Kim Dae-seok's Grilled Zucchini with Tomato Sauce

Name: Kim Dae-seok's Grilled Zucchini with Tomato Sauce
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Korean
Ingredients: zucchini 1 piece; salt 0.3 tablespoon; onion 0.5 piece; garlic 10 cloves; vegetable oil 2 tablespoons; salt 2 pinches; tomato spaghetti sauce 7 tablespoons; water 200ml

An innovative fusion side dish featuring crisp, dry-grilled zucchini that has been salted and cooked without oil, enhanced with a fresh tomato sauce made by sautéing garlic and onion.

35 min Difficulty Easy side dish

Main ingredients

zucchinioniongarlictomato spaghetti sauce

Ingredients needed 2 servings

Shop ingredients on Coupang(Ad)

zucchini onion garlic tomato spaghetti sauce

Kim Dae-seok's Braised Eggs in Tomato Sauce

A side dish made by gently simmering boiled eggs in a savory mixture of scallions, onions, chili paste, and tomato sauce.

25 minEasyside dish

eggsonionscalliongreen chili pepperred pepper powder

rice thiefsuper simplekids' side dish

Solo Cooking God's Tomato Sauce Pork Rice Bowl

A heartfelt fusion rice bowl featuring thinly sliced pork and onions simmered gently in tomato spaghetti sauce over low heat, resulting in tender, melt-in-your-mouth meat.

40 minNormalRice bowls

pork shoulder or loin for bulgogioniontomato spaghetti saucegreen oniongreen chili pepper

gourmet dishunique dishfusion cuisine

zucchini 1 piece

salt 0.3 tablespoon

onion 0.5 piece

garlic 10 cloves

vegetable oil 2 tablespoons

salt 2 pinches

tomato spaghetti sauce 7 tablespoons

water 200ml

Recipe

Wash the zucchini thoroughly, trim the ends, and slice into thick half-moon shapes about 1 cm thick.
Sprinkle 0.3 tablespoon of salt over the sliced zucchini and mix well. Let it rest for 20 minutes.
Cut the onion into large 2 cm squares, separating the layers one by one. For the garlic, halve 10 cloves to preserve texture.
After salting, strain the zucchini through a sieve to remove all released moisture.
Place the zucchini in a dry frying pan, spreading it out evenly. Cover and grill on low heat for 5 minutes per side (total 10 minutes) without oil to evaporate moisture and achieve a crisp texture.
In a new pan, add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Sauté the sliced garlic and onion along with 2 pinches of salt over medium heat until golden brown.
Once the garlic and onion are fragrant and well-cooked, reduce the heat and add 200ml of water and 7 tablespoons of tomato spaghetti sauce. Stir well.
When the sauce begins to bubble, add the pre-grilled zucchini and gently simmer once more to allow the seasoning to evenly coat the zucchini. Finish cooking.

Slice zucchini thickly into half-moons, salt it, and let it sit for 20 minutes. Strain to remove excess moisture.
Grill the zucchini on both sides for 5 minutes each, covered and without oil, using a dry pan on low heat.
Sauté garlic and onion in oil, then add water and tomato sauce. Simmer and stir in the grilled zucchini to finish.

Cooking tips

Salting the zucchini before grilling activates umami flavor and ensures it remains firm and chewy even after heating, preventing it from becoming soft or breaking apart.
Avoid adding oil when grilling zucchini, as it can make it soggy. Always use a dry pan and low heat to slowly caramelize and bring out a rich, savory aroma.
You can enhance this recipe by adding boiled spaghetti noodles or sautéing broccoli and cherry tomatoes together—turning it into a satisfying one-pot pasta dish.

Recommended for

Those looking for a fresh and creative alternative to the usual boring zucchini stir-fry or pan-fried zucchini.
People who prefer a crisp exterior with a tender yet chewy interior, rather than soft and mushy zucchini.

Raymon Kim's Tomato Sauce Western-Style LA Short Ribs

A unique and tender Western-style LA short ribs recipe using store-bought tomato sauce and added sweetness.

30 minNormalMeat & mains

LA short ribstomato saucebrown sugarhoneyvinegar

WesternLA short ribsunique dish

Seungwoo Dad's Basic Tomato Sauce

A homemade meat tomato sauce that brings out sweetness and deep flavor by simmering minced beef and whole tomatoes in a frying pan, utilizing the Maillard reaction and slow cooking.

30 minEasySauces & basics

Canned whole tomatoesOnionMinced beefGarlicChicken stock

homemaderice-friendlyall-purpose sauce