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4.8 from 60 votes

Spicy Asian Zucchini

Recipe video above. Here's a great new quick and easy way to use zucchinis! Meaty zucchini halves stove seared then doused in a mild spicy Asian chilli garlic sauce.The stove works so well here - great colour, and cooks them through just enough so they're tender-crisp rather than watery-mushy. Though, if you want soft all the way through, it'll be easier to do them in the oven - see notes.Serve as a substantial side or a hearty healthy lunch!

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
15 mins
Servings: 5 as a side
Calories: 143 kcal
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Asian

Ingredients

  • 5 zucchini, small / medium , cut in half lengthways (Note 1)
  • 1 tbsp canola oil (or other plain oil)
  • 3/4 tsp cooking/kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup crispy fried shallots , store bought (Asian pantry staple!) (Note 2)
  • 1 green onion stem , finely sliced
Spicy sauce:
  • 1 tbsp canola oil (or other plain oil)
  • 3 garlic cloves , finely minced
  • 1 tbsp Sambal Oelak (sub sriracha or chilli crisp) (Note 3)
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil , toasted
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce , light or all-purpose NOT dark soy (Note 4)
  • 2 tbsp mirin - sub honey (Note 5)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Toss the zucchini in oil then sprinkle with salt and toss to (roughly) coat all over.
  2. Cook - Heat a large non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Place half the zucchini cut side down and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the surface is golden. Turn and cook the skin side for 3 minutes. Pile onto a serving plate and repeat with remaining zucchini.
  3. Sauce - cool the pan slightly then return to medium heat. Heat the oil then sauté the garlic until light golden. Add remaining Sauce ingredients, simmer for 30 seconds until syrupy.
  4. Serve - Pour over zucchini, pile on Crispy Asian Shallots and green onion. Eat!

Notes

  • Zucchini - Use small / medium (~15 – 18cm long (6 – 7″) so they cook on the stove or BBQ. If yours are giant, cut it into quarters.
  • Doneness - I only take the zucchini to barely cooked (ie still pretty firm), it will keep cooking as you plate up. When super soft, it's quite watery which dilutes flavour. A reader suggested searing then finishing in oven if you want yours super soft, use temps below!
  • Oven - Won't get the same seared colour but works fine, also easier to cook through until very soft (stove might overly brown). 200°C/375°F (180°C fan) for 25 minutes or until done to your taste. 
  • Crispy Fried Shallots - Asian garnish widely available these days, salty, oily, crispy. Such a frequent player in my recipes I even wrote an About page here. Find it in the Asian section of supermarket but cheaper at Asian stores!
  • Sambal Oelak - chilli paste which makes a nice sauce for smothering. Made with fresh chillis (no oil or flavourings), found in large grocery stores and Asian stores. Substitute with sriracha or a not-too-spicy chilli crisp (taste and check) - sauce will have chilli crunch chunks and be oilier (yum!). A reader also made and loved this with Gochujang!
  • Soy sauce - Don't use soy sauce labelled "dark soy sauce", way too intense and salty, will ruin the dish. Any general "soy sauce" or "light soy sauce" can be used.
  • Mirin is a sweet Japanese cooking wine that is found in large grocery stores and Asian stores. Brings a depth of flavour and sweetness into an otherwise simple sauce, is one of 3 core sauces in Japanese cooking (ie it's good stuff!). Sub with honey for a non alcoholic version - sauce still great but not quite the same restaurant-y complexity of flavour. :)
  • Storage - Keeps in the fridge for 2 days though the sauce does go watery because the zucchini will continue to sweat water as it cools. Still tasty though because the sauce is quite intense so it can take some watering down!
  • Nutrition per serving, assuming 5 servings.

Nutrition Information

Calories 143cal (7%) Carbohydrates 12g (4%) Protein 3g (6%) Fat 10g (15%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Polyunsaturated Fat 3g Monounsaturated Fat 5g Trans Fat 0.02g Sodium 642mg (27%) Potassium 538mg (15%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 7g (14%) Vitamin A 399IU (8%) Vitamin C 36mg (40%) Calcium 36mg (4%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 5as a side

Amount Per Serving

Calories 143

% Daily Value*

Calories 143cal 7%
Carbohydrates 12g 4%
Protein 3g 6%
Fat 10g 15%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g 18%
Monounsaturated Fat 5g 25%
Trans Fat 0.02g 1%
Sodium 642mg 27%
Potassium 538mg 11%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 7g 14%
Vitamin A 399IU 8%
Vitamin C 36mg 40%
Calcium 36mg 4%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.