Zucchini Ribbons With Mint Recipes

ZUCCHINI RIBBONS WITH MINT

Steps:

• Using a sharp-shaped vegetable peeler, peel zucchini lengthwise. To cut ribbons, hold the zucchini in one hand and peeler in the other, peel long, wide strips lengthwise. Once it becomes hard to handle, place zucchini, cut side down, on board; continue peeling. Transfer to a large bowl; toss with coarse salt. Let sit until zucchini releases some of its liquid, about 10 minutes. Pour off accumulated liquid; blot zucchini dry with paper towels.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together fresh lemon juice and olive oil; season with salt and ground pepper. Pour mixture over zucchini. Add mint leaves and red onion; toss gently, and serve immediately.

ZUCCHINI RIBBONS WITH HERBED BUTTER

Steps:

• Slice the zucchini into long ribbons 1/16-inch thick using a mandoline slicer.
• Add the butter and oil to a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the shallots then the zucchini in two batches and toss through the hot butter and oil, using tongs, until soft, a good 4 to 5 minutes. Add the basil, parsley and lemon zest at the very end. Season the zucchini with salt and pepper and stir. Transfer to a serving bowl.

SEA SCALLOPS WITH ZUCCHINI RIBBONS AND MINT-CHIVE OIL

Steps:

• Prepare an outdoor grill with a medium-high fire. If you're using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before grilling. (Or you can use wooden toothpicks.)
• For the scallops: Slice the zucchini lengthwise on a mandoline into thin slices, about 1/8- inch thick. When you get to the seedy center, rotate the zucchini 1/3 turn and continue to shave slices until you hit seeds. Give the zucchini a final 1/3 turn and shave off the remaining slices. (You want to end up with the same number of zucchini slices as you have scallops.) Discard the seedy center. Wrap a zucchini ribbon around the circumference of each scallop. Thread 2 to 3 scallops per skewer or 1 per toothpick.
• For the dressing: Whisk the mint, chives, orange juice, 2 tablespoons oil, limoncello, salt, and cayenne in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Cut up the tomatoes, season them with salt and black pepper to taste, and divide them among 4 plates.
• Brush scallops with oil and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Grill, turning to cook both sides, until zucchini and scallops are cooked through and have distinct grill marks, about 8 minutes total. Divide the scallops evenly among the plates, drizzle scallops and tomatoes with the dressing, and serve hot or at room temperature.

GRILLED ZUCCHINI RIBBONS

Steps:

• Set up your grill for direct grilling and heat to high (450 to 600 degrees). Brush or scrape the grill grate clean and oil it with a tightly folded paper towel dipped in vegetable oil and drawn across the bars of the grate with tongs. If using bamboo skewers, soak in cold water.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic, 1 tablespoon barbecue rub and lemon zest, and cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is softened and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool.
• Cut off and discard the ends of the zucchini. Using a mandolin outfitted with a finger guard, thinly slice one zucchini lengthwise into slices scant 1/8-inch thick. You can also use a chef's knife to cut slices lengthwise just shy of 1/8-inch thick. (Try folding your first or second strip. If it breaks at the fold, it means it's too thick.) Lay the slices flat on a sheet pan. Lightly brush the tops with enough barbecue butter to lightly coat and lightly sprinkle with some of the remaining 2 tablespoons barbecue rub.
• Fold a zucchini slice into an accordion shape (like multiple Ws or ribbon candy) and thread it onto a metal or soaked bamboo skewer. Continue threading until all the slices from the zucchini are on the skewer. Slice, brush, season and skewer the remaining zucchini the same way. You should wind up with 6 skewers.
• Arrange the zucchini kebabs, skin sides down, on the grate. Grill (covered if using a gas grill), basting with any remaining barbecue butter and turning to evenly brown, until singed at some of the edges, 1 to 2 minutes per side (4 to 8 minutes in all). Season with salt if needed and serve.