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Zucchini Rounds: Like pepperoni, but different!

The summer squash is like a Little Black Dress: it’s one of the more versatile items in your fridge (or closet). It comes in many different varieties like zucchini (cylindrical and green), crookneck (usually yellow and bent) or pattypan (white-ish and flat). So what is it that makes this glorious summer vegetable so multipurpose? In the end, it comes down to how you slice it. Grate it, and it becomes hash; thinly slice it, and it becomes carpaccio; halve it, and it becomes a base for stuffing. It is the quintessential chameleon vegetable, and as long as you know all the ways you can cut it, the possibilities are truly endless.

Grated: Grated squash has a fantastic texture and can be used in recipes raw or cooked. A tip: try and squeeze as much water as you can out of the squash after you grate it, otherwise you might end up with some unwanted moisture in your dish. Also, make sure you are using a coarse grater to get the best possible texture from the squash.

Skillet Eggs With Squash

Melissa’s Magic Fruit and Veggie Cupcakes

Thinly Sliced: Thinly sliced summer squash has an elegant, delicate look and can be used in loads of different ways. You can mix thin ribbons of summer squash with tomato sauce or even top a salad with squash ribbons as a garnish. In the Disney-Pixar movie, Ratatouille, the main character, Remy, makes a sophisticated version of the film’s titular dish that involves very thinly slicing all of the vegetables (including summer squash) and arranging them to be this beautiful kaleidoscope of color in a pan before baking them. In other words, if you can get your hands on a mandolin slicer, thinly sliced squash may be just the thing to take your dish to the next level.

Summer Squash Carpaccio

Provencal Summer Squash and Potato Gratin

Diced: Dice up some squash — your favorite variety or a mixture of what you have on hand to throw some color into an ordinary stew or for adding to any kind of grain, be it a pasta or rice dish, to give it some variety and texture.

Ellie’s Tuscan Vegetable Soup

Claire’s Minted Squash Orzo

Rounds: Because of their size, squash rounds are super snack- and appetizer-friendly. You can do everything from topping them with hummus to baking them with some sort of crispy topping. Squash rounds are also are a great pizza topper; tell the kids to think of them like green or yellow pepperoni!

Ellie’s Zucchini Parmesan Crisps

Roasted Zucchini Flatbread with Hummus, Arugula, Goat Cheese and Almonds (pictured above)

Halved: Scooping out the flesh of a squash and fill it with grains, breadcrumbs, cheese or more vegetables for an all-in-one meal.

Melissa’s Bulgur-Stuffed Summer Vegetables

Grilled Stuffed Zucchini

What’s your favorite way to slice summer squash? Shout it out in the comments, or let us know on Twitter; use the hashtag #cookingwith.

More Summer Squash from our Family and Friends:

Jeanette’s Healthy Living: Quick and Easy Sesame Summer Squash Stir-Fry
Cooking With Elise: Orange Summer Squash Bread
Feed Me Phoebe: Summer Squash and Cornmeal Cakes With Tarragon
Chez Us: Zucchini Pancakes With Minty Dill Crème Fraiche
And Love It, Too: Peter Pan Squash Spiced Oven Fries
Made By Michelle: Pattypan Squash and Tomato Frittata
Cooking Channel: Our  Top 5 Favorite Squash Recipes
Daily*Dishin: Summer Squash Confetti Salad
Delicious Lean: Summer Squash Ribbons With Feta and Pine Nuts
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Summer Squash Chips
Ingredients, Inc.: Summer Squash and Kale Sauté
Thursday Night Dinner: Summer Squash Medley
Sweet Life Bake: Zucchini Fried With Tequila-Spiked Avocado Dip
Dixie Chik Cooks: Fried Summer Squash Parmesan Sliders
Healthy Eats: Summer Squash Any Way You Slice It
FN Dish: Cheesy Summer Squash