Summer Squash Gratin Recipe (2024)

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Andy

This is my wife's favourite, so we cooked it many times. I don't feel that thyme is necessary, and I like it with 5% or 10% cream better than with milk. Be sure to add enough salt, or it will be too flat. Also benefits from one fresh red chili pepper chopped with the garlic - we chop both in a food processor.

Bill Ahlstrom

Fast, easy, good! Use more onion, garlic, red peppers, and cheese. Think about adding spinach. Wonder what it would be like with slices of, say, linguica, Polish or Italian sausage.....

Tori

Turned this into soup next day with addition of chicken broth and a little parsley to garnish. Delicious!

Lauren

Delicious! Minced a large swiss chard leaf and added it, skipped the thyme, used coconut milk in place of milk, quinoa in place of rice, and raw white cheddar instead of Gruyere. Will definitely make this again and again!

Easy to improvise this recipe amid pandemic

This recipe allows for easy substitutions (cooked rice for uncooked rice, couscous, quinoa; summer squash for other squash or veggies; different cheeses, different seasonings and spices, such as curry powder), and a great way to make the most of pantry staples amid the pandemic. It's healthy comfort food -- good for the body and soul.

Barbara G

Had only cheddar and Parmesan on hand and yellow rice leftover in fridge. Used what I had in this Covid world- It was fabulous- a little extra cheddar sprinkled on top before baking. A keeper. Hopefully friends over for a dinner party one day soon will try it also!

Jamie Mixon

I cut the thyme, used Parmesan cheese only, and added 1.5 lbs of cooked shrimp (steamed at the local grocer with cajun spices and peeled). Then used a cracker crumb topping (one sleeve of saltine crackers, crumbled then mixed with melted butter). Delicious!

ikmik

Delish :D added bread crumbs w/olive oil and Parmesan cheese on top but other than that I followed the recipe. Definitely will make it again and again :)

Hannah

Great recipe. Easy to make and you can substitute in other veggies. Make sure you use the correct rice for the recipe. I made this for a dinner party and it was a HUGE hit. Everyone wanted the recipe.

KW

Great use for excess veggies of many sorts, and a sausage or salad on the side makes it a nice meal. Like others, found this good but a bit flat, even with extra parsley and also some fresh basil in the squash. I used a Comte cheese that was in the drawer-- I'll try Pepper Jack next time. That ought to spice it up.

EM

This was delicious. I added 2 punnets of cherry tomatoes - one punnet halved and slow roasted and one punnet whole. I added them when I added the squash/zucchini mix to the rice mixture. I also added a teaspoon of red pepper flakes and bread crumb topping. Amazingly good. Everyone loved it and it is a lovely summer meal.

Sally

This is a wonderfully flexible recipe. I've substituted long-grain brown rice, added chopped cauliflower to the squash mixture, replaced the thyme with a spoonful of pesto, and substituted feta for the other cheeses. It comes out terrific every time, as long as I use enough seasoning. Don't skimp on the herbs or pepper (we like it with generous garlic and crushed red chilis sauteed with the other peppers).

Daniel

This is as good a summer squash recipe as I've ever run across. My family is not a fan of summer squash and we finds it lacks flavor. But we were stuck with some from our CSA and I tried this, sticking faithfully to the recipe (except when I "accidentally" added more cheese... seems to happen a lot). Still not a fan of summer squash, but the end result was tasty. The arborio rice adds a very nice texture, and the flavors have the right balance.

Madison

I am not a fan of summer squash but it arrives every July in our CSA share - this is going to be my go-to from now on for using up summer squash. So ridiculously good and easy.

CBokat

I thought this was amazing! Looked a little boring but thought I’d try since it had 5 stars. It was awesome! I did double the garlic and added some basil. Just take note that you have to add already cooked rice. This delayed everything but was my own fault for not reading carefully

Bonnie Ochoa

Loved it. Added a poblano chile and only 1/2 of the red pepper. A hit.

Libba A

Added chopped basil and red pepper flakes to the sauté of squash. Used Charleston Gold Rice instead of Arborio and it was delicious.

NHcook

Love love LOVE this recipe! It’s versatility makes it a household favorite here. I adapt the herbs to whatever I have on hand and almost always swap in farro or lentils for the rice. Not Provençal necessarily but a great way to use up odds and ends of things I have in the fridge. Next iteration will be with cauliflower rice.

kimberly

This was delicious and it’s such a versatile recipe! I used low-fat oat milk and also added some panko to the top for some crunch. I can definitely see myself making variations of this, year round, using different vegetables and maybe experimenting a bit with different cheeses and herbs.

Rebecca D

House divided on this one. I tried to cook it until rice was done, which made it like a frittata. But, the rice never got done. My husband liked the crispy rice. Next time, I will try to cook the rice (at least partially) first. We still have it a 5* review because the flavors were excellent!

LaurenNJ

Definite keeper recipe. Highly adaptable to the veg and cheese you have on hand and an excellent use of that pint of leftover white rice that came with your Chinese takeout. I’ll make this every way til Sunday. Thanks for a great foundational recipe.

Steve in Raleigh NC

Turned out great! Only changes I made were, no thyme, half/half instead of low fat milk, heavy on the cheeses, and a tablespoon of Momof*cku Chili Crunch mixed in with the eggs/cream/rice. Went about 45 -50 minutes in my oven to get nice gold color on top, but it was a double batch. And yes, straight up doubling of all ingredients worked out perfect. As per other comments, I was liberal with seasoning. Will definitely make again.

New chef

I found this very bland for my taste. Hubby didn’t care for it either. I had to douse it in hot sauce. Won’t make it again.

casey mac

I’m confused by the ingredient list. Must the one cup arborio rice be cooked, or can I just add one cup raw. I presume it must be cooked but would be happy if it works with raw.

edie

I had a lot of zucchini, yellow squash, broccoli and tomatoes so I added all of them to this recipe and came out with a beautiful dish that even my grandkids liked. Added more cheese and used cream instead of low-fat milk.

Anja Parker

I replaced the gruyere with gouda, but otherwise made the recipe as written. It was excellent!

Smunter

Made this with the addition of about 1/8 tsp of cayenne, and heavy cream, since I had a little lingering in the back of the fridge. Made Monday, refrigerated uncooked, cooked on Tuesday after bringing up to room temperature. Delicious

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Summer Squash Gratin Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you cook squash so it doesn't get soggy? ›

To prevent a soggy mess when cooking zucchini, I make sure to cook it on a high heat so that the water evaporates quickly. I also make sure to slice it thinly so that it cooks evenly.

Are you supposed to peel summer squash before cooking? ›

Yellow squash does not need to be peeled, because the skin is so tender and thin. If you do prefer to peel your squash, peel it just like you would a carrot or a potato.

How do you keep squash casserole from getting watery? ›

Salting and sautéing the squash before baking helps to remove excess moisture and prevents the casserole from becoming watery. Cream cheese and sour cream lend the filling richness and tang.

What is the disadvantage of summer squash? ›

Disadvantage: summer squash retains a lot of water so you are using up space in your freezer; when thawed the zucchini will be mushy so don't plan on sauteeing or using in a recipe that will be affected by the extra liquid.

What are bad companions for summer squash? ›

You may want to experiment with different companion crops until you find the perfect combination to fit your personal tastes and growing conditions. Avoid planting zucchini and summer squash with all other vining plants which include cucumbers and sweet potatoes as well as pumpkins, winter squashes, and melons.

What is the best way to eat summer squash? ›

Boiled summer squash is a quick and flavorful addition to soups, stir-fries, and pasta entrées. In just a few minutes, the squash is tender and ready to blend into a soup, toss into a wok, or fold into a bowl of pasta.

Why do you soak zucchini in salt water? ›

The salt draws the moisture from the flesh which helps ensure that the vegetable stays firm during roasting. This moisture (and excess salt) is patted off with a paper towel before cooking. Added benefit: the salt works its way into the scores of the flesh and seasons the zucchini all the way to the center.

Can you eat summer squash raw? ›

Summer squash are a little different. The seeds and skin are soft and fully edible. They are sometimes referred to as “soft shell squash” and as such, can be cooked or eaten raw. The entire squash is edible, versus the winter squash's hard seeds and shell that needs to be removed.

Why is my squash rubbery? ›

A squash with soft spots and is soft to the touch, is a sign that the squash has gone bad. And if it starts to leak fluid, that's a sure sign that the squash is spoiled. Likewise, if the flesh and seeds of the fruit are mushy and slimy, that's a clear sign that it shouldn't be eaten.

Do you scoop the seeds out of summer squash? ›

Both yellow squash and zucchini are filled with small translucent seeds that can have a bitter taste and slimy texture. To avoid slippery squash, choose small to medium specimens that weigh 8 to 10 ounces (they contain fewer seeds), halve the squash lengthwise, and use a spoon or melon baller to scoop out the seeds.

Why cook squash cut side down? ›

Putting it cut-side down creates a sort-of steam chamber for the flesh, helping it cook faster and retain moisture (no dried out squash here!). If you've added oil to the flesh before cooking, it will brown nicely where it's in contact with the sheet pan.

Why is my spaghetti squash mushy after cooking? ›

Give the slices a touch of salt, but not too much! Adding too much salt can cause the squash to get too watery as it cooks. And then you'll be left with mushy strands. You're only seasoning to cook the squash here, and you can add more salt once it has cooked to actually season it to your taste.

How do you add moisture to a casserole? ›

Pro Tip: Avoid Dry Casserole.

The best way to prevent it from drying out is to add a little bit of water, around ¼ cup, to the top of it. Allow the water to seep between the food and the sides of the baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil to seal in the moisture.

Can you freeze summer squash for later use? ›

Prepare and cut the summer squash as desired, then blanch in boiling water for 30-60 seconds. Once blanched, pluge the squash into an ice bath. Drain and freeze. Slices or Pieces: Summer squash slices, cubes, or pieces come in handy for sautés, soups, stir-fry, and casseroles.

What is the best way to preserve summer squash? ›

For all containers: seal, label and freeze. To freeze squash slices so that they do not stick together, place them in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze solid. Once the slices are solid, place them into freezer bags or rigid freezer containers.

Does yellow summer squash freeze well? ›

Answer. Yellow squash or summer squash can be frozen but must be blanched prior to freezing to inactivate naturally occurring enzymes to prevent spoiling while frozen. A quick boil followed by cold water immersion is the concept behind blanching prior to freezing.

What is the best way to store summer squash? ›

If storing yellow squash or zucchini in the refrigerator, do not wash the squash before storing. They are best stored in a plastic bag that has had a few holes poked in it for airflow, and then placed in the vegetable crisper drawer.

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