Spain on a Fork > All Recipes > Soups & Salads > Spanish Zucchini Salad | Irresistibly Delicious 15 Minute Recipe
All Recipes, Soups & Salads / June 29, 2022

Spanish Zucchini Salad | Irresistibly Delicious 15 Minute Recipe

This Spanish Zucchini Salad, known as Ensalada de Calabacin a la Andaluza, is one of the most flavorful dishes that hail from Spain. It´s sweet & savory, easy to make and comes together in about 15 minutes. Serve it chilled as a refreshing starter or at room temperature as a side dish.

Spanish Zucchini Salad
What really makes this zucchini salad stand out is the combination of ingredients. Between the zucchini, pine nuts, raisins, spearmint, lemon zest and the kiss of Manchego cheese, you get the most incredible pop of flavors.

Spanish Zucchini Salad
The secret to this salad is to lightly saute the zucchini slices. You kind of want them al dente. If you overcook them, they will get mushy and the salad will have no texture. Between 2 to 3 minutes on a medium heat with some olive oil always does the trick.

Spanish Zucchini Salad

TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: As stated above, this salad contains pine nuts and raisins. But you can substitute for blanched almonds and/or dried cranberries. Either way, make sure to lightly sautee them between 30 to 45 seconds. As this brings out the aromatics, which is what really flavors this salad.

Spanish Zucchini Salad

Key Ingredients & Cookware I used in this Recipe:
MY NONSTICK FRY PAN
EXTRA VIRGIN SPANISH OLIVE OIL
MANCHEGO CHEESE
SPANISH SEA SALT

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Watch the Video Below on How to Make this Spanish Zucchini Salad

Spanish Zucchini Salad | Ensalada de Calabacin a la Andaluza

Course Salad
Cuisine Spanish
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 180 kcal
Author Albert Bevia @ Spain on a Fork

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 30 ml
  • 1 zucchini
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts 35 grams
  • 1/3 cup raisins 50 grams
  • 10 spearmint leaves
  • 1/2 lemon
  • 2 tbsp finely grated Manchego cheese 15 grams
  • pinch sea salt
  • dash black pepper

Instructions

  1. Heat a large fry pan with a medium heat

  2. Meanwhile, cut the zucchini (washed & patted dry) into rounds that are 1/4 inch thick (.50 cm) and remove the skin from the clove of garlic

  3. Add in 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil into the hot pan, along with the clove of garlic, mix continuously, once the clove of garlic is lightly sauteed and it has infused the olive oil, remove from the pan and discard

  4. Add in half the slices of zucchini into the pan and gently mix continuously, after 3 minutes and they are lightly sauteed, you want them al dente, remove them from the pan, shaking off any excess olive oil, transfer into a large bowl, cook the other half of zucchini slices in the same way, then set the bowl aside

  5. Using the same pan with the same heat, add in the 1/4 cup pine nuts and 1/3 cup raisins, mix continuously, after 30 to 45 seconds and the pine nuts and raisins are fragrant, transfer them into the bowl with th zucchini

  6. Finely chop the spearmint leaves and add into the bowl, along with the zest of half a lemon, season with sea salt & black pepper and gently mix together until well mixed

  7. Transfer the salad into a serving dish and top off with 2 tbsp of finely grated Manchego cheese, serve at room temperature or chilled, enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Spanish Zucchini Salad | Ensalada de Calabacin a la Andaluza
Amount Per Serving
Calories 180 Calories from Fat 126
% Daily Value*
Fat 14g22%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g
Monounsaturated Fat 7g
Cholesterol 2mg1%
Sodium 53mg2%
Potassium 318mg9%
Carbohydrates 14g5%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 231IU5%
Vitamin C 18mg22%
Calcium 46mg5%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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10 Comments

  1. Sue

    5 stars
    Excellent. I really liked the raisins in this for the perfect touch.

    20 . Jun . 2023
    • Spain on a Fork

      Happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love

      20 . Jun . 2023
  2. Lupe

    Se ve deliciosa la tratare en la proxima visita

    25 . Jul . 2022
    • Spain on a Fork

      Buen provecho! Saludos 🙂

      25 . Jul . 2022
  3. Charles Pascual

    5 stars
    As quick, easy and delicious as you said. Followed your suggestion to substitute cranberries for the raisins. Terrific. We’ll make this again.

    30 . Jun . 2022
    • Spain on a Fork

      So happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love

      30 . Jun . 2022
  4. Donna Sue

    5 stars
    Fantastic. Love the simplicity of this flavorful and healthy dish. Bringing it to an outdoor pizza oven party, should be a nice compliment.

    29 . Jun . 2022
    • Spain on a Fork

      Sounds great! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love

      29 . Jun . 2022
  5. Ramya

    cant wait to make this soon for me can i use vgean cheese and skip raisins as am not a big fan of raisins i never had spanish zucchini salad before i love zucchini soooooooooo much perfect for my after office meals love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work

    29 . Jun . 2022
    • Spain on a Fork

      Sounds great Ramya!! Much love 🙂

      29 . Jun . 2022

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