Today we’re preparing pignoli and feta zucchini boats, with fresh lemon, Italian parsley, and plenty of garlic. These are great for a light lunch under the sun, or as side to hardier grilled fare, such as steaks or pork chops.

Why you’ll love today’s Zucchini Boats

1) Super Seasonal. The light and festive combination of pignoli nuts, fresh lemon, and feta, carried in lightly grilled zucchini, simply screams “Summer Cuisine.” They’re perfect alongside things like grilled steaks or pork chops, or as a light lunch by itself, especially out in the sun.

2) Light and Refreshing. While satisfying and delicious, these zucchini boats remain light and refreshing, both in terms of texture and flavor.

3) Heat up beautifully. Wrapped in tin foil, these heat up beautifully, meaning their perfect for making ahead.

4) Or serve them cold! Conversely, all of the flavors in today’s zucchini boats work perfectly served cold.

Ingredient Notes, Tips, and Substitutions

1) Pignoli Nuts aka Pine Nuts: Pignoli, Pignolias, or piñón, are simply pine nuts. They are valued for their small size, tender or even ‘buttery’ texture when cooked, and the large amount of oil that they contain – relative to their small size, which seeps out into the food they are being cooked in, thereby spreading their flavor more intensely and evenly than other nuts.

Substitution: Since it’s hardly an exaggeration to say these little gems are ‘worth their weight in gold’ given their sky-high price (about $30 per pound on Amazon as of this post), you’ll likely want a good replacement lined up, especially in a recipe like today’s that otherwise isn’t very expensive to prepare. The best replacement for pignoli nuts in today’s recipe are almonds. Almonds will achieve much of the same flavor and texture, but will bring less oil to the recipe, and just a tad less ‘buttery-ness.’ Chopped walnuts are a good replacement in ‘most’ recipes that call for pingoli nuts.

2) ) Zucchini vs Cucumbers – A Tale of Unsubtle Differences. Given their largely similar appearance, new home-cooks might be tempted to believe that zucchinis and cucumbers are similar or even interchangeable. However, the differences between these two items could hardly be ‘less’ subtle. On the exterior, zucchinis are dry to the touch with a rough skin, whereas cucumbers tend to be ‘cold’ and smooth, or sometimes waxy. On tasting, raw zucchini tends to be rather unpalatable due to its dry and bitter taste with an interior whose texture is often described as ‘dry and spongey,’ whereas the moist and crisp interior of a cucumber makes it a perfect ‘stick’ veggie for eating raw or dipping. However, the aforementioned taste and texture of a zucchini makes it ideal for cooking, particularly frying and baking – think zucchini frites, fried zucchini sticks, and stir-fried zucchini strips.

3) Balsamic Glaze – What is it? Do I need it? Essentially, a balsamic glaze is a syrup-like ‘reduction’ of Balsamic Vinegar. At its most basic, a balsamic glaze is simply balsamic vinegar that’s been reduced to a syrup over heat, which has the effect of not only thickening the balsamic vinegar, but also of cutting down its acidity dramatically, allowing you to add ‘balsamic flavor’ to your recipes but without having to account for the vinegar’s acidity. Sugar is often added to further thicken the reduction, and to cut out the acidity entirely, leaving just the ‘balsamic flavor’ but with the addition of ‘syrupy sweetness.’ Various herbs are also sometimes added in, but are typically strained out of the reduction. Personally, I’m using a store-bought glaze, but making your own at home couldn’t be easier – see below for direction on how to make your own.

Making a Balsamic Glaze At Home

This is one of the easiest things to do, and what you get in return is absolutely delicious, and has a plethora of uses – from topping steaks, eggs, and pasta, to being absolutely to die for on ice cream. Truthfully, the possibilities for what you can do with a balsamic glaze are limited solely by your imagination.

To start, you’ll need a small saucepan (preferably cast iron). Simply pour your desired amount of balsamic vinegar into the pan, and let it heat over a medium flame. Bring the vinegar to a simmer (don’t let it boil) and let it continue simmering until enough of the liquid has escaped as steam such that you have a thick, syrup-like liquid left in the pan. The liquid should have a consistency that’s slightly ‘thinner’ than a honey, but viscous enough to thoroughly coat a spoon.

To make the glaze thicker, add in sugar prior to simmering. Use a ratio of about one-part sugar to three-parts balsamic vinegar. For example, if using one cup of balsamic vinegar you’ll want to use a quarter of a cup of sugar. Either white sugar or brown sugar will work fine.

More Summer Favorites from Living the Gourmet

1) Moroccan Tomato Salad. A surprise hit with my family, this Moroccan tomato salad is so simple, and yet so delicious, that it instantly won a place in my heart.

2) Layered Eggplant Salad. Breaded eggplant, combined with fresh basil, fresh tomatoes, and grated romaine, combine to create a delicious take on baked eggplant that’s sure to be a hit with your friends and family.

3) Mediterranean Orange Salad. A super simple orange salad, which combines sliced oranges tossed with cilantro, grilled jalapenos and honey, capers and scallions, creating a medley of savory umami notes set against a sweet and spicy backdrop.

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