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Seasonal Squash for Your Health

Posted by Caley on June 22nd, 2009 at 07:33am

Zucchini and other summer squash varieties are both in season right now, and I could not be happier! Zucchini is one of my favorite vegetables, and luckily, they are full of health benefits. Squash like zucchini are high in potassium, folate and magnesium. Zucchini is full of vitamin C, vitamin A and manganese, a mineral which helps support a healthy metabolism. Summer squash also provides a good amount of fiber.

Pick up a few from your farmer’s market for delicious meals. Look for squash with shiny, unpunctured rinds. Don’t buy ones with overly hard rinds as they are over-mature and will likely have stringy flesh. Store unwashed in the fridge for about seven days. You can also freeze fresh squash, but it’s best to blanch squash slices for two minutes before freezing.

For a quick and easy vegetarian meal, I like to cut the zucchini lengthwise and scoop out the seedy flesh. Discard or combine the chopped felsh with cooked quinoa, butter beans (white beans), sliced cherry tomatoes, garlic and a grated Parmesan cheese. Stuff this into the Zucchini boats. Bake at 350 F covered with alumnium foil for about 10 minutes, sprinkle with more Parmesan and bake for another 10 minutes uncovered.

To serve zucchini with fish or other lean protein, check out Simple Grilled Vegetables.