Zucchini tips in a pan are a quick recipe to cook the tender zucchini sprouts at the end of the season, or tenerumi during summer. They are also great Puglia style or paired with potatoes. This time, however, I decided to use zucchini tips to make a stewed pasta with tomato sauce.
SEASON of zucchini sprouts or squash – to be removed from the plants at the end of production/season.
While the SEASON of tenerumi or talli (the tender leaves and sprouts of the long zucchini, typical of Sicily) is during the summer, between June and August, when long zucchinis are in full growth.
RECIPE with zucchinis

- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 4 People
- Cooking methods: Stove
- Cuisine: Healthy
- Seasonality: Summer, Autumn
- Energy 62.25 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 3.96 (g) of which sugars 1.86 (g)
- Proteins 2.03 (g)
- Fat 4.89 (g) of which saturated 0.68 (g)of which unsaturated 0.01 (g)
- Fibers 0.99 (g)
- Sodium 6.85 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 150 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Zucchini Tips in a Pan
- 1 onion (white or yellow)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- as needed water
- 500 g tenerumi (zucchini tips – sprouts)
Tools
- Pan wok type
- Cutting Board bamboo
- Knife smooth blade
Zucchini Tips in a Pan
How to clean zucchini tips at the end of the season?
Collect the zucchini tips, detaching the small branches from the central stem, keeping in mind that they are the last group of sprouts (flowers and small zucchinis) of the plant. Remove the fibrous or yellowed parts. Only select the small, green, and tender leaves, discarding those damaged or dry.
How to cook zucchini tips in a pan?
Peel, wash, and chop the onion, then let it soften with a little oil and water.Meanwhile, wash and cut the zucchini tips into regular pieces.
Add them to the pan, salt, and cook through.If necessary, add a little water at a time or uncover to evaporate excess water.
STORE zucchini tips in a pan
First of all, let the cooked zucchini tips cool completely at room temperature. Then, place the cooked sprouts in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator, where they can be kept for up to 4 days.
Alternatively, to keep them longer, freeze them in individual portions, and then thaw them as needed and quickly reheat in a pan or microwave.
Pasta with zucchini tips in a pan
Pasta with zucchini tips in a pan
To the zucchini tips in a pan, add some tomato purée, season. Then use as a pasta sauce or to cook rice noodles (or other noodles).
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
What are zucchini tips?
Zucchini tips (or squash tendrils) are the sprouts and the most tender leaves of the zucchini plant, which are harvested and used in cooking. They have a delicate and slightly sweet flavor, perfect for making omelets, soups, or pasta sauces. They can be sautéed in a pan with garlic and oil, then added to simple recipes.