Zucchini ribbon salad recipe, and a brand new e-book {vegan, gluten-free}
What have you been up to for the past couple of months? I've been putting together an e-book to help you survive the annual zucchini invasion.
23 ZUCCHINI: FAST, FUN, EASY RECIPES FROM THE PERFECT PANTRY® KITCHEN includes, yes, 23 recipes (17 of them brand new, the rest updated favorites) for how to cook zucchini with some of the great pantry ingredients I know you have in your cupboards and spice rack.
Two-thirds of the recipes are new, never published here. (The zucchini ribbon salad below, oh-so-simple and refreshing, is one of them. So, now, I guess there are 16 new recipes.) Most of the dishes are meatless, or easily adapted for vegetarians, and all are marked for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free.
You'll find full-color photos of every recipe, and links to four short videos I made (with cinematography by my husband Ted) to demonstrate some basic zucchini preparation techniques. In the background, you might hear peacocks, birds, barking dogs, and other evidence of life at the log house. I'd hoped to embed the videos into the book, but, well, that's a long story. Follow the links in the book, and you'll have fun. I promise.
23 Zucchini sells for only $3.99.
To get 23 Zucchini, download the free Kindle app for your favorite electronic device(s).
Then, click this link to order 23 Zucchini. Like magic, the book will download almost instantly on your iPad, Kindle, smart phone, or computer.
Wasn't that easy?
Now, let's make one of the recipes from the book.
Refreshing and surprising. That's how I describe this zucchini ribbon salad. No cooking needed. I made these noodles with one of those spiralizer gizmos, but to be honest, it's just as easy to peel long thin strips with a vegetable peeler or mandoline, and slice the strips into julienne strands. Or not. Any shape will do; it's the Szechuan peppercorn finish that makes this simple salad a wow.
Zucchini ribbon salad
From the pantry, you'll need: rice vinegar, lime, mirin, agave, sesame oil, sea salt, Szechuan peppercorns.
Serves 4; can be multiplied.
Ingredients
2 medium zucchini
2 Tbsp rice vinegar
Juice of 1 lime
1 tsp mirin
2 tsp agave nectar
1 tsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp coarse sea salt
1/2 tsp Szechuan peppercorns
Directions
Use a mandoline, spiral cutter, vegetable peeler or sharp knife to cut the zucchini into spaghetti-like strands, julienne strips, "noodles", or any other thin shape. You can even use a box grater (largest holes). Shape isn't too important, as long as the pieces are thin. Place the zucchini in a bowl.
In a smaller bowl, whisk together, the rice vinegar, lime juice, mirin, agave and sesame oil. Pour this over the zucchini, and toss gently. Cover the bowl, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, and up to 6 hours, tossing occasionally to distribute the dressing.
Just before you're ready to serve, pound the salt and Szechuan peppercorns together with a mortar and pestle until finely crushed. When you serve the zucchini, sprinkle the mixture generously on top. Don't do this until the last minute, or the salt will draw water out of the zucchini.
Serve chilled.
More recipes in The Perfect Pantry:
Cucumber ribbon salad with ranch-style buttermilk herb dressing
Refrigerator zucchini pickles
Moroccan cucumber salad with herbs and olives
Tart zucchini relish
Spicy green beans with ginger and garlic
Other recipes that use these pantry ingredients:
Grilled prawns with Sichuan peppercorn salt, from Steamy Kitchen
Dan dan noodles, from Appetite for China
Szechuan shrimp and vegetable stir fry, from Aggie's Kitchen
Mocha Sichuan peppercorn pots de creme, from Sippity Sup
Zucchini "noodles" with sesame-peanut sauce, from FatFree Vegan Kitchen
Disclosure: The Perfect Pantry earns a few pennies on Amazon.com links in this post.
Need more ideas for how to create salads with pizzazz? Get Dress Up Your Salad, my e-book packed with easy mix-and-match recipes, full-color photos and a few fun videos. Exciting salad recipes from everyday ingredients can be just one click away, on any computer, tablet or smart phone, with the FREE Kindle Reading app. Click here to learn more.
Disclosure: The Perfect Pantry earns a few pennies on purchases made through the Amazon.com links in this post. Thank you for supporting this site when you start your shopping here.
This recipe looks really good.I love Zucchini. I can't wait it give it a try.
John, this is one of my favorite recipes in the book. I hope you'll enjoy some of the others!
Congratulations on your book Lydia! We are always looking for recipes for zucchini.
Lydia,
Congrats on the book--it's a great idea and perfect timing.
This salad looks wonderful--my Benriner even has a julienne blade that would make making this a snap.
Thanks!
Bellini, thank you so much.
Kirsten, the Benriner is a great little kitchen tool, isn't it?
You have made me excited about zucchini season!
Donna, yay! I'm excited, too.
Congratulations Lydia! I picked it up on Amazon!
Donna, thank you! I know you will love these recipes.
Congratulations on the book my friend, so awesome :D
Cheers
CCU
P.S Because of my exams, I will not be commenting for around 4 weeks – see you afterwards!
There's no zucchini in the house, but I couldn't wait -- julienne of cucumber, red onion and carrot. Love it! (Good as a bahn-mi type topping.)
CCU, good luck on your exams!
Susan, cucumber works well in lots of these recipes, including these noodles. I hope you didn't forget the Szechuan peppercorn finish!
Well done! And perfect timing.... mine are just starting. Love your cover.
Congratulations.
Hey, really practical, easy and yummy recipe here! Not to mention that it does looks pretty. I think I need to do some Zucchini shopping today :)
Katie, thank you! I know you'll enjoy some of these recipes.
DC, you'll want to buy a few zucchini, lots of fun recipes in the book.
Congrats!! - It looks delish! and I love zucchini and of course "zucchini fettuccine" always makes me think the line from the jimmy buffet song!
I cannot wait to buy zucchinis today and have these "spiralized" to make zucchini pesto or zucchini ribbon salads. My family will surely be surprised.