finding time for cooking

for the time-starved or curious culinary adventurer

  • Recipes By Type
    • Appetizers, Dips, & Snacks
    • Bread Recipes
    • Breakfast Goodies
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes & Veggies
    • Sauces, Spices, & Other Basics
    • Snacks
    • Full Recipe Index
  • Drinks: Cocktails & More
    • Best Cocktail Gifts: For the At-Home Bartender or Mixologist
  • Whatcha Need??
    • Foods I’m Obsessed With
    • 30 Minutes or Less…for the Time-Challenged Cook
    • What Bread To Make (Based on Your Time)
    • Gluten-Free Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Super Healthy
    • Cooking for One
    • Soup
    • Unleavened Bread Recipes
  • About Me & More
    • Get In Touch!
    • How-Tos
    • Kitchen Tools I’m Obsessed With
    • Food and Travel—Two of My Favorite Things
    • Bunion Surgery Recovery Tips
    • Tips for Liver Detox / Gut Health Protocol

Grilled Zucchini with Lemon Salt

September 15, 2013

Last weekend my friend decided to come over for dinner kind of last-minute, to help me put my new bed together later that night. I typically just order Thai food on Saturday nights, but wanted to cook dinner as a thank you.

Sometimes my dinners get a little overambitious and exhausting, so we decided to keep it simple. So I got a few salmon fillets and marinated them, and then decided to stick to a grilled theme with this beautiful grilled zucchini.

Grilled Zucchini with Lemon Salt

I’ve experimented with a number of grilled veggies, including zucchini a few times. However, this recipe has a unique element—lemon salt.

grilled zucchini with lemon salt lemon zest2

The bright, salty citrus combined with the smoky char marks on the zucchini really elevated this from average grilled zucchini to something that just felt special, while also being super easy.  Easy + fancy? I’m on board.

Look at those shiny green beauties! That bottom one is a little fat for our purposes though…

Chop off the tops and bottoms of the zucchini and slice them length-wise into quarters.

Zest up your lemons.

grilled zucchini with lemon salt lemon

Place the zucchini quarters in a big ziploc bag. Pour in the olive oil, lemon juice, and one tablespoon of the zest (around one of the lemons’ worth). Throw in the teaspoon of sea salt and grind the pepper in.

Now comes the smooshing. Seal the bag and smoosh everything around the zucchini gets evenly coated.

You can set it aside for 15 or 20 minutes to marinate, or you can toss those babies on the grill right away if you can’t wait.

Heat your grill (or indoor grill thing) to somewhere between medium and medium-low. Grill the zucchini on all three sides until they’re nice and tender.

You want to get nice, pretty grill marks but not burn them. It took about 3-4 minutes on each side with my grill, for about 10-12 minutes total (but will depends on the thickness of your zucchini). Put them onto a plate when they’re done.

grilled zucchini with lemon salt grilling2

While the zucchini are grilling, we make the lemon salt. You want to do this pretty close to when the zucchini are done.

On a cutting board, pile the rest of the lemon zest and sprinkle the salt on top. Use a knife to chop the salt and zest together until it becomes one. Et voila—lemon salt!

lemon salt

Here are your lovely grilled zucchini spears…

Grilled Zucchini with Lemon Salt finished

Grilled Zucchini with Lemon Salt closeup

And then all it takes is a sprinkle of lemon salt, and you’re done. It seems like you’ve done something really fancy but it’s the easiest thing ever. Serve hot if possible.

Other easy healthy side dishes you’ll love:

  • Easy Air Fryer Green Beans (Blistered Green Bean Fries)
  • Addictive Oven-Roasted Okra
  • Roasted Brussels Sprouts “Rubble”
  • Caramelized Shredded Brussels Sprouts
  • Delicious & Easy Kale Salad

Grilled Zucchini with Lemon Salt

For two people, use one zucchini & divide all ingredients by 3 or 6—don’t need to be exact

  • 6 whole zucchini (medium size, preferably on the skinnier side)
  • 1/4 cup of olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon of sea salt or kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon of fresh-ground black pepper
  • 3 whole lemons, zested
  • Juice of 2 lemons
  • 1 additional tablespoon of sea salt or kosher salt

Chop off the tops and bottoms of the zucchini and slice them length-wise into quarters. Place them all in a large ziploc bag and pour in the olive oil. Toss one teaspoon of salt, the pepper, one tablespoon of lemon zest (roughly one of the lemon’s zest) and the juice from two lemons. Seal the bag and smoosh everything around the zucchini gets evenly coated. Set aside for 15 to 20 minutes to marinate (or you can grill right away).

Heat your grill (or indoor grill thing) to somewhere between medium and medium-low. Grill the zucchini on all three sides until they’re nice and tender, getting nice grill marks but being careful not to burn them. This was 3-4 minutes on each side for my grill—about 10-12 minutes total. Remove onto a plate when they’re done.

Pile up the remaining lemon zest and sprinkle the rest of the salt on top. Use a knife to chop the salt and zest together until it becomes one (a.k.a. lemon salt). Sprinkle the lemon salt over the grilled zucchini and serve.

Original recipe from Pioneer Woman

Pin for later!

Easy Grilled Zucchini with Lemon Salt | This simple side dish feels fancy but is really easy, a perfect side for any weeknight or even dinner party. Grilling zucchini brings out so much flavor! How to grill zucchini, grilled zucchini recipes, grilled vegetable side dishes. #zucchini #grillrecipes #lemon

Leave a Comment CATEGORIES // Side Dishes & Veggies, Super Healthy

« One-Pot Farro with Tomatoes
Bourbon Banana Pancakes »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Me

Welcome to my little corner of the internet! I created this blog for people who love cooking & baking but are challenged to find the time and energy to do it. Recipes run the gamut from super healthy to indulgent, but the focus is on using REAL food no matter what.

Follow Along!

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Recent IG Adventures!

While I eagerly await warmer weather, I snuck in o While I eagerly await warmer weather, I snuck in one last winter cocktail...here's some Sage Advice! It's a winter-y version of a whiskey sour bringing both cinnamon and sage, and then skirting the line of daiquiri with the substitution of lime juice for the traditional lemon. 

Tap the link in my IG bio & pick this photo to get the recipe! --> @findingtimeforcooking
#cocktailrecipe #bourbon #bourboncocktails #whiskeysour
Forget your run-of-the-mill double chocolate cooki Forget your run-of-the-mill double chocolate cookies 🍫 These TRIPLE dark chocolate cookies (with a hint of whiskey & balance with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt) are rich indulgence without being sickly sweet. They're also soooo easy...no special tools, no dough chilling. Delish cookies in under 30 minutes! 

Tap the link in my IG bio & click on this photo to get the full recipe! --> @findingtimeforcooking 
#chocoholic #chocolatecookies #darkchocolate #cookierecipe
A recipe that gets me to eat broccoli every day?? A recipe that gets me to eat broccoli every day?? SOLD. And it is so fast & easy that it can barely be called a "recipe"...these cumin roasted broccoli bits in the air fryer (though you can use an oven instead) are crazy fast, healthy, & delicious!

Tap the link in my IG bio & pick this photo to see the recipe! --> @findingtimeforcooking 
#airfryer #broccoli #easysidedish #airfryerrecipes
I've been making these healthy 5-ingredient browni I've been making these healthy 5-ingredient brownies on REPEAT for a couple months now. And knowing that they only take a few minutes to make has been a bit dangerous on random Tuesday nights when my sweet tooth strikes! 

Oh, and I forgot to mention that they're naturally gluten- & grain-free, dairy-free, egg-free, vegan, and (optionally) no sweetener added? 

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this photo to get the recipe! --> @findingtimeforcooking 

#healthydessert #healthybrownies #glutenfreerecipes #vegandessert
This cranberry snack cake is seriously my platonic This cranberry snack cake is seriously my platonic ideal for a cake. I DREAM of this cake. A soft, moist, dense buttery vanilla cake batter is studded with tart fresh cranberries, with a tiny crunch of raw sugar on top. A perfect dessert or snack for pretty much any occasion...including with a cup of tea on a random Tuesday afternoon...

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this photo to get the recipe! 
--> @findingtimeforcooking 
#cranberrycake #cranberries #cranberryrecipe #bestdessert
These super easy marinated white beans are packed These super easy marinated white beans are packed with flavor & only take a few minutes to make! Even better?? They're best when made ahead of time (in 5 minutes!) and left for a day or two in the fridge for the flavors to really meld & intensify. 

This has become a go-to plant-based recipe, but I often throw some grilled salmon or chicken on top for a full meal. 

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this pic to get the recipe!
#veganrecipes #vegetarianrecipes #whitebeans #plantbasedrecipes
A lot of people don't realize how easy & cheap it A lot of people don't realize how easy & cheap it is to make your own kombucha at home...you can have an entire gallon for less than the cost of one bottle at the store! 

I can't even keep a bamboo plant alive, yet have managed to keep the same "scoby" starter healthy & active for well over a decade. 

Here are easy step-by-step instructions for making your own kombucha at home, & the tools you'll need to do so! Tap the link in my IG bio (@findingtimeforcooking) & click on this photo to see the whole post.
#homemadekombucha #kombuchabrewing #healthyguthappylife #scoby
I'm not generally a soup person, though I'm trying I'm not generally a soup person, though I'm trying to be more 🍜 But this Turkish corba (a spiced red lentil soup) has always been one of my exceptions.  It's CRAZY easy to make, full of veggies and the protein from the lentils, and just feels like a warm hug in a bowl!  A great vegetarian dinner idea, perfect on any detox protocol, and just a great cozy recipe for the winter months.

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this photo to get the recipe!
#corba #redlentils #souprecipe #drcabraldetox
Today, we FANCY. But also lazy. When I first saw a Today, we FANCY. But also lazy. When I first saw a recipe for the "lazy person's kouign amann", I was intrigued...and it definitely lives up to the hype! The texture isn't quite the same as the much more time-consuming and complex authentic French pastry it's hacking, but it's darn close and absolutely delicious. 

To see the recipe, tap the link in my IG bio & click on this photo! --> @findingtimeforcooking 
#kouignamann #frenchpastries #bakingfromscratch #frenchbaking
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Popular Posts

Pasta with Fresh Sweet Corn Pesto

Julia Child’s Boeuf Bourguignon

No-Bake Cookies…a.k.a. Haystacks

Buttermilk Dinner Rolls

Healthy Pear Cranberry Crisp

Recent Posts

  • Sage Advice: A Winter Bourbon Cocktail
  • Weekday Indulgence: Easy Triple Dark Chocolate Coo…
  • The Best Easy Air Fryer Broccoli Bits (Roasted wit…

Categories

  • Appetizers, Dips, & Snacks
  • Bread Recipes
  • Breakfast Goodies
  • Cooking for One
  • Desserts
  • Drinks: Cocktails & More
  • Eating Out
  • Family Secret Recipes
  • Food-Related Miscellany
  • Foods I'm Obsessed With
  • Gluten-Free Recipes
  • Go-To Recipes
  • How-Tos
  • Kitchen Gear
  • Main Dishes
  • Pasta Recipes
  • Recipe Experimentation
  • Sauces, Spices, & Other Basics
  • Side Dishes & Veggies
  • Snacks
  • Soup
  • Super Healthy
  • Travel and Food
  • Uncategorized

Privacy Policy & Disclosures

Copyright & Terms of Use

Copyright 2023 Finding Time For Cooking

4 shares