Creamy Zucchini Sauce with Herbs and Roasted Paprika Recipe
This Creamy Zucchini Sauce is a flavorful, comforting sauce made with paprika-roasted zucchinis, tangy sour cream, garlic, and fresh herbs. Perfect as a versatile topping for pasta, rice, grains, or simply served with fresh bread, it offers a delightful blend of smoky, creamy, and herbaceous notes inspired by Ukrainian cuisine.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Appetizer, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Ukrainian
- Diet: Low Salt
Ingredients
For Zucchini:
- 2 lbs. zucchini, cubed
- 3 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 tbsp. paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For the Sauce:
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp. tomato paste
- 2 tbsp. chopped dill
- 2 tbsp. chopped basil
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare zucchini: Preheat your oven to 400° F. In a large bowl, toss the cubed zucchini with olive oil, paprika, salt, and pepper until well coated. Spread the seasoned zucchini evenly onto a large non-stick baking tray.
- Roast the zucchini: Bake the zucchini in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes or until the zucchini is soft and developing a slight brown color on the edges.
- Make the sauce base: While the zucchini is roasting, add the sour cream, minced garlic, tomato paste, chopped dill, chopped basil, and salt to a medium skillet. Stir the ingredients together and gently bring the mixture to a simmer over low heat, then turn off the heat to prevent boiling.
- Combine zucchini and sauce: Once the zucchini is roasted, add it directly to the skillet with the creamy sauce. Stir thoroughly to combine the roasted vegetables with the sauce, allowing the flavors to meld together.
- Garnish and serve: If desired, garnish with additional chopped herbs such as dill or basil before serving. Enjoy the sauce warm over pasta, rice, grains, or with fresh bread.
Notes
- Learn how to cube zucchini properly HERE.
- This sauce pairs beautifully with cooked pasta varieties such as spaghetti, penne, or linguine.
- You can also pour the sauce over boiled rice or your favorite grains like quinoa, farro, bulgur, barley, or buckwheat.
- Alternatively, serve it simply with slices of fresh bread for a delicious appetizer or light lunch.
