More and more people are asking me for vegetable recipes. For myself, I am forever on the quest to find new and interesting combinations. With the holidays coming and all the rich food that is starting to show up at parties, I thought a new and unusual vegetable dish could do everybody a little good. I had this beautiful bunch of multicolored radishes, some zucchini and a sweet Spanish onion. So I put together this dish, Sauteed Zucchini with Onions and Radishes, topped with Feta and Oil-cured Moroccan Olives.
Radishes are usually eaten cold and crisp, by themselves, with a touch of salt or used as dipping instrument. But ever since Mark Bittman published an article several years ago on grilling radishes in the summer, I have been eating them grilled or sautéed. I love them cooked! Now when you grill them, the smokey taste addition is wonderful, but they lose their color and do not look so pretty. They sort of look like anemic radishes. But, when you sauté them, they somehow hold their color better. Or at least these radishes did.
These multi-colored radishes in my fridge needed to be used, along with the zucchini. My mother used to make a dish of sautéed onions and zucchini topped with grated parmesan and sharp cheddar cheese. My husband still asks for that dish every so often, so I know the combo of onions, zucchini and cheese is good. But I had some feta that needed to be used and then these oil-cured Moroccan olives were hanging around too and the dish needed a punctuation of color. So there you have it. That’s how I created this dish – really using my skillet as a palette as I do when I paint.
SAUTEED ZUCCHINI WITH ONIONS AND RADISHES, TOPPED WITH FETA AND OIL-CURED MOROCCAN OLIVES – serves 4 – 5
3 medium zucchini – washed and thickly sliced in 1/4” slices
1 sweet Spanish onion – peeled and trimmed and sliced into 1/4” slices
6 multi-colored or red radishes – washed, trimmed and quartered
2 tbs. olive oil
1 tbs. unsalted butter
Salt
Pepper
1/4 – 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup of pitted oil-cured Moroccan olives
Warm the oil in a large skillet on medium heat, add the butter to melt. Add the sliced onions, cover and stir often, cooking for 10 – 15 minutes. Add the zucchini and radishes and toss until crisp tender. Lower heat to low. Season very lightly with salt and pepper. (remember the feta and olives are salty) Sprinkle the feta cheese and olives on top. Cover for 3 – 5 minutes to warm the cheese and olives. Serve right away using a large pancake turner to pick up a section and keep it pretty. Enjoy!
Mary- thank you. It looks delicious and I am trying it this week
Your recipes are all fantastic!!
Andrea
Thanks Andrea!! I was actually thinking of you when I posted this recipe!
I really like sauteed zucchini and onions but I’ve never used feta and olives. Clever dish.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef recently posted…I Scream, You Scream – Ice Cream Sundae Ideas
It’s a great combo! Thanks Maureen!
I really like roasted or grilled radish, this is a wonderful dish, I might even be tempted to add a grain and make a whole meal out of it.
apuginthekitchen recently posted…Decorating For The Holidays And Some Brown Butter Spiced Ale
You know, it’s funny, I was thinking you could serve this on top of some farro and it would be great!!
Very healthy dish!
yummychunklet recently posted…Pancetta Risotto with Truffle Oil
Yes it is!! And mighty tasty!
Makes me feel so much better that you’ve gone with this post as I far prefer radishes pan-fried as it removes their bitterness. The same thing with little white turnips!
Couldn’t agree more!! And I LOVE those little white turnips too! I like to cut those in matchsticks and throw on a salad. You?
I never would have thought to add radishes to a zucchini dish but they certainly go with the other ingredients in the recipe. Always ready to try a new taste. Very appealing.
Jovina Coughlin recently posted…Italian Culture – The Art of Military Leadership
They were a super nice addition! Do give it a try.
I know exactly what you mean: I have just made a ‘packt’ with my sister that we are going to elect a veg of the week. And mmm this is very inspiring!
So glad!! 🙂
Topping anything with feta is gonna make a winner!
Francesca recently posted…Italian Stuffed Cabbage (Mondeghini al sugo)
Yep!! I LOVE feta!
Mary, I’ve been eating radishes for a lot of years now, and I have *never* eaten a cooked one! Must give it a try!
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com recently posted…Cutout Sugar Cookies – No Rolling
I know!! I never did either, until I read the Bittman article. Do give it a try, I really think you’ll like it!!
Can’t imagine my life without veggies. I eat LOTs of veggies daily…your sauteed zucchini looks delightful and moreish.
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted…Spelt Ginger Molasses Cookies
Thanks Angie!!
Great veggie choices! Looks really healthy and yummy!
Thanks you two!! It is very yummy!
I love that this is such a yummy harvest healthy meal! Looks great! Have a great holiday!
Thanks Pamela!! Hope your holiday has been great so far!!
My husband loves radishes, and I’m always looking for a new way to use them. This looks like a great combination of flavors. I make a dish with zukes, onions and cheese, and I’ve even added kalamatas to it. Now I need to add in the radishes!
The Wimpy Vegetarian recently posted…Portabellas Stuffed with Cabernet Onions and Gorgonzola: #SundaySupper
It was new for me too and we really, really enjoyed it! Hope you and your husband like it too!