If you planted zucchini this season, there's a good chance that, by now, your garden is gifting you with never-ending armfuls of it. My dad planted zucchini every year, and my mom was always trying to come up with different way to prepare it stuffed, roasted, casseroles
Now I'm in the same boat. I didn't plant zucchini this year. My 8-by-10-foot raised bed is simply not large enough to accommodate the massive green gourds. But a basket filled with zucchini was left on my front porch not too long ago and there I stood, in awe of a good friend's green thumb while cursing beneath my breath. My thought: I'm sick to tears of stuffed squash, squash casserole, squash fritters and squash bread. I had enough of that in my childhood to last a lifetime.
Anne BralyThen, as if it were manna from heaven, a recipe appeared in my inbox from the Atkins Diet people: Zoodles - zucchini "noodles." Clever, huh? So I rushed to give it a try since the ingredients are staples in my kitchen, as they are in most.
Why this dish works: It presents beautifully as a side to grilled chicken, steak or fish. Or, when served alongside a salad and crusty French bread, it makes a nice vegetarian meal. It's colorful on the plate and its texture adds more visual appeal.
What's more, it's chock full of vitamins. You get a good serving of Omega-3s from the olive oil. And the almonds, zucchini and parsley add vitamins C, A, E and lots of other good things to your daily requirements.
Also, the dish has a good deal of protein, so it will keep you full for a while.
If you have a vegetable slicer that cuts vegetables into spaghetti-like strands, use it. If not, compromise with your hand-held box grater and, holding the zucchini lengthwise, grate it, creating long pieces of zucchini that look like spaghetti noodles.
The recipe calls for unsalted roasted almonds. Salted ones work equally well, just omit the added salt in the recipe.
With zucchini nearing, if not at, its zenith, here's a delicious, healthful alternative to squash casserole and other more-fattening ways to use this summer's bumper crop.
Pesto Zoodles
2 pounds zucchini
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/3 cup whole roasted and unsalted almonds
1 garlic clove
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
In a food processor, process the almonds until finely ground. Add the garlic, parsley and Parmesan; pulse 4-6 times. Add in the 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste) and pulse again a few times. Set aside.
Spiral slice the zucchini or use a grater with the zucchini lengthwise to get longer strands. Heat a large skillet or wok to medium-high with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Cook the zucchini for 4 minutes, using tongs to stir and rotate until cooked through, about 5 minutes.
Toss the warm zucchini with the pesto, sprinkle with the crushed red chili pepper flakes (optional) and divide into pasta bowls. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
Note: To roast raw almonds, heat the oven to 350 degrees, toss the nuts on a sheet pan and roast for 10 minutes. Cool before using.
On the restaurant front
* This month, Acropolis Grill is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and the Kyriakidis family wants you to help with the celebration. Through Sunday, the restaurant is offering a special menu, along with other specials not on the menu, such as "2 Burgers and 2 Beers for $20" and 20 percent off online gift-card purchases.
The birthday will also feature a Beer Dinner on Thursday at 6 p.m. Attendees will sample five chef creations paired with five craft beers from Highland Brewing Co. in Asheville, N.C. The cost is $30 per person (includes tax & gratuity). Tickets can be purchased online at acropolisgrill.com.
Acropolis Grill is one of the few locally owned and managed establishments in the Hamilton Place neighborhood. It's located at 2213 Hamilton Place Blvd. For more information, call 899-5341.
* Hungry for a hot dog? Now through the end of August, Krystal is offering its Plain Pups for just 99 cents when you buy a combo meal. "We want everyone to have a chance to enjoy this delicious menu item whenever they visit their local Krystal this summer," said Alice Crowder, vice president of marketing at the Krystal Co. "And, if you've signed up via email and are a member of Club Krystal, you can look forward to getting a free Pup every Tuesday. Just check your email for the coupon."
Free Pups? Now that's something to howl about.
* If you haven't heard, the Hunter Museum of American Art has a new cafe, Mindy B's Deli, now serving a variety of lunch items, including salads and sandwiches, as well as snacks, treats and drinks. And if you're planning on coming as a group, you can preorder box lunches 48 hours in advance of your visit.
"The Hunter has such a beautiful view for diners to enjoy a casual lunch overlooking the Tennessee River. Folks passing by the museum on the RiverWalk as well as museum guests can pick up lunch at the museum cafe to enjoy in the cafe or on our terrace," museum Executive Director Virginia Anne Sharber said in a news release.
Mindy B's will be open from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 2 p.m. on Free First Sundays.
Contact Anne Braly at abraly@timesfreepress.com.