Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl's Top 5 Summer Squash Recipes

Summer squash, the yellow kind, is delicious and really really good for you. According to the book "Prescription for Dietary Wellness", a study done by the National Institute of Health found there's something about it that helps reduce stomach cancer, boosts immunity, and fights depression. That's a lot of miracles for a little yellow zucchini-like guy that's ultra mild. Always terrific charred on the grill, this veggie lends itself to many different types of cooking.

They're in season and cheap at the farmer's market right now, and here are Dara's favorite things to do with them!

(credit: mountainmamacooks.com)

Summer Squash Tacos
Recipe

Weirdly, summer squash is great in tacos. Just grill it, and put it in tacos with a green tomatillo salsa, cilantro, cotija cheese, and guacamole. By the way, Dara is not a vegetarian. This is really just a good thing to do. Try it.

(credit: thekitchn.com)

Baked Summer Squash
Website

Dara has not been feeling like turning on the oven, but if you have to, do this. Take a lot of summer squash. Cut them into thin discs. Place in an oven-safe pan with grated parmesan, butter, some bread crumbs, salt, pepper. Bake till brown and bubbly. The whole recipe from The Kitchn is above. You'll love this!

(credit: tastingtable.com)

Aaron Deal's Puréed Summer Squash Soup
Recipe

Roanoke, Virgina has a little lovely restaurant called The River and Rail, and that's where young chef Aaron Deal came up with a beautiful way to use a ton of yellow squash in a pureed soup. Simple, beautiful and really good for you.

(credit: F. Martin Ramin/Studio D/Esquire)

Sean Brock's Ratatouille
Recipe

This is just the easiest, fastest, best ratatouille by one of the best American chefs of the New South, Sean Brock. Herbs, balsamic, zucchini, a little olive oil, just roast on a pan in the oven. He serves it with risotto, but you can also just heap it on top of grilled bread or simply stick next to a pork chop or beer-can chicken.

(credit: mountainmamacooks.com)

Sichuan Summer Squash
Recipe

This is the easiest, the best, fastest way to turn summer squash into something special. Just vinegar, a couple star anise, some red pepper flakes, a little sugar—that's all. So great with a beer! Happy summer veggie season!