Simple and tasty, Sicilian style zucchini is a dish that charms with its genuineness and the scents of the Mediterranean. Perfect if you love zucchini side dishes, they bring to the table all the richness of island tradition: sweet raisins, pine nuts, flavorful capers, and a sprinkle of toasted crispy breadcrumbs, making these zucchini in a pan irresistible.
Those looking for quick zucchini recipes will find in this preparation a precious ally, because in just a few minutes you can serve a dish different from the usual, light, and full of personality. It’s no coincidence that zucchini also stars in other appetizing Italian regional recipes: from the delicious sweet and sour zucchini to the fragrant zucchini alla scapece, to the unique zucchini in carpione.
Versatile and never banal, zucchini lends itself to a thousand interpretations, but in this Sicilian version, it perhaps finds its most surprising expression. Try Sicilian style zucchini and discover how a simple vegetable can turn into a small masterpiece of taste!
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- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very economical
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 4People
- Cooking methods: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian Regional
- Region: Sicily
- Seasonality: Spring, Summer
- Energy 193.58 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 17.01 (g) of which sugars 4.94 (g)
- Proteins 6.56 (g)
- Fat 13.04 (g) of which saturated 1.67 (g)of which unsaturated 2.56 (g)
- Fibers 2.80 (g)
- Sodium 158.56 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 200 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
Ingredients for Sicilian Style Zucchini in a Pan
- 1.54 lbs zucchini
- 1.41 oz bread (only crumbs, for me gluten-free)
- 2 tablespoons raisins
- 1 tablespoon pine nuts
- 1 tablespoon capers under salt
- 1 clove garlic
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pinch salt
- A few leaves mint
Tools
- 1 Chopper
- 1 Oil Sprayer
- 1 Pan non-stick
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Knife
- 1 Small Bowl
How to Prepare Sicilian Style Zucchini in a Pan
To prepare Sicilian style zucchini in a pan, start by soaking the raisins in lukewarm water. Rinse the capers under running water and set them aside. Briefly toast the pine nuts in a non-stick pan (you can also use the pan in which you will cook the zucchini), without oil, for about a minute, stirring frequently. Set them aside.
Move on to the bread crumbs: place the bread pieces in a small chopper (1). You can choose any bread you like, even stale; I used gluten-free cereal bread. Chop for just a few seconds to get a not-too-fine mixture (2). Lightly grease a non-stick pan with an oil sprayer or a kitchen brush (3).
Heat the pan, add the bread crumbs and toast for 2–3 minutes, stirring often to prevent burning (4). Turn off the heat and set aside. Now move on to the zucchini: wash, dry, trim, and slice them into not-too-thin rounds (5). In the non-stick pan, sauté the peeled garlic clove in the oil (6).
Add the zucchini (7), lightly salt them, and flavor them with mint leaves. Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently (8), until they are soft and golden (9).
At this point, remove the garlic and add the well-drained raisins, capers, and pine nuts (10). Stir and let it flavor for a couple of minutes, then turn off the heat and finish with the toasted bread crumbs (11). Stir again to distribute evenly (12).
Let it cool for about ten minutes before serving: Sicilian style zucchini is also excellent cold.
Storage
Sicilian style zucchini can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for about 3–4 days.
Tips and Variations
To vary the recipe, you can replace mint with basil or add a pinch of chili pepper for a spicy note. They are also perfect as a topping for bruschetta and crostini, or as a light filling for savory pies.
