Make This Easy Recipe for Stewed Zucchini With Tomatoes and Garlic (2024)

  • Southern Food
  • Dinner
  • Side Dishes
  • Vegetable Sides
  • American Food

By

Diana Rattray

Make This Easy Recipe for Stewed Zucchini With Tomatoes and Garlic (1)

Diana Rattray

Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.

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Updated on 06/21/23

Tested by

Diana Andrews

Make This Easy Recipe for Stewed Zucchini With Tomatoes and Garlic (2)

Diana earned her B.A. in Fine Art at Queens College and her culinary certification from the Institute of Culinary Education. Diana has served as head recipe developer and editor for Emmy-nominated PBS series Moveable Feast, food editor and test kitchen manager at Fine Cooking Magazine, and recipe developer, and product tester at Food Network.

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Make This Easy Recipe for Stewed Zucchini With Tomatoes and Garlic (3)

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 45 mins

Total: 60 mins

Servings: 6to 8 servings

Yield: 8 cups

131 ratings

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When it'szucchiniseason, you need lots of recipes to make use of this bountiful vegetable. Zucchini and tomatoes make a winning team in this great-tasting side dish. An excellent way to use your fresh zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, and onions, this recipe is quick to prepare.

This basic recipe will pair with most cuisines. Once you know how to make it, you can experiment with adding different herbs and spices to complement the rest of your meal. Plus, you can get creative by adding other vegetables that have come to bear in your gardenor leave out those you don't have available.

Stewed zucchini goes well with any meat, fish, or seafood that you happen to be grilling during the summer. It makes a colorful side dish that will add interest to your plate as well as fiber. Stewed zucchini is an excellent substitute for starchy or fatty side dishes if you're watching your weight.

"I've always loved stewed zucchini with tomatoes but never made it myself until now. This recipe made my kitchen smell so good! The Stewed Zucchini with Tomatoes and Garlic was delicious and very easy to prepare. The dish is versatile enough to serve with practically anything, and it's so healthy, too!" —Diana Andrews

Make This Easy Recipe for Stewed Zucchini With Tomatoes and Garlic (4)

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 3 to 4 medium zucchini, cut into 1-inch pieces

  • 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes

  • 1 (8-ounce) cantomato sauce

  • 1 cup thinly sliced celery

  • 1 large sweet onion, coarsely chopped

  • 1/2 cup coarsely chopped green bell pepper

  • 2 medium cloves garlic, thinly sliced

  • 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar, more to taste

  • 1/2 teaspoon fine salt, more to taste

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, more to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a medium saucepan, combine the zucchini, tomatoes, tomato sauce, celery, onion, bell pepper, garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper. Place the pan over high heat and bring to a boil.

  3. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, about 35 minutes. Remove the cover and cook until the mixture is slightly thicker, about 10 minutes more.

  4. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve

Tips

  • Leftovers should be covered and stored in the refrigerator. You can reheat leftovers in the microwave or in a saucepan on your stovetop.
  • When shopping for zucchini, look for small to medium squash that is about 6 to 8 inches in length. The squash should be smooth with no wrinkles or soft sections.

Recipe Variations

  • Although canned tomatoes are suitable, fresh tomatoes are ideal if you have them. Core and peel about 10 medium whole tomatoes; dice them and add them to the zucchini along with the tomato sauce, vegetables, and seasonings.
  • Canned tomatoes offer all kinds of flavor options. Use seasoned stewed tomatoes, Italian-seasoned, or zesty chili-style.
  • Add a cup or two of sliced fresh or frozen okra to the dish about halfway through the cooking time.
  • Top the dish with grated cheese in the last few minutes of cooking, or sprinkle with grated cheese when served.
  • Garnish the dish with cooked crumbled bacon.
  • Sauté about 1 cup of fresh sliced mushrooms and add them to the dish along with the zucchini and tomatoes.
  • Complementary herbs you may try adding include basil, mint, oregano, thyme, and tarragon.

How to Choose Zucchini and Keep It Fresh

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
67Calories
1g Fat
14g Carbs
3g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6to 8
Amount per serving
Calories67
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g1%
Saturated Fat 0g1%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 357mg16%
Total Carbohydrate 14g5%
Dietary Fiber 4g16%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 43mg216%
Calcium 77mg6%
Iron 2mg9%
Potassium 682mg15%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

  • Tomato
  • zucchini and tomatoes
  • side dish
  • american

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Make This Easy Recipe for Stewed Zucchini With Tomatoes and Garlic (2024)

FAQs

How do you cook zucchini and keep it firm? ›

Slice and salt zucchini in advance of cooking to draw out some of the vegetable's excess moisture (while also seasoning it more thoroughly). To do this, cut up a pound of zucchini and toss it with ½ teaspoon of table salt. Let it drain in a colander for about 30 minutes before patting it dry and cooking it.

Why is sauteed zucchini soggy? ›

Zucchini is made of over 90% water. When cooked, it gets soft and slowly releases that water into whatever dish you're cooking. If zucchini is overcooked, it will have a mushy, soft texture. In certain recipes, the author may recommend that zucchini be patted dry or salted and drained before cooking.

What happens to your body when you eat zucchini? ›

Zucchini is rich in vitamin B6. Research suggests that this vitamin can help with regulating blood glucose. The vitamin may even play a protective role against diabetes. Compounds such as lutein and zeaxanthin protect the eye's cells by filtering blue light wavelengths.

What does zucchini do for your stomach? ›

Zucchini can help promote healthy digestion in several ways. Firstly, it is rich in water , containing 94.8 grams (g) of water per 100 g of fruit. Water is essential for helping improve digestion. Water in the diet helps soften stools and makes them easier to pass, reducing the chances of constipation.

Why do you soak zucchini in salt water? ›

Salt causes zucchini rounds to release excess water. This important extra step helps the zucchini to sauté rather than stew in its own juices.

Should you salt zucchini before sauteing? ›

Zucchini: Zucchini can nearly dissolve during the cooking process by steaming in its own water content (not always a good thing). Salt it first to taste the full potential of the herbs with our Sauteed Zucchini with Olives and Lemon side dish.

Why is my sauteed zucchini bitter? ›

Remove the Seeds: The seeds and surrounding flesh can sometimes contribute to bitterness. You can scoop out the seeds before cooking. Salt and Drain: Sprinkle salt on sliced zucchini and let it sit for about 15-20 minutes. This draws out excess moisture and bitterness.

When should you throw out zucchini? ›

Mold - Maybe the most obvious sign that fresh produce has gone bad. If you see mold on your zucchini, it's time to toss it out. Soft spots - When inspecting whole zucchini, if you find any soft spots that easily indent or feel squishy, this is a sign that it has begun to rot inside.

What vegetables go best together? ›

14 Great Veggie Combos
  • Grape Tomatoes + Onions + Garlic + Zucchini.
  • Green Beans + Onions + Garlic.
  • Potatoes + Carrots + Onions.
  • Potatoes + Green Beans + Onions.
  • Sweet Potatoes + Bell Peppers + Beets + Onions.
  • Sweet Potatoes + Mushrooms + Onions.
  • Zucchini + Mushrooms + Eggplant + Onion.
  • Apples (Fruit, I know) + Rutabaga + Onion.

Do tomatoes and zucchini get along? ›

Zucchini and tomatoes can be grown as close neighbors and will make satisfactory companion plants. Both vegetables thrive in the same environmental conditions, so a garden plot that is ideal for one plant is therefore ideal for the other. They both need a location with full sun and benefit from nutrient-rich soil.

Are onions compatible with zucchini? ›

Yes, zucchini and onions can be cooked together, and they complement each other well in various dishes. Both vegetables have distinct flavors and textures that blend harmoniously when cooked together.

Are cucumbers and zucchini compatible? ›

As with other squash plants, it is not advisable to plant zucchini and cucumbers together. Cucumbers are members of the Cucurbitaceae family, just like zucchini and so they will compete for space and nutrients. Also, growing several similar plants in the same area can make it easier for pests to find the plants.

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