# Perfect Sear On Zucchini

Drawing out excess moisture and searing zucchini in a cast-iron skillet transforms it into a deeply caramelized and silky dish finished with hot honey and scallions.

- Total time: 8 min
- Cuisine: American
- Category: Side
- Language: en

## Ingredients

- zucchini
- salt
- oil
- hot honey
- scallions

## Instructions

1. First, halve and crosshatch the zucchini.
2. Then rub them with salt and microwave them to draw moisture from the flesh and prime the surfaces for browning.
3. Next, press them into a cold, well-oiled cast-iron skillet.
4. Cover and crank the heat to medium-high.
5. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes.
6. Flip them for a final few minutes of cooking.
7. Then serve with a drizzle of hot honey and some scallions for an unforgettable bite.

## Equipment

- cast-iron skillet
- knife
- microwave
- tongs

## Tips

- The key to amazing Maillard browning is ridding the squash of as much water as you can before it hits the hot pan.
- The trapped moisture released by the squash converts to steam, which causes the pectin and hemicellulose in the zucchini cell walls to dissolve, rendering the dense flesh incredibly silky.
- When that moisture evaporates, the scorching skillet imparts a steak-quality sear to the meaty squash.

## Source

- Original video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPCXBxjAkg5/?igsh=MTN4OHo2NWM0dHl2Ng==
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/7c218428-f5a1-4574-8e77-85cfe4baf3d6
- Extracted: 2025-10-05

Extracted from the video by Clip Recipe (https://www.cliprecipe.com). Quantities and steps are as stated or shown in the video. Site guide for agents: https://www.cliprecipe.com/llms.txt