Depending on the variety, zucchini skins can vary from yellow to light or dark green, and from solid colour to stripey. The flesh inside is soft and pale green (almost white) and contains lots of small, edible seeds. The yellow flowers are also edible.

In South Australia, zucchinis are grown in greenhouses all year round and outside during the summer months.

In a culinary context, they are usually used in savoury dishes and treated as a vegetable. However, in a botanical context, the zucchini is treated as a fruit, a type of berry, as it is actually part of the zucchini flower.

Zucchinis are useful for boosting the nutrient value of your diet, as they are high in vitamin C, carbohydrates, protein and fibre, as well as potassium, folate and vitamin A. They can be grilled, stir-fried, roasted or even used as a substitute for spaghetti in pasta dishes.

The plants are easy to grow at home, although they require a bit of space as they have large leaves and tend to sprawl. Once the plant starts producing, zucchinis can be harvested every couple of days, providing a plentiful supply.

Zucchini seedlings for the home gardener can be purchased from stallholders BickleighVale Farm (Showground and Willunga Farmers’ Markets), Falg Nursery (Showground Farmers’ Market) and Gooseberry Hill Farm (Showground and Prospect Farmers’ Markets).

Fresh zucchinis are available at a number of stalls at Adelaide Showground Farmers’ Market and Willunga Farmers’ Markets. N&M Tsimiklis also sells them at Prospect Farmers’ Market.

Adelaide Showground Farmers’ Market runs on Sundays, 9am to 1pm at the Adelaide Showground, Leader Street, Wayville. Prospect Farmers’ Market is on every Thursday from 3pm to 7pm in the Vine Street Plaza next to Prospect Town Hall. Willunga Farmers’ Market is held on Saturdays from 8am to 12.30pm.

Christmas Twilight Markets

Willunga Farmers’ Market and Prospect Farmers’ Market will both be holding special Christmas Twilight Markets. Prospect will be open on Monday, December 21, from 3pm to 7pm (the market will be closed on Thursday, December 24, and Thursday, December 31) and Willunga will be open on Wednesday, December 23, from 5.30pm to 8.30pm (and closed on Boxing Day).

Zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta and lemon. Photo: Lyndall Vandenberg

Adelaide Farmers’ Market volunteer and former Sunraysia Farmers’ Market coordinator Lyndall Vandenberg has shared the following recipe for using fresh zucchini flowers.

Zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta and lemon

Ingredients

12 zucchini flowers (baby zucchini)
12 tsp ricotta (available from the Alexandrina Cheese Company at the Showground and Willunga Farmers’ Markets)
½ tsp lemon zest
2 tbsp finely sliced mint
salt and pepper to season
1 egg, beaten
panko breadcrumbs
lemon wedges and salt for serving

Method

Place the lemon rind, ricotta, mint, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix to combine. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Remove the stamen from each zucchini flower then gently spoon 1 teaspoonful of the mixture into each flower and twist the petals to enclose.

Dip each zucchini flower into the egg then the breadcrumbs. Bake in a moderate oven for about 15 minutes or until golden. Serve warm or at room temperature with a generous sprinkle of salt and a drizzle of lemon.