Description
Grilled Summer Squash with Roasted Pistachio Sauce takes grilling veggies to the next level. The sauce is a puree of tart tomatillos, sweet nutty pistachios and spicy charred serrano peppers. It’s the perfect dressing for smoky grilled juicy summer squash. I even threw some extra serrano peppers on the grill for the spiciest members of our family! If you like to spice up your summer grilling, this is the recipe for you.
You can find the original recipe for Grilled Summer Squash with Roasted Pistachio Sauce on Food & Wine here.
Ingredients
For The Roasted Pistachio Sauce
- 5 medium scallions, root ends trimmed
- 3 medium tomatillos (about 6 ounces), husk removed, tomatillos rinsed
- 2 medium serrano chilies, stemmed
- 8 garlic cloves (unpeeled) – *see note about garlic
- 1 cup unsalted dry-roasted pistachios
- 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
For the Grilled Summer Squash
- 1 1/2 pounds medium-size mixed summer squash (about 3-4 squash), halved lengthwise and cut crosswise into 3-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (if omitting garlic substitute 1 tablespoon garlic oil)
- 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
To Finish
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1/4 teaspoon grated garlic – *(see note about garlic)
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (if omitting garlic substitute 2 tablespoons garlic oil)
- chopped pistachios, for garnish
- cilantro leaves, for garnish
- flaky sea salt, for garnish
Instructions
For The Roasted Pistachio Sauce
- Heat a large cast-iron or heavy skillet over medium-high just until smoking.
- Add scallions, tomatillos, chilies, and unpeeled garlic cloves*; cook, flipping occasionally until mixture is charred in spots and slightly softened, 4 to 6 minutes for scallions, 8 to 10 minutes for chiles and garlic*, and 10 to 12 minutes for tomatillos.
- Transfer to a cutting board, and let cool for 5 minutes.
- Coarsely chop scallions, tomatillos, and chiles. Remove and discard garlic skins, and add garlic to scallion mixture; set mixture aside.
- Process whole pistachios in a food processor until very finely chopped, about 30 seconds, stopping to scrape down sides of processor bowl after 15 seconds.
- Add charred scallion mixture, chopped cilantro, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Process until mostly smooth and creamy, about 1 minute and 30 seconds, stopping to scrape down bowl after 45 seconds.
- Transfer mixture to a small bowl, and press plastic wrap directly on the surface of the sauce. Set aside at room temperature until ready to use.
For the Grilled Summer Squash
- Preheat grill to high (450°F to 500°F).
- Toss together squash, 1 tablespoon oil, and remaining 11/4 teaspoons kosher salt in a large bowl.
- Place squash, cut sides down, on oiled grates; grill, uncovered, until deeply charred, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Flip squash, and grill just until squash is tender, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Transfer to a small baking dish.
- Stir together lime juice, grated garlic*, and remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a small bowl.
- Pour mixture over squash, and gently toss to combine; let marinate 15 minute
To Finish
- Spread 1 cup pistachio sauce on a large platter.
- Top with grilled squash, and spoon any remaining marinade in baking dish over squash.
- Garnish with chopped pistachios and cilantro leaves. Drizzle with additional oil, and garnish with flaky salt.
- Serve remaining pistachio sauce on the side, or reserve for another use
Equipment
Cuisinart CIT-102 Locking Grill Tongs
Buy Now →Cuisinart Deluxe Grill Set, 20-Piece
Buy Now →Cuisinart DFP-14BCNY 14 Cup Food Processor, Silver
Buy Now →Notes
Garlic and I have a love/hate relationship. I love it, it hates me. You’ll find in many Kosher Everyday recipes I substitute garlic infused oil for fresh garlic. In this recipe, when I make it for my family I completely omit the fresh garlic and substitute garlic infused oil in a 1:1 ratio for the extra virgin olive oil. I put a * for every place that that substitution/omission would be made.
If you want the sauce to be less spicy (like most normal human beings would) the original recipe recommends removing the chile seeds after charring. You can also use only one serrano pepper or switch to a jalapeño which will be way less spicy.
You pan sear the green onions, serrano peppers, and tomatillos in a hot (preferably heavy/cast iron) skillet. The tomatillos take much longer to sear than the onions or peppers.
If your food processor is pareve, make sure to sear the green onion, serrano peppers and tomatillos in a pareve skillet.
I bought roasted and salted pistachios. If you do that then omit the salt in the pistachio sauce. It will be on the salty side if you don’t.
I strongly recommend serving with the extra chopped pistachios on top. They really enhance the flavor of the zucchini and pistachio sauce!
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 549
- Sugar: 5.9 g
- Sodium: 1112 mg
- Fat: 57.4 g
- Saturated Fat: 30.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 10.2 g
- Fiber: 2.7 g
- Protein: 3.4 g
- Cholesterol: 122 mg