Golden Zucchini or Zecchino D'Oro? Here's the answer!

Golden Zucchini or Zecchino d’Oro? Spaghetti & Mandolino unveils the mystery for you. You might find it absurd, but as many as 49,500 users monthly type "golden zucchini" into Google. The spontaneous question arises: does it really exist or is it a typing error? Let’s find out right away!

“Golden Zucchini” vs “Zecchino d’Oro”: one letter, two meanings

You won’t believe it, but yes, this infamous Golden Zucchini really exists, although very likely, indeed surely, the large portion of those users were actually looking for information regarding the Zecchino d’Oro that we all know well. But let’s see together the differences and characteristics of these two competitions that do exist, but, as you can guess, refer to different things. But to what?
Let’s start with the Zecchino d’Oro, a name that speaks for itself, as who doesn’t know the iconic music competition featuring children? Perhaps what you don’t know are its origins, in fact, it was born in 1959 from an idea by Cino Tortorella as a new television format in which songs are performed by children aged between 3 and 11 years old.

The Golden Zucchini, on the other hand, is not an agricultural competition to see who grows zucchini better. Yes, I know you may have thought of that, and I’m sorry to disappoint you. In reality, it’s also a singer competition, but this one takes place in Lombardy, precisely in the town of Bizzozero. It was born in 1978 as an alternative musical Sunday during Mother’s Day at the parish hall to create a moment of gathering and celebration for the children of the Parish and beyond. You might be asking yourself, but what does the name have to do with it? Well, they were inspired by the fact that in that area there are vast cultivations of the famous Zucchini from Albenga, hence Festival of the Golden Zucchini.

The Golden Zucchini according to Spaghetti & Mandolino

So far, you’ve seen how one letter can radically change the meaning of a word. But for us at Spaghetti & Mandolino, who put typical Italian quality products at the center of our philosophy, there is not just one Golden Zucchini, because every type of zucchini from the peninsula is one for us. First, you should know that there are two varieties: the white zucchini and the dark zucchini. The color is not the only thing that distinguishes them, but also the taste and the nutritional properties inside differ.
It’s a dynamically versatile ingredient, highly appreciated in diets, that can be used in countless recipes and paired with as many ingredients. Let’s see together how this zucchini is applied in the kitchen!

Zucchini in the Kitchen: Recipes

With zucchini in the kitchen, you can let your imagination run wild because you can cook it in every way and pair it with various types of vegetables such as bell peppers, carrots, potatoes, eggplants, pumpkin, green beans, artichokes, but also with mushrooms and legumes. Moreover, having a neutral and delicate flavor, it is a perfect ingredient to dress pasta, rice, and grains, such as barley and spelt, as well as for soups and cold dishes. If you prefer a bolder flavor, you can add spices and herbs like ginger, pepper, coriander, turmeric, and curry.
As you read earlier, there are two varieties; here are some tips to best highlight your recipes using the right zucchini! The white zucchini is excellent for making croquettes, savory pies, and vegetable burgers precisely because it has a denser pulp. Meanwhile, the dark zucchini is great for making soups, risottos, and stews, but also sautéed with onions and bacon.
It may seem like that’s all, but no, let’s not forget that the Golden Zucchini is golden precisely because it is special. It pairs wonderfully in desserts: zucchini and chocolate cakes or with dried fruits, hazelnuts, and almonds. Moreover, nothing from our Golden Zucchini goes to waste; even its flowers are delicious! Stuff them with mozzarella and fry them in batter to get an explosion of flavor.
In short, what to say, it’s a dynamically versatile ingredient that you can pair with practically anything, so let your imagination run wild!

Zucchini in the Kitchen: Cooking Methods

As for the cooking method, you really don’t have to worry because our now famous zucchini lends itself to any type of cooking! You can prepare it steamed: slice the zucchini into rounds or cubes, and once the water starts boiling, place the appropriate basket for steaming with the vegetables, and let them cook for 5-7 minutes. Once ready, you can salt them and serve with extra virgin olive oil. You can also make them boiled: immerse the zucchini in hot water for 8-10 minutes, drain them, and dress them. If you prefer oven cooking, just wash them under running water, dry them, and slice them. At this point, you can bake them in a preheated oven at 200°C for about 15/20 minutes, stirring at least 1 or 2 times to prevent sticking.

Good Golden Zucchini!