Zucchini - 500g

Organic zucchini are more than 95% water, and so offer only a modest amount of nutrients. The high water content, however, means that they are very low in calories. In addition, they can be eaten raw or cooked.

The familiar green organic zucchini resembles a lightly ridged cucumber; its skin is medium to deep green, with paler flecks or stripes. Place the organic zucchini in perforated plastic bags and store in the refrigerator crisper. It should keep for up to a week. Wash organic zucchini well and trim the ends. Organic zucchini can be prepared in various ways when used as a side dish or added to other recipes. For example, cut the squash into julienne strips, or halve it lengthwise, cut into half-round slices. You can also make organic zucchini "boats" to hold a filling, slice the squash in half lengthwise, then scoop out the seeds and some of the pulp, leaving a shell. Because organic zucchini is mostly water, it will exude a lot of liquid during cooking. If you want to prevent a cooked dish containing the vegetable from becoming "waterlogged," salt the squash before heating it: Cut the zucchini into thin slices or dice (depending on the recipe) and sprinkle the cut surfaces with salt; 1/2 teaspoon is sufficient for a pound of zucchini. Place the salted squash in a colander and let stand for about half an hour. Then rinse the zucchini and pat dry with paper towels.