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Dried zucchini slices

My zucchini plants suffered a set back due to chicken attack back at the beginning of spring and I haven't harvest any of my own yet, but a friend was struggling with zucchini overload and gave me several kgs.  I have been wanting to try drying zucchinis, so this was the perfect opportunity.  The last time I had a glut of my own zucchinis I resorted to making zucchini soup!  It was awful!  I though dried zucchini might be more useful.

I sliced the zucchinis using the slicer on my grater, which was very quick and produced a nice thin slice.  Then I laid them out on the dehydrator trays, about 1 zucchini to a tray.  I ran the drier on and off for several days until the zucchinis were dry enough.  I then sealed the chips in vacuum bags, so that they will last longer.  I hope to be able to get these out occasionally in winter when we miss zucchini, so they can be added to soups and stews.


How do you deal with a zucchini glut? Have you dried anything interesting recently?

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Comments

  1. Tanya MurrayJanuary 25, 2013 at 8:08 AM

    How disappointing for you, I adore zucchini soup but I don't have the freezer room. I am drying mine into chips too but I blanch them briefly before putting into the dehydrator, don't know why, just because the instructions said to. ?? I use the chips in casseroles and slow cooks over the winter. It certainly saves a lot of food storage space when they are dehydrated.

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  2. africanaussieJanuary 25, 2013 at 8:17 AM

    Oh that looks like a great idea. I have always wondered how best to keep dehydrated items, and a vacuum sealer looks like the answer.

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  3. Cindy B.January 25, 2013 at 11:52 AM

    Have you heard of mock apple pie made with zucchini? I have made it and it is awesome! You can't tell the difference!

    Also there is a way to use zucchini to make a mock pineapple candy. You boil the zucchini in pineapple juice, then dry it with the dehydrator. Then dust with powdered sugar. It is awesome! You can google these recipes.

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  4. PaolaJanuary 25, 2013 at 12:22 PM

    This is the first time I've visited your blog - this post caught my eye because I too have a zucchini glut. I'm contemplating "dealing with" the zucchinis tonight - slicing them, and blanching before the go into the freezer. Apart from that.. we are eating a lot of zucchini!

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  5. Lucy HouseJanuary 25, 2013 at 1:18 PM

    I don't have too many this year, but last year I did. I marinated them in oil - salt them first to get rid of a lot of the liquid in them and then into herbed oil. It was out of my Italian preserving book, but you'd be able to find something on the web. I have dried beans before, and they are great to be able to add to stews and soups in winter.

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  6. narf7January 25, 2013 at 1:28 PM

    I found this recipe via another blogger recently...thanks to a good season we are currently experiencing a severe glut of zucchini and this recipe is a godsend! Give it a go if you can get some more zucchini or visit Tasmania where they give you an enormous bagful as a going away gift ;)...
    http://www.food.com/recipe/zucchini-cream-130433

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  7. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2013 at 5:28 PM

    A friend of mine makes an AMAZING corgette (zucchini) and feta soup. You should try it out next time :)

    http://www.exmi.co.za/2012/02/courgette-and-feta-soup/

    Tara

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  8. thingsforboysJanuary 25, 2013 at 9:25 PM

    When we get lots of zucchini we make zucchini slice, which freezes well. I also use it as a sauce for pasta. Fry it up in a bit of oil with some garlic and have it with spaghetti. Add some cream if you have any. I made crumbed zucchini chips once which I liked but hubby wasn't a fan (I don't think they were greasy enough for him)

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  9. thechickenwhispererJanuary 26, 2013 at 2:59 AM

    Hi, there are lots of zuchini / corgette in a number of greek recipes. Zuchini fritters being one of my favorites. Not sure about freezing them but it might be worth a try.

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  10. cynthiaJanuary 26, 2013 at 2:43 PM

    My 14 month old daughter just looooves zucchini any way it comes...dried slices are an awesome way to keep her occupied in the car :-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. UnknownJanuary 31, 2013 at 2:31 PM

    yum! lots of zucchini ideas, thanks everyone.... now I just need more zucchinis!

    ReplyDelete

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