's cut. In this case, to reduce excess moisture, simply pat the spiralized noodles dry with paper towels or a thin kitchen rag.

What can I use to thicken a scampi sauce? ›

Scampi sauce is meant to be fairly thin since it's largely butter-based. If you would like a thicker sauce, consider adding a slurry made with cornstarch or add some heavy cream. Cream will also make the sauce richer.

How do you make zucchini less watery? ›

Salt your zucchini slices: Salt helps to draw water out of the zucchini! Once salted, let them sit for 15 minutes before blotting dry (and removing some of that salt) with a paper towel.

Why are my zucchini noodles soggy? ›

Make sure you don't overcook your zoodles.

The longer zucchini cooks, the more time it has for its moisture to leak out and become mushy.

How long does it take to get water out of zucchini? ›

Sprinkle the grated zucchini with salt, only to season them, not more. Put them to drain in a colander with a dish underneath. Leave for 1 hour, then, using your hands, squeeze out the excess liquid.

Do you need to remove water from zucchini? ›

When cooking with grated zucchini, it's important to squeeze out the moisture to stop your dish from going soggy.

What is creamy scampi sauce made of? ›

The Sauce
  1. Heavy cream. This thickens your sauce and adds a delicious creamy dimension to the dish.
  2. Herb Roasted Tomatoes. ...
  3. White wine. ...
  4. Organic chicken stock. ...
  5. Parmesan cheese. ...
  6. Cajun seasoning blend. ...
  7. Garlic. ...
  8. Freshly-squeezed lemon juice.
Feb 14, 2022

Why is my scampi mushy? ›

Undercook and they'll be mushy and translucent; overcook and they'll be rubbery and nearly inedible. The best way to tell when shrimp are cooked through is to look for visual cues: “Watch for the shrimp to curl and turn opaque,” says Kendra. Undercooked shrimp will be gray and translucent, with uncurled tails.

How to fix a broken scampi sauce? ›

The Fix Is Simple—Add Water Back.

Here's how fix a broken sauce: Add about ¼ cup of water to the pan and reheat the sauce to a vigorous simmer, whisking constantly. The bubbling action will help re-emulsify the butter and bring back that thick, glossy sauce.

How to cook zucchini and keep it firm? ›

To do this, cut up a pound of zucchini and toss it with ½ teaspoon of table salt. Let it drain in a colander for about 30 minutes before patting it dry and cooking it.

How much water does zucchini need? ›

Watering Zucchinis

One inch of water per week should suffice, but water more often if the weather is particularly hot and dry. Well-draining soil is a must—if it water pools and remains stagnant around the roots, they will start to rot. Avoid letting your soil dry out; this can increase the risk of blossom end rot.

Should you salt zucchini before cooking? ›

Salt your zucchini before cooking.

The salt draws the moisture from the flesh which helps ensure that the vegetable stays firm during roasting. This moisture (and excess salt) is patted off with a paper towel before cooking.

Why does my zucchini taste rubbery? ›

Signs it has gone bad

The main sign to look out for is that it will feel rubbery and/or slimy to the touch. It might also give off a bad smell and show signs of mould growth. Even if the exterior of the zucchini looks good, be sure to check the insides for stringy, mushy flesh with an off-white or brownish colour!

How do you keep zucchini from getting soggy when frying? ›

Yes, you should always salt your zucchini before frying — especially if you're aiming to achieve a crispy texture. Salting your zucchini helps remove the excess moisture stuck in the zucchini that would otherwise make frying a challenge.

Why is my zucchini rubbery? ›

How to Tell If Zucchini Has Gone Bad. Bad zucchini will feel rubbery or slimy to the touch. It may also have an off-putting smell and dark or fuzzy moldy spots. The interior of bad zucchini may be off-white to brownish with stringy, mushy flesh and large, hard seeds.

How do you dry out zucchini noodles? ›

Sprinkle the zoodles with sea salt and allow them to sit for at least 20-30 minutes. I typically do this as I'm preparing the rest of my dinner. After the zoodles have sat out for at least 20-30 minutes, gently press the zoodles with paper towels or a clean dishrag to release any remaining moisture.

How do you get water out of frozen zucchini noodles? ›

Thaw the frozen noodles in the refrigerator overnight or place them in a colander and rinse with warm water until fully defrosted. Once thawed, use a clean kitchen towel or paper towels to gently pat dry the zucchini noodles to remove any excess moisture.

How do you remove water from frozen zucchini? ›

Thaw the zucchini in the refrigerator overnight before using. If it's watery after thawing, drain before using it.

Do you squeeze water out of zucchini before measuring it? ›

Yes, packing the zucchini (patting down) in the measuring cup will give a more accurate measurement, and will help you to have success using this recipe. I place the zucchini in a measuring cup (after squeezing out liquid) then just pat it to measure out 1 1/4 cups.

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