Recipe: 3 Easy Ways to Cook Zucchini and Summer Squash

Here, the Accidental Locavore shows you 3 easy, quick and delicious ways to cook any kind of zucchini or summer squash. The best part is you can do them in the microwave, oven or grill.

Makes 1 package per person.

Basic Recipe:

• Take some small zucchini or summer squash, 1 per person, and cut the ends off.
• Place each squash on a piece of parchment paper.
• Drizzle a small amount of olive oil, use the good stuff here, over the squash.
• Add a sprig or two of thyme, and sprinkle with sea salt (also time for the good stuff, I like Maldon here).
• Fold the top of the parchment up, and fold in or twist the ends to make a packet.
• Put in the microwave for 5 minutes (depending on the strength of your oven) until tender.
• You can also bake them on a cookie sheet in the regular oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes until tender.
• If you use aluminum foil instead of the parchment, you can grill them for about 20 minutes.
  Serve them in their packets, or remove and slice for presentation.

Greek Variation:

• Take some small zucchini or summer squash, 1 per person, and cut the ends off.
• Cut a slit lengthwise down the squash almost cutting it in half.
• Place each squash on a piece of parchment paper.
• Crumble some feta cheese over the zucchini.
• Drizzle a small amount of olive oil, use the good stuff here, over the squash.
• Sprinkle with some fresh mint, cut into narrow strips (chiffonade), and a little sea salt (go easy on the salt, as the feta is pretty salty).
• Fold and cook as the basic recipe.

Mexican Variation:

• Take some small zucchini or summer squash, 1 per person, and cut the ends off.
• Cut a slit lengthwise down the squash almost cutting it in half.
• Place each squash on a piece of parchment paper.
• Crumble some queso fresco, or goat cheese over the squash.
• Drizzle a small amount of olive oil, use the good stuff here, over the squash.
• Sprinkle with some chopped cilantro, and sea salt.
• If you like a little heat, add some finely diced jalapeno or serrano chiles.
• Fold and cook as the basic recipe.

Which one is your favorite?