Lidia's Kitchen Season 4 Episode 23 Best of Zucchini

Lidia's Kitchen season 4 episode 23, titled "Best of Zucchini," is a delightful exploration of the endless possibilities of this versatile vegetable. Host Lidia Bastianich shares her favorite ways to cook zucchini, from simple sautés to creative stuffed zucchini boats.

The episode starts with Lidia demonstrating how to make a classic Italian dish, zucchini frittata. With eggs, thinly sliced zucchini, and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, this dish is a quick and easy way to use up any extra zucchinis you might have on hand.

Next up, Lidia takes on stuffed zucchini, or zucchini ripieni in Italian. She shows viewers how to hollow out a zucchini and fill it with a savory mixture of ground pork, breadcrumbs, and herbs. The stuffed zucchinis are then cooked in a tomato sauce until tender and flavorful.

Lidia then shares her recipe for a zucchini gratin, which involves layering thinly sliced zucchini with a creamy mixture of ricotta, parmesan, and herbs. The dish is baked until golden brown and bubbly and is a perfect side dish for any meal.

For a lighter option, Lidia whips up a zucchini carpaccio, which involves slicing the zucchini paper-thin and marinating it in a tangy lemon dressing. The dish is bright and refreshing and is a great way to showcase the fresh flavors of summer.

Finally, Lidia shares her recipe for a zucchini and shrimp stir-fry. The dish is full of vibrant colors and flavors, with juicy shrimp, tender zucchini, and crunchy snow peas all tossed together in a delicious ginger and soy sauce.

Throughout the episode, Lidia shares helpful tips and tricks for cooking with zucchini. She explains how to choose the best zucchinis at the market, how to slice them evenly for even cooking, and how to avoid limp, soggy zucchini dishes.

Overall, "Best of Zucchini" is a wonderful showcase of the many ways this simple vegetable can be transformed into a variety of delicious dishes. Lidia's enthusiasm and expertise make this episode both informative and entertaining, and viewers are sure to come away with plenty of new recipe ideas to try at home.