How to Grill Zucchini and Yellow Squash

METHOD: Direct grilling

Zucchini is the quintessential vegetable of summer—and the quintessential vegetable for grilling. Its soft flesh readily takes on fire and smoke flavors, while its high water content keeps it moist during grilling. To maximize the fire flavor, I thinly slice the zucchini lengthwise. These broad slices present the greatest surface area to the fire, so they sear without getting soggy.

I like to grill zucchini and yellow squash together: The greens and yellows look great on a platter. They taste just as great at room temperature as they do hot off the grill, so you can prepare them in advance. But don’t limit their preparation just to summer, for zucchini and yellow squash are plentiful and cheap year-round.