Seasonal vegetable preparation tips for tomatoes and zucchini

Various culinary guides offer methods for preparing seasonal vegetables, specifically focusing on tomatoes and zucchini.

A recipe for fresh tomato sauce involves sautéing shallots, garlic, thyme, and bay leaves in butter and oil. This is followed by adding ripe tomatoes, tomato paste, and sugar, then simmering with water and tomato juice. For a smooth texture, the sauce should be passed through a sieve. The sauce can be frozen or preserved for later use.

For zucchini, recommendations suggest avoiding heavy frying to prevent a soggy or greasy texture. Instead, a technique inspired by Korean cuisine involves slicing the zucchini, lightly salting it to draw out excess water, and briefly sautéing it with garlic, red pepper, and sesame. This method helps maintain a firmer structure compared to traditional breaded frying.