Grilled Marinated Zucchini and Summer Squash

With the abundance of zucchini and summer squash, I thought I would share a tasty way to prepare them. Grilling zucchini and summer squash is so easy. If you have a favorite marinade, go ahead and use it with your veggies as well. Below is a marinade recipe that we used in our home.

And as always, as far as I'm concerned, homemade is always best way to go. You control the ingredients and it takes just a few minutes to throw together. Most marinades can be prepared in advance and kept in the refrigerator for several days.

According to my step son, Kyle these tasty "veggie planks" taste like something prepared at the Rain Forest Cafe or the Hard Rock Cafe. I'll take that to be a compliment :) I'll let you judge for yourself.

Basic Herb Marinade:

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

2 Tbsp fresh oregano, chopped or 2 tsp dried

2 Tbsp red wine vinegar

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)

In a small bowl, combine the garlic, basil, oregano, vinegar, salt and pepper. Slowly pour in the EVOO and whisk constantly until the oil in emulsified.

To prepare the zucchini and summer squash:

For this recipe you want to use small to medium size veggies. Slice the zucchini/summer squash lengthwise into "planks" about 3/8 inch thick.

Place the veggies in a plastic bag or glass dish and pour the marinade over it, coating the veggies well.

If you have the time, I would recommend letting the veggies marinade for a couple of hours so the flavors really have a chance to soak into the veggies.

When you are ready to grill, simply lay the planks out on the hot grill. Grilling time is only 8-10 minutes. About half way through the cooking time, turn them over. Don't let them cook too long, as they will get overcooked and mushy. I prefer to veggies to have a little crunch left to them.

For a variation on this, you could also cut your veggies up in chunks, marinade and put them on skewers.

Either way, you will have found another way to prepare the bounty of zucchini and summer squash that we are blessed with this time of year!

Happy Grilling.