Zucchini Spread Recipe (Ikra)
Vegetable Zucchini spread is a soft and pulpy spread called "ikra" in Russian. It's a mixture of fresh vegetables and can be enjoyed as a chunky side dish (salad), spread over bread, or as a dip! We love this vegetable blend hot or cold, and it only gets better after sitting!
Equipment
- 1 12-inch fry pan
- 1 vegetable chopper
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 6 small zucchini, (about 2.68 pounds, cubed)
- 3 red bell peppers, (finely chopped)
- 1 onion , (diced)
- 1 head garlic, (crushed)
- 4 carrots, (grated)
- 1 1/4 cup sunflower oil, (divided)
- 1 1/4 Tbsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 Tbsp cane sugar
- 2 Tbsp white distilled vinegar
- 1 tsp jalapenos*, (finely diced)
Instructions
Directions:
- Chop the zucchini and bell peppers. Dice the onion and grate the carrots.
- Heat a 12-inch frying pan with 1/3 cup of oil. Heat another 10-inch pan with 3 Tbsp of oil. Divide and cook the zucchini for 25 minutes over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.
- Transfer the zucchini from the pans to a large bowl and add the carrots and onion to the 12-inch pan with 8 Tbsp of oil. Saute for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in the 10-inch pan, add 2 Tbsp of oil and the diced bell peppers. Saute for 15 minutes.
- Add the sautéed bell peppers and reserved zucchini to the carrot and onion mixture. Add the remaining ingredients (salt, pepper, sugar, vinegar, crushed garlic, and jalapenos).
- Cook everything for an additional 10 minutes, then pack it into glass jars. This makes 1 quart and 1 pint of zucchini spread. Enjoy cold or warm.
Notes
Notes:
- **Fresh Jalapenos or any pickled hot pepper that is finely chopped can be used for extra flavor. The zucchini spread will not be spicy.
- The sunflower oil is divided between 4 batches. It also helps with storing the vegetable spread in the fridge.
- This is the vegetable chopper that I used. For the zucchini, use the green attachment, and for the bell peppers use the yellow attachment. I chunk and halve the zucchini and peppers before chopping for easier slicing.
Nutrition Facts
Zucchini Spread Recipe (Ikra)
Serving Size
2 Tbsp
Amount per Serving
Calories
63
% Daily Value*
Fat
6
g
9
%
Saturated Fat
0.5
g
3
%
Trans Fat
0.02
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
4
g
Sodium
188
mg
8
%
Potassium
102
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
2
g
1
%
Fiber
1
g
4
%
Sugar
2
g
2
%
Protein
0.5
g
1
%
Vitamin A
1132
IU
23
%
Vitamin C
15
mg
18
%
Calcium
8
mg
1
%
Iron
0.2
mg
1
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
