Sauteed Corn & Zucchini

This Sautéed Corn and Zucchini is an easy summer side dish that I find myself making over and over again. It takes less than 20 minutes to make and is a light and fresh dish that pairs wonderfully with grilled meats. Leftovers taste just as good and will last for up to 4 days in the fridge.During the summer months when so many fruits and vegetables are in season, corn is always the vegetable that I am most excited about. By the end of August when it’s peak season for corn, I find myself buying bags of it to add to every meal. While I enjoy eating it corn right off the cob, my favorite way to enjoy fresh sweet corn is by cutting it off the cob and making a simple corn sauté. I like to keep it basic to allow the natural sweetness of the corn to really shine through, and after years of making different variations of the dish, I think I have finally nailed the perfect recipe. 

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Why You Will Love This Sauteed Corn & Zucchini

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• This sauteed corn and zucchini side dish is perfect for summer. It’s a great way to showcase some of my favourite summer produce that is in abundance this time of year. It’s one of those easy summer recipes that you will find yourself making again and again because it’s just so tasty! 
• This easy side dish takes less than 20 minutes to make start to finish making it perfect for those busy weeknight dinners when you are in need of a quick side dish. It will quickly become your favorite way to enjoy summer corn. 
• It’s a great make ahead dish for a summer barbecue or large gathering that is always a big hit 
• Leftovers will keep for up to five days in the fridge and reheat well.
• It’s an incredibly versatile and delicious side dish that you can modify by adding bacon, shrimp, more herbs, spices or cheese. 
• It only requires a handful of simple ingredients including fresh summer corn, zucchini, parsley, chives, butter or ghee, salt, pepper and vegetable or chicken stock. I also like adding in a little feta at the end. To give this dish some creaminess, although if you are dairy free

 

Ingredients For This Sauteed Corn and Zucchini Recipe 

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This one pan sauteed corn and zucchini contains just a handful of simple ingredients:

• Corn: fresh off the cob is best, but if you aren’t able to find any then frozen or canned also works 
• Zucchini
• Chives and parsley: I recommend only using fresh herbs in this dish which will add a nice freshness
• Stock: either chicken or vegetable stock works 
• Butter or ghee: You can use butter or ghee. I prefer using unsalted butter so that I can add salt as I want and have better control. If you want to make this dish dairy free and vegan than olive oil can be used instead  
• Salt and Pepper: black pepper adds a really nice spiciness and salt helps to bring out the flavours in the dish
• Feta: adds a nice salty creaminess to this dish but can easily be skipped if you are on a dairy free diet. 

 

How To Make Sauteed Corn and Zucchini 

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1. Start by cutting the zucchini, remove both ends and then cut the zucchini in half lengthwise. Next slice the zucchini very thinly into half circles, I like to cut the zucchini almost paper thin.
2. Melt 1 tbsp of butter or ghee in a hot skillet on medium-high heat an add in the zucchini. Saute for a few minutes before adding the chicken or vegetable stock, reduce to medium heat and leave everything to cook until all of the stock has evaporated and the zucchini slices are very tender.
3. Next add in the corn and butter or ghee and saute for approximately 3-5 minutes until the corn becomes tender
4. Finally add in the salt, pepper and fresh herbs. Stir everything together and remove from the heat before adding the crumbled feta (if using)

You can find more detailed step by step instructions in the recipe card below. 

 

 

Can I Use Canned Corn Instead?

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I find that fresh corn cut off the cob works best for this dish, but if you aren’t able to find it, then you can use canned corn instead. You will need approximately 4 cups of corn which is approximately 2 cans. 

 

 

Can I Use Frozen Corn Instead? 

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During the summer when fresh ears of corn are in abundance and relatively cheap to buy, I like to buy a large amount, cut it off the cob and then freeze the fresh corn kernels in 2 cup portions in ziploc bags to use during the colder winter months. You can use frozen corn to make this recipe, although I recommend allowing it to thaw first and draining any excess liquid before adding it to the pan.

 

Can I Add Different Herbs To This Sauteed Corn & Zucchini Dish?

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Parsley and chives are the two herbs I like to add to this side dish because they grow in abundance in my garden. I like the slight spiciness that chives add to this dish, and parsley add a freshness to each bite. If you do not have chives, they can be replaced with finely chopped green onions. Other herbs that would work well in this dish include fresh basil, chervil or fresh thyme. 

 

Ways To Modify This Sauteed Corn and Zucchini Recipe 

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While I think that this sauteed zucchini and corn recipe is delicious as written, you can use it as a base and modify it in a number of different ways:

• Add bacon: if you would like to include bacon to add a salty crunch, fry the bacon in the pan until crisp and then set it aside on a plate. Drain all but 1 tbsp of bacon fat from the pan and continue with the recipe, cooking the zucchini in the bacon fat and then adding in the corn. Chop up the bacon and only add it to the corn and zucchini right before serving so that it remains crispy.  
• Use onions: I wanted to make this recipe as basic as possible, so I did not include onion, but feel free to add 1 finely diced onion in with the zucchini. Alternatively chopped green onions would also be a wonderful addition. 
• Add minced garlic cloves: add 1 or 2 cloves of garlic to the pan when you add in the corn. 
• Make it spicy: to give this sauteed zucchini and corn a kick of spice add in 1 finely diced jalapeno with the corn or alternatively stir in 1 tsp of red pepper flakes or a pinch of chili powder. 
• Use a variety of zucchini: add in a combination of both yellow squash and zucchini or just yellow summer squash depending on what you have. 
• Add shrimp: To make this a filling meal perfect for a hot summer night, add in sauteed or grilled shrimp. I find that the flavour of shrimp work fantastically well with the zucchini and corn. 

 

 

Can I Make This Sauteed Corn and Zucchini In Advance? 

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This sauteed zucchini and corn dish is a side dish I make on repeat all summer long for guests because it’s so easy to make and best of all, can be made in the morning and then quickly reheated a few minutes before serving. If you wanted to maximize the fresh flavours I recommend only adding in the fresh herbs and crumbled feta right before serving to prevent the herbs from becoming wilted and ensuring the bits of crumbled feta hold their shape. 

What About Leftovers?

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Leftover sauteed corn and zucchini will last for up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Leftovers are delicious enjoyed cold or at room temperature, or alternatively can be quickly reheated for approximately 5 minutes in a large skillet on medium-low heat or for 2 minutes in the microwave. 

 

 

Here are a few more zucchini recipes that you might enjoy:

• Shrimp, Zucchini & Asparagus Skewers
• Pesto Salad with Zoodles, Pine Nuts & Prosciutto
• Grilled Zucchini & Asparagus Salad
• Roasted Zucchini Hummus
• Zucchini & Walnut Bread

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If you make this recipe let me know in the comment section below, I would love to hear what you think or take a photo and tag me (@everylastbite_) on Instagram, I love seeing your photos!