? about sneaking zucchini into recipes

[Dace]

I have homemade mac & chees eon the menu tonight and I would like to add some finely grated zucchini to it. Some of my children will not eat zucchini, so I figure I will get the upper hand by being sneaky!

So my question is, to I just toss it in with the noodles & cheese then cook the casserole as normal or should I saute it first in a little bit of butter?

I am wondering if I throw it in raw, will it release liq making my dish watery and thus giving away that something is different?

 

[keljonma]

Depending on how badly you need to hide it.....

Saute it first.

or you could whiz it up in the blender and use it for some of the liquid in your recipe.


If you are adding onions as well, it will help hide some of the flavor.

 

[noobiechickenlady]

When I'm trying to be super sneaky (Like with kids not my own & a few picky grown friends ) I process it, skin & all into almost mush, let it drain while I'm prepping the rest of the dish (Because it does have lots of water in it) and just toss it in before I start cooking.
If you let it drain well first, it should be okay.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

Sauteing them in butter sounds tasty to me . . . but if I were trying to sneak it in . . . I might shred the zucchini. Yes, it will probably make your dish soggier than normal. You might try mixing it, shredded, with a thicker sauce and lots of cheese. Up to you, of course.

 

[Dace]

Naturally the little buggers don't like onions either. It is finely shredded but perhaps I should chop it up a bit more.

I will add a little less milk too, good idea!

 

[keljonma]

DS hated eating onions, so they got whizzed up in the blender and the onion juice substituted for some of the liquid in a recipe.

 

[Dace]

That is a good one Kel....since I am just layering noodles, and cheese I don't add onions. When I make a cheese sauce form a roux I do add onions....minced really really fine!

 

[Wifezilla]

Shred and drain while reducing liquid sounds good to me. I have done that for other recipes.

 

[Farmfresh]

I am in the saute camp. After it is cooked soft and covered with the cheese they will never know.

 

[Iceblink]

If your zucchini is fresh you can grate and squeeze it between your hands, just like cucumbers. If it is grated and frozen, a lot of the liquid will separate naturally.

I have sucessfully snuck grated zucchini into scrambled eggs, cornbread, pancakes and chili. I am going to try fruit crisp next. Good lick with your mac and cheese.