Use up zucchini and make a delicious spread at the same time.

Give your zucchini to me!

I will make it into zucchini butter, the savory, five-ingredient spread I cant get enough of.

Slices of Toast Topped With Ricotta and Zucchini Butter on a Marble Slab Next to a Bowl With More Zucchini Butter and a Spoon, and in the Surroundings, a Mustard Colored Kitchen Towel and a Glass

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

The other option is to make your own zucchini butter.

You kinda have to, because Im horrible and wont share mine.

It keeps for about a week in the fridge and freezes well.

Zucchini Butter in a Cast Iron Skillet With a Wooden Spoon, and in the Surroundings, a Mustard Colored Kitchen Towel, Pieces of Toast, Fresh Thyme Sprigs, a Glass of Water, and a Bowl of Ricotta

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

And its a whole lot better for you than zucchini bread.

The Low-Effort Solution to Zucchini Overload

Its bigger than my femur.

Thats the caption my friend texted when she shared a photo of the giantest zucchini from her garden harvest.

Bowl of Zucchini Butter With a Spoon on a Marble Slab With Toast, and in the Surroundings, a Mustard Colored Kitchen Towel and a Glass of Water

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Thereisa way to prevent this sort of thing: harvest your zucchini earlier.

But the best of intentions dont always translate to garden activity.

Besides their daunting heft, giant zucchini present issues.

Slices of Toast Topped With Ricotta and Zucchini Butter on a Marble Slab Next to a Bowl With More Zucchini Butter and a Spoon, and in the Surroundings, a Mustard Colored Kitchen Towel and a Glass

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Their insides can be mealy; their exteriors can be tough.

Zucchini butter is the one preparation you could always count on to wrangle an overwhelming zucchini situation.

Youll be grating the zucchini and cooking it down, so any tough skins soften to a jammy paste.

Cast Iron Skillet With Olive Oil for Zucchini Butter Recipe

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

This idea came froma recipein Marisa McClellans blog Food in Jars.

She dices her zucchini, but I grate it because I find it cooks down faster.

The concept of long-cooked summer vegetables is global, though.

Zucchini Grated Using a Box Grater Over a Wood Cutting Board for Zucchini Butter Recipe

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

A similar recipe is the zucchini caviar in Olia Hercules' Summer Kitchens.

She adds carrot and tomato to hers.

I pivot between variations, as zucchini butter is amenable like that.

Zucchini Grated Using a Box Grater Over a Wood Cutting Board for Zucchini Butter Recipe

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

I add to the skillet as I grate, thereby overlapping cook time with prep time.

But dont let its homely appearance fool you!

The deep flavor and subtle sweetness of zucchini butter wont win you over because of looks.

Grated Zucchini Added to Cast Iron Skillet for Zucchini Butter Recipe

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Using Your Zucchini Butter

Good bread and zucchini butter are a match made in heaven.

I like it on nearly any kind of toast.

It adds a new dimension to sandwiches (an egg sandwich in particular) or avocado toast.

Thyme and Garlic Added to Cast Iron Skillet on Top of Shredded Zucchini for Zucchini Butter Recipe

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Between that and the aforementioned toss it into pasta, what more do you need?

If you dream up different uses, like share.

More Zucchini Recipes

Easy Zucchini Butter

This is a very -ish recipe.

Shredded Zucchini Reduced in a Cast Iron Skillet

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

I never measure when I make it.

Turn the heat to medium.

Grate your zucchini using the large holes of a box grater or a food processor.

Shredded Zucchini Stirred and Reduced Even More in Cast Iron Skillet Until Desired Consistency

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

I got 12 cups grated zucchini total, but some variance is totally fine.

Add the grated zucchini to your skillet as you go.

Eventually youll see it wilting and hear it sizzling faintly in the pan.

Zucchini Butter in a Bowl With a Spoon

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Bury the garlic cloves and thyme sprigs in the skillet of grated zucchini.

Sprinkle the whole works generously with salt, and give it a stir.

Stir the zucchini every few minutes as it cooks.

Slices of Toast Topped With Ricotta and Zucchini Butter on a Marble Slab Next to a Bowl With More Zucchini Butter and a Spoon, and in the Surroundings, a Mustard Colored Kitchen Towel and a Glass

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

You dont want the bottom to burn.

If it really sticks to the bottom of the pan, add a splash of water.

The grated zucchini will more or less melt into oblivion.

(I use this time to wash dishes and work on other recipes.)

Once it looks right to you, pull your skillet off the heat.

Fish out the stems of thyme (the leaves will have long since fallen off).

If you find the garlic cloves, mash them with a wooden spoon; they should be soft enough.

Add a good glug of fresh olive oil, perhaps a few more tablespoons.

Then season with many grinds of pepper and a squirt of fresh lemon juice.

Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt as needed.

Simple Tip!

The lemon juice brightens up the flavor a lot.

Your zucchini butter is now ready to use.

I like it at room temp.

Once its cooled, transfer the zucchini butter to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 week.

you’ve got the option to also freeze it for up to 6 months.

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