Sausage & Charred Zucchini with Lemon
Ingredients
- 1 poundItalian sausage (sweet or hot, casings removed)
- 2 mediumzucchini
- 3 clovesgarlic
- 1lemon
- 2 tablespoonolive oil
- ¼ cupfresh basil
- ·salt and black pepper
Prep
- 01
Mince 3 cloves garlic.
- 02
Zest and halve 1 lemon.
- 03
Tear or coarsely chop 1/4 cup fresh basil.
Method
- 01
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage, breaking it into bite-sized pieces as it cooks, until golden and cooked through, about 6-7 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
- 02
Cut zucchini into 1/4-inch rounds. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches if needed, cook zucchini without stirring for 2-3 minutes per side until deeply browned and tender. Season with salt and pepper.
- 03
Return sausage to the skillet. Add minced garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- 04
Zest the lemon directly into the pan, then squeeze in half the juice. Toss everything together. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and remaining lemon juice.
- 05
Transfer to a bowl or plates. Tear basil over top and serve warm.
Spice Tips
Taste the finished dish before adding all the lemon juice — you may want brightness or restraint depending on your sausage. A pinch of red pepper flakes stirred in at the end adds gentle heat without overwhelming the fresh flavors.
Serve with crusty bread to soak up the pan juices, or over pasta or rice. If using hot sausage, reduce or skip black pepper. The recipe doubles easily for leftovers.