Learn how to boil zucchini on the stove in easy steps for your everyday use. Boiled zucchini is a healthy, quick, and easy vegetable dish that you can make to eat alone or with other meals or vegetables.
It is often served as a side dish, snack, or as baby's finger food as it is soft and easy to digest.
Boiled Zucchini
Have you ever tried boiled zucchini or should I say courgette? It is simple and easy to make, but more importantly, delicious and healthy. Did you know that eating zucchini/courgette can help regulate blood sugar levels, and lower bad cholesterol?
Zucchini is great for babies who are just starting to eat solid foods because it has a soft texture and can be easily mashed or pureed.
There are many ways to cook and enjoy zucchini, it can be microwaved, fried, air fried, baked, grilled, or even sauteed on the stove. However, in today's post, we will teach you how to boil a zucchini in easy steps.
Boiling is a healthy cooking method. It preserves the nutrients in your zucchini while also making it easier to digest. Boiled vegetables have been found to be more nutritious than raw vegetables, the boiling process helps break down the vegetable cell wall, making the nutrients more accessible to our bodies.
Tools needed
Sauce pan (large enough for the quantity you will be boiling)
Sharp knife
Chopping board
What you will need to make it
Zucchini, also known as courgette: select one that is still firm, green, and medium-sized.
salt
black pepper
How to boil zucchini
Add water to a saucepan and place on medium-high heat, stir in some salt and bring to a boil, while the water is boiling, move on to the next step
Place the zucchini on a chopping board and using a sharp knife, cut off the two ends
Cut the zucchini into about ½ inch thick slices or as desired, there is no need to peel the zucchini as it contains most of the nutrients on the skin. However, you can if you prefer or if feeding it to a baby
Carefully add the chopped vegetable to the boiling water, reduce the heat, cover the pan and boil for another 3 to 5 minutes or until fork-tender.
Use a slotted spoon to remove the boiled zucchini from the hot water or stain it in a colander if you have no use for the vegetable water.
Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper, serve and enjoy!
Tips
- If you would like the zucchini to be crunchy or have a bit of a bite to it, cook it for a lesser time than recommended in this recipe
- Use this cooking method for other types of squashes and adjust cooking time accordingly.
- When boiling, place a lid over the pan to help speed up the cooking process which will also ensure the even cooking of the veggies.
Storage instructions
Leave to cool completely, transfer into an airtight container, and store in the fridge for up to 3 days, longer at your discretion. Boiled zucchini does not freeze well, so I wouldn't recommend it.
FAQs
How long to boil zucchini
Zucchini is one of the many vegetables that doesn't take long to cook. Depending on how you cut it boiled zucchini only takes about 3 to 7 minutes on the stovetop and a shorter time in the microwave
Zucchini is great for babies who are just starting to eat solid foods because it has a soft texture and can be easily mashed or pureed."
How to boil zucchini noodles
It's actually better to blanch zoodles rather than boil them since that will maintain the texture and preserve the nutrient. All you have to do is bring salted water to a rolling boil, add zucchini noodles and let sit in the hot water for about 2-3 minutes not longer than that to avoid overcooking it.
because of how thin zoodles are, it is best not to overcook them so anywhere between 2 to 4 minutes should be fine. Remember you can eat zucchini raw in a moderate portion. To be able to enjoy zucchini, it still needs to have a bit of a bite to it, nobody wants to be eating mushy vegetables except you are feeding it to a child.
Make sure to also check out our other easy how-to recipes!
How To Boil Zucchini (Boiled Zucchini)
Equipment
- saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 Zucchini also known as courgette: select one that is still firm, green and about medium-sized.
- salt to taste
- black pepper
Instructions
- Add water to a saucepan and place on medium-high heat, stir in some salt and bring to a boil, while the water is boiling, move on to the next step
- Place the zucchini on a chopping board and using a sharp knife, cut off the two ends
- Cut the zucchini into about ½ inch thick slices or as desired, there is no need to peel the zucchini as it contains most of the nutrients on the skin. However, you can if you prefer or if feeding it to a baby
- Carefully add the chopped vegetable to the boiling water, reduce the heat, cover the pan and boil for another 3 to 5 minutes or until fork-tender.
- Use a slotted spoon to remove the boiled zucchini from the hot water or stain it in a colander if you have no use for the vegetable water.
- Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper, serve and enjoy!
Mrs Eugene Maggie Rocha says
great recipe, easy instructions very easy to follow and understand, quick cook time as well outcome is fantastic, so tasty which is finger licking ...I saved this recipe in my recipe book as one of my favourite dishes...
Sam says
We appreciate the feedback Eugene. Glad it turned out well.