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    Home » Easy Sauteed Zucchini

    Published: Apr 20, 2021 · by Sree · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    Easy Sauteed Zucchini

    Jump to Recipe

    This recipe for easy sauteed zucchini a must-try if you love this vegetable. Tender crisp zucchini pieces are seasoned with cumin seeds, salt, and pepper.

    This vegan, gluten-free recipe is a quick one to prepare in a skillet and comes together in less than 15 minutes.

    Try this quick, easy and healthy zucchini and yellow squash recipe which is super simple that even a beginner cook can get it right!

    tender crisp zucchini and yellow squash pan roasted with cumin and black pepper
    Easy Recipe For Sautéed Zucchini & Yellow Squash

    Apart from sauteeing, I use zucchini to make a quick sweet bread as well as savory one.

    Ingredients

    • Zucchini or yellow squash or a combination of both. Did you know zucchini is also called courgette, especially in British English? 🙂
    • Cumin Seeds
    • Salt and Pepper (freshly ground pepper is the best)
    • Cooking oil

    If you are following any particular diet, please make sure that the ingredients used in the recipe are indeed catered to your specific diet.

    Equipment Needed

    zucchini and yellow squash
    Zucchini & Yellow Squash

    I prefer a large non-stick skillet/frying pan for this recipe. If you have a very well seasoned cast iron pan, that would work as well. You might have to use a little more oil if you are using a castiron skillet depending on how well seasoned it is.

    Cooking Spoons

    Chopping Board & Knife

    Serving Dish

    If you have a pepper mill, you can use that. Else use mortar & pestle to finely grind black pepper.

    Step By Step Instructions

    easy recipe for sautéed zucchini & yellow squash in a skillet/frying pan.
    Easy Recipe For Sautéed Zucchini & Yellow Squash
    • Heat oil in the skillet on medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the cumin seeds and fry for 30 seconds.
    • Add freshly ground black pepper and give it a quick mix (30 seconds).
    • Add the diced zucchini/yellow quash. [When you add the zucchini, it should sizzle]. Spread in one layer. Sprinkle salt. Cook for 5-6 minutes stirring occasionally.
    • Increase the heat to high and cook for another minute. Remove from heat. Transfer to serving dish. Serve hot.

    P.S: If you do not have a large skillet, then work in batches.

    Prep & Cooking Times

    sautéed zucchini with cumin seeds and black pepper.
    Ready To Serve - Sautéed Zucchini & Yellow Squash

    This is a very simple recipe, there are no complex ingredients, no complex steps involved - simple enough to be a beginner recipe. The spices used are easily available, and if you have a nonstick skillet and a spatula, you are all set to prepare this.

    Prep Time: The prep time of 5 minutes is based on my knife skills. :). If you are a beginner cook, then plan a few additional minutes for dicing up the vegetables.

    Cook Time: I do not like mushy/soggy zucchini. I cook them until the pieces are just tender and caramelized at a few places. This brings out the freshness as well as the flavors.

    Best Oil For Sauteeing?

    Sauteeing zucchini is done at medium-high to high temperatures to get the best results - tender, but crisp pieces of zucchini that are not soggy/mushy.

    Consider oil's smoking point before you use it - for sauteeing oils that have a higher smoking point would be ideal.

    How To Cut Zucchini/Yellow Squash For The Recipe?

    diced yellow aquash and zucchini in a plate along with cumin seeds, black pepper and oil.
    Diced Zucchini & Yellow Squash

    Wash the zucchini/yellow squash with water and remove all the dirt.

    Trim the ends.

    Cut the Zucchini/Yellow Squash into half, lengthwise. Now cut each of the halves further into two halves, lengthwise. Now, you will have four long pieces of zucchini/yellow squash.

    Dice each long piece of zucchini into ½ -inch pieces.

    Repeat with the rest.

    Serving Suggestions

    delicious recipe for summer squash seasoned with cumin and black pepper
    Easy Recipe For Sautéed Zucchini & Yellow Squash

    You can serve this is as a side for grilled/seared meat dishes. Zucchini is very popular during the summer months and this will be a wonderful side for your backyard barbecues.

    Since zucchini is widely available throughout the year here in the US, I do not restrict this as a summer dish. This features in my weekly meal rotations frequently.

    I also serve this as a side for my steamed rice and roti. Along with the skillet zucchini and, you can serve the following to make it a balanced meal by serving these:

    Non-Vegetarian:

    Fish Curry with Coconut & Ginger

    Simple Chicken Roast

    Vegetarian:

    Cauliflower & Chickpea Curry

    Apple Pulissery

    Pineapple Pachadi

    Recipe Variations

    a plateful of pan roasted zucchini and yellow squash
    Easy Recipe For Sautéed Zucchini & Yellow Squash

    This is my quick version of the pan-fried zucchini (and/or yellow squash) without compromising on the taste. Here are a few variations that you can try for this simple recipe:

    • Sauteeing finely chopped garlic along with the cumin seeds.
    • Sauteeing finely chopped garlic instead of the cumin seeds.
    • You can also saute some chopped onions (cook them until they are translucent) before adding zucchini/yellow squash. (Note that cooking time slightly increases to account for frying the onions).
    • Add some butter (or your favorite vegan butter) along with oil for a little indulgence. 🙂

    What To Do With Leftovers?

    tender crisp zucchini and yellow squash pan roasted with cumin and black pepper
    Easy Recipe For Sautéed Zucchini & Yellow Squash

    Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Reheat either using a microwave or on a stovetop.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How to select the right zucchini for the recipe?

    Look for small/medium-sized, firm, fresh, bright green zucchini to use in the recipe. The ones I usually find at my local grocers are typically about 6-8 inches long.

    Can you eat raw zucchini?

    Yes, zucchini can be eaten raw in salads. In this recipe, zucchini is sauteed until just about crisp-tender retaining the freshness.

    How to prevent a soggy/mushy zucchini?

    1. Use fresh zucchini for the recipe.
    2. Do not overcook it. A quick saute in a large frying pan/skillet should give you tender-crisp zucchini.
    3. Use larger pieces of zucchini so that it has enough surface area to caramelize and the thickness prevents it from turning soggy/mushy.
    4. Use medium-high to high heat for cooking.
    5.Do not overcrowd the skillet/frying pan.

    Additonal Notes

    • 1 CUP = 250 ML. (US cups are typically 240 ml. You can use US cups with no significant change to the dish). 
    • 1 TEASPOON = 5ML; 1 TABLESPOON= 15 ML
    • Grams to cups measurements – we strive to provide these conversions as accurately as possible. There might be some slight variations depending on the brand, weighing scale, etc.
    • This serves 3-4. Adjust the serving size to suit your dietary needs.
    • Adjust the black pepper used to suit your taste.
    • I use about two zucchini/one zucchini and one yellow squash the size of which is shown in the second picture. Just make sure that you are not overcrowding the skillet/frying pan. Work in batches if your skillet/frying pan cannot accommodate the quantity of zucchini used.
    tender crisp zucchini and yellow squash pan roasted with cumin and black pepper

    Easy Sautéed Zucchini

    This recipe for easy sauteed zucchini a must-try if you love this vegetable. Tender crisp zucchini pieces are seasoned with cumin seeds, salt, and pepper.

    This vegan, gluten-free recipe is a quick one to prepare in a skillet and comes together in less than 15 minutes.

    Try this quick, easy and healthy zucchini and yellow squash recipe which is super simple that even a beginner cook can get it right!

    Print Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 8 minutes
    Total Time 13 minutes
    Servings 3 -4

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 350-400 grams |approx. 3 cups when diced Small zucchini/Courgette (See Recipe Notes°).
    • 1½ tablespoon oil
    • ¾ teaspoon cumin seeds
    • few turns of pepper mill; adjust to taste
    • salt to taste

    Instructions
     

    how to prepare easy sauteed zucchini (and yellow squash)

      prep work

      • Wash and dice zucchini into ½ -inch pieces.
      • mise-en-place (get all the ingredients ready)

      cooking

      • Heat oil in a large skillet/frying pan on medium-high heat.
      • Add cumin seeds. Fry for 30 seconds. Add freshly ground black pepper. Fry for 30 seconds.
      • Add zucchini. [Note: When you add the zucchini, it should sizzle]. Spread in one layer. Sprinkle salt.
      • Cook for 5-6 minutes until just about tender, caramelized/browned in few places. Stir occasionally (once about every 2 minutes or so) to ensure browning.
      • Turn the heat to high. Cook for a minute. Remove from heat. Transfer to a serving dish.
      • Serve hot.

      Video

      Notes

      °You can use Zucchini, Yellow Squash, or a combination of both.
      1 CUP = 250 ML. (US cups are typically 240 ml. You can use US cups with no significant change to the dish). 
      1 TEASPOON = 5ML; 1 TABLESPOON= 15 ML
      Grams to cups measurements – we strive to provide these conversions as accurately as possible. There might be some slight variations depending on the brand, weighing scale, etc.
      This serves 3-4. Adjust the serving size to suit your dietary needs.
      Adjust the black pepper used to suit your taste.
      Do not overcrowd the skillet/frying pan.
      « Sabudana Khichdi
      Kadhi Pakora »

      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Vandana Kothari says

        June 14, 2021 at 6:33 pm

        I loved this recipe and really good way to use zucchini.

        Reply
        • Sree says

          June 24, 2021 at 9:19 am

          Thank you so much! I am glad you gave it a try and liked it.

          Reply

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