I am here again with another quick recipe. This recipe has only 6 ingredients including salt and vegetable oil and it is an absolute favorite of mine that is as good warm as is cold.
As a kid, I really hated the taste and smell of zucchinis, but Jiddo Abu Kamal always said that zucchinis are fit for kings. Undoubtedly, Jiddo was absolutely right! I literally love zucchinis in all forms and shapes and find excuses to add them to any dish. Clearly, some of the most famous zucchinis dishes are stuffed with rice, like my favorite stuffed zucchinis with grape leaves, but this one is very easy.
These fried zucchinis were my Jiddo’s favorite and he frequently asked for it. As a matter of fact, I have vivid memories of Jiddo sitting on the kitchen table and having this for lunch with fresh warm pitas. He also enjoyed the leftovers for breakfast or as a snack. To be perfectly honest, he always tried to get me to try to eat zucchinis and this was the only zucchini dish that I used to eat.
Until now, I haven’t seen someone who eats like Jiddo. He truly appreciated the fact that food was served instead of how special the food was. Generally, this was a characteristic that people his generation had in common. Afterall, they left Palestine when they were kids/teens and had very little resources, not to mention all the adjustments they had to make to their diet. However, Jiddo was special in the way he enjoyed the simplest food with a big smile of appreciation on his face. His philosophy regarding food was that all food is good, some are better than others, but whatever the food is, then it is a blessing and we should enjoy it.
This recipe is a real testimony of how the simplest ingredients make the best dishes, with 5 ingredients and less than 15 minutes to prepare, it is a quick meal that is full of flavor. Start by washing the zucchinis and slicing them into round coins. Traditionally, the zucchini is deep fried, and I enjoy it this way. However, you can also air fry it or grill it in the oven. If you choose to fry them keep a close eye on them as they brown very quickly, and it takes about 3 mins to fry. Then, add salt and garlic to the yogurt and stir until smooth. Layer the zucchinis on a plate and top with yogurt. Add mint on top and that’s it!
Fried Zucchini with Garlic Yogurt Sauce
Ingredients
- 4 – 5 medium Lebanese zucchinis
- 1 cup yogurt
- 1 small clove garlic minced
- fresh mint leaves to taste
- salt as needed
- vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Wash zucchinis and cut crosswise into ½ cm thick coins.
- Heat oil and fry zucchinis for 3 mins or until lightly golden. Make sure you don’t burn them, as they brown very quickly.
- Drain on paper towels.
- Add a pinch of salt and the minced garlic clove to the yogurt and whisk until the yogurt is smooth.
- Arrange zucchini on a plate, top with the yoghurt sauce and mint.
- Serve with warm pita bread.
