Zucchini: Shred It and Forget It. (Veggies #6.9)

I've discovered something.

Zucchini doesn't have to be in chunky cubes or round slices for you to eat it!

There are two super simple ways I've been using zucchini for meals. The first is the yummiest, and least vegetable-y: zucchini pancakes! These aren't like batter pancakes, but more like the potato pancakes you might have had if you're a descendant from central/eastern Europe. I can make two of them fresh in the morning in just under 10 minutes, which is a lovely way to start my day. The recipe is from a great Paleo cookbook I'm borrowing, Practical Paleo. Super simple recipes. I've scaled this one waaaay down, as I do with most of the recipes in the book.

1/3 zucchini, shredded/julienne style (I use our cheese grater!)
1 medium egg
~1 tablespoon coconut flour
salt to taste
coconut oil or bacon grease (I figured out that if I cook 2-3 slices of bacon in the pan before the pancakes, it's just the right amount. Plus then I get to eat bacon!)

• Mix everything together. If the mixture is drippy-runny, add a little more flour. You should be able to scoop about half of it with just a fork if it's sticking together enough.
• Add oil to a pan over medium heat. Let it warm up, then drop zucchini mix by heaping spoonfuls. (Or just split the mix in half and drop that much.) Flatten in out a little so you have a flat circle. 
• Let them cook for about 5 minutes on each side. The flat sides will get nice and brown and crispy. If you like less crispy things, just don't cook them as long.

The second way to eat zucchini is even easier: as a noodle substitute. Just use a vegetable peeler (or the long, wide cheese grater option!) and shred down to the seeds. Then you can either steam them (~5mins) or throw them in the microwave with a favorite sauce (~3mins). So far I've only tried it with pesto. Yummmm.

Happy Eatings!