Zucchini Agrodolce

Slofoodgroup Team November 12, 2022

Italian Agrodolce with Zucchini

Zucchini agrodolce is an easy dish that shouldn’t be missed by any household. This typically summer-centric side can also be enjoyed in the autumn and winter to warm you from the inside-out.

Agrodolce is an Italian sweet and sour sauce, made by reducing vinegar and sugar. Other ingredients can be added to this base, varying from chile flakes, garlic, fruits, or even chocolate. We made ours using chile powder and garlic for a more intense flavor to balance the sweetness in the zucchini. The zucchini can be either fried in olive oil or grilled but we prefer fried as it adds even more flavor to the dish. To add some texture to the dish we recommend sprinkling flake sea salt on top.

Zucchini and Chile Agrodolce 

Ingredients

• 2 medium-sized zucchini
• olive oil for cooking
• salt and pepper to taste

For the sauce:

• 4 tablespoons red wine or apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon dried chile powder, plus extra to serve
• 1 clove garlic, thinly sliced

To garnish:

• fresh mint leaves
• flake sea salt
• freshly ground black pepper

Procedure

1. Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Season the zucchini with a bit of salt and pepper and fry on medium heat until golden brown on both sides. Remove and set aside.

2. In the meanwhile make the agrodolce sauce. In a saucepan simmer the vinegar with the sugar over medium heat until it becomes like a syrup. Add the chile powder and the thinly sliced garlic and turn off the heat.

3. Return the cooked zucchini to the pan; pour over the sauce and cook for a few more minutes or until the zucchini slices are evenly coated in sauce.

4. Transfer to a plate and garnish with fresh mint, extra virgin olive oil, an extra pinch of chile powder, flake sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper.