Judging by its name, it’s easy to guess that zucchini comes from Italy. But beyond its origins, this variety of summer squash has a very interesting story to tell.
“Zucchini” is the diminutive, plural form of “Zucca” in Italian. We use the diminutive form because the zucchinis we eat are tiny, considering that they can grow up to 3.2 feet (1 meter), but they are harvested when still immature.
Zucchini Is Technically a Fruit
The Spanish took the forebears of zucchinis from Latin America to Europe. However, it was in Italy where the zucchini as we know it was cultivated for the first time.
You may think that zucchini is a vegetable, but it’s actually a fruit, according to botanical standards. This is because fruits contain seeds and develop from the flowers of a plant, just like zucchini does. Vegetables, on the other hand, are the roots, stems or leaves of plants.
In addition to their tasty flavor, zucchinis also offer a very interesting nutritional profile. They contain Vitamin A, manganese, Vitamin C, potassium and magnesium, among other nutrients. Zucchinis are rich in antioxidants that protect your body from the action of free radicals. They also contribute to a healthy digestion and may reduce blood sugar levels and improve heart health.
Very Versatile
Another great advantage of zucchinis is its versatility. Just ask the Italian, who have perfected the art of cooking zucchini and love to eat them boiled, grilled, stuffed or alla parmigiana (cooked in the oven and gratinated with cheese).
You can incorporate zucchinis easily into your diet, and as we have seen before you can even make pasta with them! No, we don’t mean you can add zucchini to your pasta (which you are very welcome to do anyway), but that you can make actual pasta out of zucchini. That’s what zoodles are!
Try Our Delicious Ground Chicken Zucchini Boat
At Chef Gourmet we love this interesting and nutritious squash. So much so that we have included Ground Chicken Zucchini Boat in our delicious Gourmet prepared meals.
We source fresh ingredients from local suppliers we know and trust, supporting our communities to create and nurture meaningful relationships with those around us.
We are located at 1910 S. Archibald, Unit O Ontario, Canada. Contact us today by telephone (1-888-536-5269), email or through our social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to learn more about our menus, our Gourmet Prepared Meals and our Gourmet lunch Boxes.
