20 September 2012



It's reveal day for the Improv Challenge.  The premise of this challenge is easy: each month there are two assigned ingredients.  The participants must make a recipe using both ingredients and blog about it.



This month's assigned ingredients kind of threw me for a loop.  Zucchini and brown sugar.  Zucchini and brown sugar, really?  Nothing immediately came to mind.  I did some extensive googling and found some recipes that use zucchini as an apple substitute in a crisp-type dessert.  That sounded interesting.  But then I decided to go for something more savory.  I thought of roasting the zucchini in a brown sugar/spice blend.  Turns out that zucchini doesn't roast very well because it contains so much water.  So then I decided to try the same idea, only broil it instead of roast it.  I used bigger pieces of zucchini and I thought cooking it at a higher temperature for a shorter amount of time would bring less water out of it.  I was right.  It actually worked!

Smoky Sweet Broiled Zucchini

Ingredients:
2 medium zucchini
1 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp salt

Directions:
Preheat broiler.  Line a baking sheet with foil.

Slice zucchini lengthwise into ¼” slices.  Lay slices on baking sheet.

In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, paprika, and salt.  Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the zucchini slices.  Place under broiler and broil for about 8 minutes, or until zucchini just starts to get tender.

Makes 4 servings.

I've definitely never had zucchini like this before.  The great thing about zucchini is that its flavor is mild enough that you put pretty much any kind of seasoning with it.  The brown sugar and smoked paprika go really well together and the zucchini is a great canvas for them.  They definitely take boring old zucchini up a notch! 

Be sure to check out all the other great zucchini and brown sugar recipes below and come back next month to see what I make with oatmeal and raisins!




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14 comments:

  1. Your broiled zukes look beautiful! I need to try some smoked paparika...

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  2. It's definitely my most-used spice. I'm obsessed with it!

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  3. What great flavors! This looks great!

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  4. This is so simple but brilliant - I'm obsessed with smoked paprika and can't wait to try this.

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  5. Glad I'm not the only one! I put it in everything.

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  6. My mouth started watering when I saw your pic. I can only imagine how delicious these are!

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  7. The Ranch Wife ChroniclesSeptember 20, 2012 at 9:59 AM

    Lesa, creative use of the ICC ingredients.

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  8. Ooo! Zucchini with brown sugar and paprika. I love it! Great job!

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  9. So simple and it sounds delicious!


    Lisa~~my entry: Zucchini with Onions & Brown Sugar.

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  10. That sounds so yummy, and simple too. Pinning.

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  11. This is So unusal, but it sounds like something I would really like to try.

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  12. What a great rub! Excellent way to serve zucchini :)

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