Try this Low Carb Zucchini Cinnamon Apples
- Carbohydrate 2.78742750190487 g
- Cholesterol 122.012500155467 mg
- Fat 46.062165058651 g
- Fiber 1.41109996086791 g
- Protein 0.615090000696604 g
- Saturated Fat 29.1603100371444 g
- Serving Size 1 1 recipe (67g)
- Sodium 327.216250416724 mg
- Sugar 1.37632754103696 g
- Trans Fat 3.23737100410577 g
- Calories 415 calories
Step-by-step
- Slice zucchini into apple-like slices.
- Heat butter in skillet. Add zucchini slices and cook until tender.
- Mix remaining ingredients and add to zucchini. Cook and stir about 5 more minutes.
- Serve warm. Great with ice cream or whipped cream on top.
A raw ingredient list fails to reveal how much moisture zucchini actually harbors within its cellular walls. When subjected to direct heat in a skillet with butter, those cellular walls break down and release water rapidly. Managing this moisture release dictates whether the pieces braise successfully or turn into mush.
Peeling and seeding the zucchini before slicing removes the highest-water-content zones, which accelerates the softening process. Slicing the vegetable into uniform apple-shaped wedges ensures they cook at the exact same rate in the pan. Medium heat allows the butter to melt and coat the surface without scorching the milk solids prematurely.
Assessing doneness requires physical observation rather than electronic measurement. When a thin paring knife slides into the center of a wedge with zero resistance, the interior has softened adequately. Adding the sweetener, extracts, and cinnamon during the final five minutes prevents the sugars from burning while allowing the spices to bloom in the residual fat.
Standard nonstick or cast-iron skillets work equally well for this preparation. Heavy-bottomed cast iron retains heat more evenly, reducing hot spots that cause uneven softening across different areas of the pan. If the butter begins to brown too quickly before the vegetable softens, reduce the burner setting by twenty percent and cover the skillet for two minutes to trap steam.
