For this week’s Taste of Tuesday feature, food blogger Kevin Shalin of The Mighty Rib shares a delicious recipe for Marinated Zephyr Squash inspired by our local farmers markets. First we wanted to know, what’s zephyr squash.
I’m a firm believer that my weekend just isn’t complete without a visit to one of the many farmers markets here in Little Rock. Often times, coming across all these fresh, locally-grown ingredients is all the inspiration I need to create a satisfying dish once I get home.
After I purchased some beautiful zephyr squash at the Rattle’s Garden booth during last Saturday’s Hillcrest Farmers Market, I immediately started surfing the web for a delicious, easy and healthy recipe that would utilize the squash.
I found this Marinated Zucchini and Summer Squash recipe from Giada de Laurentiis and decided to give it a shot.
But before we get to the recipe, you may be asking yourself, just what is a zephyr squash?
It’s a squash that looks and tastes like most any other summer squash you’ve probably eaten, but with one exception: the zephyr squash is multi-colored, with a yellow stem end and a light green blossom end. Got it?
Back to the recipe.
Consider using it as a guide, and feel free to make slight modifications, as I did. For example, I’ve found that a Ziploc bag works well for any kind of marinade process, this recipe being no exception. This allowed me to occasionally toss the mixture without making a mess. I also capitalized on fresh herbs, increasing the amount of thyme the recipe called for.
The finished product proved to be a versatile squash dish with wonderful grill marks and bright, citrusy flavors with subtle herbal tones from the thyme. Serve it alongside some hummus to create that perfect appetizer for a small dinner party, or even slice the squash into thin strips and toss with pasta, olive oil and Parmesan cheese and eat as a main entrée. Looking for a heartier meal? The marinated squash also pairs well with a side of mashed potatoes and sliced flank steak.
The options are limitless.
If you decide to make this Marinated Zephyr Squash, please let us know how it turns out in the comment box below.