Zucchini and zucchini flower lasagna

 Ingredients:
15 zucchini flowers
3 zucchini
0,5 l besciamella sauce
3 tblsp parmesan cheese

for the thin pancakes:
eggs (2)
flour (3 cups)
milk (1/2 l)
salt
oil (for frying)



First of all, you need to make the thin pancakes. I prefer to use these instead of the buyed lasagna sheets, because home-made pancakes are much more soft.
After that put the first layer: a pancake and on it some zucchini flowers (that you've carefully washed and eliminated the inside of the flower) and zucchini (that you've previously cut in the shape you prefer). Put some besciamella sauce on the top. Lay another pancake, flowers and zucchini and besciamella on the top. I used a small baking pan, so that was enough for 2 persons. When you've reached the top, cover with another pancake, put some besciamella sauce and the parmesan cheese on the top.
Bake it in a preheated oven on 180°C for around 30 minutes.

Lentil & zucchini soup

Ingredients:
2 red capsicums
1 zucchini
1 leek
250 gr lentils
1 l water
mix of spices for soups
salt
pepper
thyme
1 tsp brown sugar
2 tblsp vinegar

Wash the vegetables and cut them in thin slices. Wash the lentils and cook them in the water with the spices for 30 minutes (or 15 in pressure cooker). When the lentils are cooked, add the rest of the vegetables and cook 10 more minutes on low flame. Add salt, pepper, sugar and vinegar before serving and decorate with some thyme.

Fried zucchini flowers

Summer is the perfect season for zucchini at my home and besides the vegetables, also the flowers are edible and very tasty! Here is a very simple recipe for deep fried zucchini flowers. 

 Ingredients:

zucchini flowers (12-15)
150 gr flour
250 ml water
pinch of salt
1 tsp turmeric powder (optional)
1 tsp sweet chili powder (optional)
oil for deep frying





Put the flour and the salt with the spices in a bowl. Slowly add the water and stir until you have a smooth dough. Heat the oil in a pan and when it's hot enough put the flowers, you've put in the mixture before. Fry until ready and let them cool a little bit.
You can serve them with some fresh vegetables and it will make a perfect summer dinner.

Huge soft chapati filled with zucchini&onion

When your boyfriend's grandparents grow too much zucchini, this is what you can do: eat them! :) Unfortunately it's very difficult to take pictures when you're sooooo hungry, so this is what I've got... it was soooo tasty!!

Ingredients:

Chapati:
80 gr wholewheat flour
80 gr white flour type 400
125 ml natural yogurt
pinch of salt
1 tbspn olive oil

Filling:
Zucchini (depends on the size and how much you're hungry)
Onion (depends on taste)
1 hot chili
salt
olive oil

Mix the ingredients for the dough and leave aside for about 30 minutes.
Cut the vegetables and fry them in a pan until they're tender.
Take the dough and roll 2 big chapatis. Cook them in a large flat pan.
Put the vegetables into the chapati and roll it.

The simple thing you can do, when you don't know what to cook for dinner!
Simple, ah? And soo tasty! :)

Zucchini and peas risotto

Ingredients:
300 gr rice (roma)
4 small zucchini
1/2 onion
1/2 cup frozen peas
1 fresh chili
olive oil
salt
200 ml tomato sauce
oregano
basil
water (as needed)
parmesan cheese

Cut the onion and fry it on the olive oil. Add the cut chili, zucchini and peas. Mix from time to time and when the zucchini are a bit softer, add the rice and mix. Add the spices and the tomato. Mix well and add some water from time to time until it's ready (continue stirring in the meantime). Cook for approximately 15 minutes (but check the instructions on your pack of rice).
Serve hot with some parmesan cheese on the top.

Pasta with zucchini and philadelphia

Ingredients (4 persons):

2 zucchini

400 gr of pasta

garlic powder

chili powder

white pepper powder

salt

olive oil

100 gr of philadelphia

Slice the zucchini and fry them in a pan on olive oil. Add a pinch of salt, pepper, garlic and chili and mix well. Continue to stir. After 10-15 minutes add 2 tablespoons of water and cover the pan with zucchini. In the meantime cook the type of pasta you prefer. After 10 minutes take away the cover from the zucchini and continue to cook a few more minutes until you have no water left. Put the cooked zucchini on the pasta and add philadelphia cheese. Mix well and serve still hot. 

Vegetable ginger soup

That's what I tried today for lunch, light and healthy. It turned out quite well. :)

Ingredients (4 persons - or more):

chinese cabbage (2 leafs)

onion (1)

carrots (3)

ginger (2 cm)

potatoes (2)

zucchini (1)

olive oil

salt 

white pepper

black pepper

curcuma

curry

chili powder

knorr cube

water (1,7 l)

emmer wheat (1-2 cups)

Cut the onion, potatoes, carrots and zucchini, slice ginger and chinese cabbage. Fry them in a pan on olive oil, then add the spices and the water. Cook for 30 minutes and blend it. Cook the emmer wheat in the soup and serve hot. 

Green soup with millet

Millet is called proso in slovenian and it's an old traditional dish. It can be used as a side dish or as a sweet dish (with apples ad example). It is very healthy as well as it has a lot of fibers. Well, I tried to use it in a soup and it worked well. A healthy and light dinner. :)

Ingredients (4 persons or maybe more):

leek (1)
zucchini (1)
onion (1)
garlic (2)
chinese cabbage (3 leafs)
water
millet (125 gr)
salt
knorr cube (1)
various spices (white pepper, chili powder, curry powder, curcumin powder, ginger, nutmeg)

The preparation of this soup was very easy. I haven't used any oil or butter. I chopped the vegetables (onion, garlic, leek, zucchini and chinese cabbage) and put in a pot. I added the spices (just a bit of each one), salt and the knorr cube. I covered everything with water so that all the vegetables were under water. Then I put the pot on the heat and left it to boil. I left it 5 minutes boiling, then I added the millet and left to cook around 15 minutes. I served it hot in deep plates.