Zucchini Salad

February 11, 2012 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

We’re finally growing zucchinis! One of our favourite ways to eat them is in this salad.

With a potato peeler, slice the raw zucchinis into strips (be careful not to peel your skin in the process)…

Make a simple dressing by measuring the following ingredients into a jar and giving them a good shake to combine (we didn’t need all the dressing for the salad above)…

2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
4 tablespoons light olive oil
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1 garlic clove, crushed
salt and pepper to taste

Last night’s salad included sliced cucumber and a baby red onion, both from the backyard. Other nights it might include purslane, lettuce leaves, tomatoes, or anything else we can find in the garden or fridge.

This salad seems to work best when the zucchini are really fresh, so we’re making the most of it while they’re in season!

Posted in Frugal Living | Tagged zucchini salad | 47 Comments

47 Responses

on February 11, 2012 at 12:12 am Tes

This is really a great way to enjoy zucchini. I love the salad recipe. It’s very simple yet vibrant with flavours :)
- on February 11, 2012 at 10:06 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Tes, the best thing is I can add whatever vegetables we find in the garden! :)
on February 11, 2012 at 12:23 am Debra Kolkka

Yum! It is freezing here. I arrived yesterday and there is no food in the house. I’m trying to work up the courage to go out into the cold to shop. It is a 500 metre walk to the car. Maybe I will just go hungry. I have enough stored fat to last a while.
- on February 11, 2012 at 10:07 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Deb, 500 metres is a long walk in the freezing cold! But I hope you don’t actually go hungry, love..
on February 11, 2012 at 12:36 am niasunset

Seems so beautiful and so delicious… Thank you dear Celia, I love zucchini so much. Have a nice weekend, with my love, nia
- on February 11, 2012 at 10:07 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Nia, thank you! Hope you have a lovely weekend too! :)
on February 11, 2012 at 12:48 am Just A Smidgen

I am so tired of my “blah” winter salads here, I’m going to try this. Does grapeseed oil have any particular flavor? White balsamic would also be a welcome change!
- on February 11, 2012 at 10:08 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Smidge, we use grapeseed oil because it’s very neutral – olive oil seems to overpower the flavours a bit. I’m sure a sunflower oil or some other neutral oil would work just as well. White balsamic is really lovely!
  - on February 12, 2012 at 12:16 am Just A Smidgen
    
    Ahhh, I’ll have to pick some grapeseed oil up:)
on February 11, 2012 at 1:24 am annashortcakes

I just want you to know how envious I am of your fresh produce. Looks lovely!
- on February 11, 2012 at 10:09 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Anna! Not as much of it this year, as it’s been so wet, but what we’ve had has been great eating!
on February 11, 2012 at 4:03 am Joanna

I love courgettes done like this, and you are so right they are much nicer raw when fresh and young, they get a bit woolly when they get older. Have you got enough to do the flower stuffing thing? I never have enough at one time to make it worth while, but they do look sooo pretty :)
- on February 11, 2012 at 10:10 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Jo, I’ve never stuffed flowers, mainly because I don’t deepfry very often. They are delicious though, so I probably should! :)
on February 11, 2012 at 5:26 am Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide

Wow, look at those beautiful green ribbons!
- on February 11, 2012 at 10:10 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Greg! It is pretty – sometimes I slice the cucumbers in the same way as well, so there’s a mix in the salad.
on February 11, 2012 at 5:44 am frugalfeeding

That looks so delicious. I love the ribbon effect. Congrats on the… zucchinis…
- on February 11, 2012 at 10:11 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Nick, I know it’s ridiculous, but honestly, we seem to have so much trouble growing zucchinis. This is the first year we’ve managed to, and we only got a dozen or so!
on February 11, 2012 at 6:49 am Lizzy (Good Things)

Yay… lovely recipe for the zucchini salad… wish I had had this in years past, when my zucchinis were going crazy! I have a great chocolate zucchini cake recipe… must post it soon! Happy cooking.
- on February 11, 2012 at 10:12 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Lizzy, look forward to seeing your recipe! :)
on February 11, 2012 at 7:16 am promenadeplantings

A perfect summer salad, which right now I’m longing for, but ask me again when we have a glut of them in August!
- on February 11, 2012 at 10:14 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Claire, we can trade recipes then, you can make this one, and I’ll make your the crispy kale you’ve just posted! :)
  - on February 11, 2012 at 6:13 pm promenadeplantings
    
    definitely :)
on February 11, 2012 at 7:33 am Claire @ Claire K Creations

I’ve never eaten raw zucchini before. Is that strange? I love it cooked in strips like this though. I use it instead of pasta sometimes too. So delicious!
- on February 11, 2012 at 10:15 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Claire, I remember you saying that, it’s a great idea if we ever manage to grow enough! Haven’t managed to yet…
on February 11, 2012 at 7:48 am Rose

“We’re finally growing zucchinis!”

Now the zucchini gods will look down, smile cunningly and say, “You want zucchinis Celia? Bwwwwaaaahhhhh!” I promise you, you’ll go out in the morning and they will be finger length delights, when you go to harvest in the evening they’ll be a foot or more long. ;)
- on February 11, 2012 at 10:16 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Rose, I so wish that were true! Last year we didn’t grow a single one. This year we grew about a dozen, then the rain seemed to do the rest in. I long for a zucchini glut, and the day when I’ll regret saying that.. ;-)
on February 11, 2012 at 8:38 am teawithhazel

i love zucchini cut into thin strips like this..and congratulations on your zucchini success..
- on February 11, 2012 at 10:16 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Jane, “success” is perhaps overstating it – but at least this year we managed to grow some! :)
on February 11, 2012 at 9:46 am Amanda

A nice salad Celia and a good way to use up a veggie that can become a little ubiquitous as the season progresses. My kids hate the taste of cooked zukes so I find salads the best way to go.
- on February 11, 2012 at 10:17 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Amanda, we all loved cooked zucchini – my boys are generally happy to eat it in any form. We’ve just planted yellow squash in the hopes we might get a zucchini substitute in a couple of months!
on February 11, 2012 at 10:52 am heidiannie

I love zucchini- and even when we’ve gotten a glut in years past- we ate them all! Lately I’ve not had good amounts – so I know how you feel !
Your salad looks very good- I’d love some fresh produce about now.
on February 11, 2012 at 12:13 pm Chris

Mmm, yum, this is how I love to eat cucumbers – I must try it with zucchinis now! I’m a bit of a fan of the white balsamic too…soo great for dressings! Have a wonderful weekend, Celia :)
on February 11, 2012 at 12:26 pm hotlyspiced

I love the vibrant colour of that first image. What a beautiful looking salad and to think you grew the vegetables yourself! And white balsamic vinegar is terrific used in dressings. I have a mandolin so I would slice the zucchini using that but again, you have to be so careful not to lose a finger or two! Have a lovely weekend.
on February 11, 2012 at 4:08 pm Marilyn

Go for the chocolate zucchini bread recipe. even the Boy craves it. :-)

Though your fresh salad recipe is much better for you. :-)

Maz
on February 11, 2012 at 5:42 pm Sous Chef

What a great idea, we haven’t had much luck growing them either. We have a glut of rocket at the moment so all our salads include that.
on February 11, 2012 at 7:10 pm InTolerant Chef

Sure looks lovely! I’ll be making my Turkish zucchini balls soon as we have so many to use up.
Actually I had a parcel delivered this week and asked the guy to carry it to the kitchen for me, when he hesitated (despite me being in a sling) I told him there would be a zucchini in it for him if he did … And got my heavy box straight to the kitchen counter :)
on February 11, 2012 at 8:59 pm Lee

Tried it. Worked well with a steak and red wine.
on February 12, 2012 at 6:49 am Melanie

Such a beautiful salad!! I don’t know about eating raw zucchini though. I tried it for the first time last summer & wasn’t too crazy about it, but maybe if I had the right dressing and added some other veggies I would like it. Hope your zucchini keep a comin’! Here in the states zucchini plants can be quite productive.
on February 12, 2012 at 8:16 pm Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

Good for you growing your own zucchini! I don’t know if I’ve ever eaten raw zucchini-I must rectify that! :)
on February 12, 2012 at 9:05 pm tania@mykitchenstories

Beautiful I love zucchini. Not used enough I dont think
on February 12, 2012 at 9:49 pm Yorkes Girl

That salad looks great…love raw zucchini, much better than cooked, so can’t wait to try it out!
on February 13, 2012 at 3:37 pm Nic@diningwithastud

Congrats :) what a deliciously fresh salad!
on February 13, 2012 at 9:00 pm David

Looks sensational C, simple things can really be great.
on February 16, 2012 at 9:50 am Yorkes Girl

I made your zucchini salad last night – it was great! So simple and refreshing…thanks for sharing :)
- on February 16, 2012 at 12:17 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Great! Thanks for letting me know! :)
on February 27, 2012 at 3:32 pm Lucas @ CoverVersions.tv

I might try this with cucumber – the zucchini we get from our grocer is a little bland.
- on February 27, 2012 at 6:55 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Lucas, I think it would work well with cukes…