Typically, following a low-carb diet entails avoiding pasta, bread, and other traditional Italian foods. As strange as it may sound, zucchini can substitute for pasta in many home-cooked dishes. Make zucchini “spaghetti” with your favorite toppings and sauces to up your vegetable intake and cut back on carbs. Make zucchini spaghetti in the microwave to free up the stovetop so that you can quickly prepare the marinara or Alfredo.
Use a spiral slicer to cut zucchini into spaghetti-shaped “noodles. ” Place the halved zucchini into the slicer and twist. Out comes long spiraled strands of zucchini. If you don’t have a spiral slicer, use a vegetable peeler, grater, or julienne cutter to cut the zucchini into long, noodle-like sections. However, using a mandoline or food processor with a grating blade will result in smaller pieces.
Salt the zucchini to extract water. Too much water will make the zucchini soggy when cooked. After letting the salted zucchini sit for at least a half-hour, rinse it in a colander and press it between sheets of paper towels to absorb more moisture.
Place the salted, drained, and water-free zucchini spaghetti in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat the spaghetti with a cover as necessary to cook the amount of zucchini. Cook one or two zucchini on high for approximately two minutes, checking and stirring every 30 seconds. Increase the total cooking time for larger portions while stirring frequently and monitoring for doneness. When the spaghetti bends with some resistance but doesn’t break from the crispness, the zucchini is done.
Top cooked zucchini spaghetti with marinara, meat or Alfredo sauce. For a low-carb variation of a hearty Italian dish, use meat sauce or meatballs in homemade marinara that contains little sugar. To change things up, sauté some vegetables in basil, garlic, and olive oil before mixing them with the microwaved zucchini. Garlic toast can be replaced with parmesan crisps, or Italian link sausage can be added.
For publications in the food industry, Andrea Lott Haney creates articles and instructional materials. Lott Haney has more than 10 years of experience as a catering and event planner for luxury hotels. He studied foodservice sanitation, nutrition, and menu planning at Purdue University. Currently, he travels the Midwest as a corporate customer service trainer and consultant.
This is the best way to cook zoodles in the microwave in less than 5 minutes.
One of the best pasta substitutes is zoodles, or zucchini noodles, which don’t have the dreaded post-pasta bloat. For those who are gluten-free or want to consume fewer carbohydrates, zoodles are trending and taking over the internet. The usual methods for cooking noodles are sautéing or boiling them, but using a higher heat can result in overcooked noodles. Zoodles that are overcooked are sad and limp, and I don’t think anyone will find that appetizing.
Taking extra time for lunch is not always an option if you are living in a dorm without a stove or are running late for class. Fortunately, making zoodles in the microwave without turning them mushy is simple and ideal for days when you skipped lectures in favor of binge-watching Netflix in the morning and now you don’t have time to prepare food. You have enough time to get to class with microwaved zoodles without arriving starving.
Start the music to celebrate the fact that zoodles taste great when prepared in the microwave as well as other, more elaborate ways. So unwind, perhaps watch another episode, then, after a slightly hurried, filling lunch, head to class.
Serving Size: 1
Prep Time: < 5 min, depending on spiralizing capabilities
Cook Time: 1.5 – 2.5 min
Total: 5 min
#SpoonTip: You can substitute a zucchini for one package of the zoodles that are available in most supermarkets if you don’t have a spiralizer.
– Any additional toppings you desire, such as pepper, garlic, lemon, tomatoes, fresh basil, chives, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, pesto, marinara, or Alfredo sauce Basically, you cant go wrong with whatever topping you choose.
The Ultimate Guide to Zucchini Noodles
Here are the most popular ways to prepare and cook zucchini noodles. I’ve ranked them from my least favorite to my favorite. Keep scrolling to find a video that demonstrates how I use each device. Be sure to watch that one.
And finally, I’ve included some of my best advice and some of my favorite zucchini noodle recipes right at the end. So let’s dive in!.
Community Q&ASearch
wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer You can avoid soggy zoodles by sautéing them in a minimal amount of liquid or eating them raw. If you sauté your zoodles and plan to eat them with sauce, cook them separately from the sauce. Once they’re cooked, drain them in a strainer or colander before combining them with the sauce. They also work well in soup—it won’t matter if they’re soggy if they’re in a broth! wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer Zoodles are simply shredded zucchini. If you eat them raw, they’ll be mildly sweet with a hint of bite. Once you cook them, the flavor becomes milder. Much like regular pasta, they’ll also take on the flavor of any sauces or seasonings you use with them. wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer Nope—it’s perfectly okay to eat them raw. Just keep in mind that raw zoodles will be crispier and have a stronger flavor than cooked ones. Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
FAQ
Can you heat zucchini noodles in the microwave?
Microwaves are the fastest way to cook zucchini noodles, which is why they rank second in my list of preferred cooking methods. Put all of your noodles in a dish that can go in the microwave, and cook for one minute.
How long does it take to cook Spiralized zucchini?
Salt the water liberally after bringing a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add the zucchini noodles and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the noodles are crisp and tender. Immediately move the zoodles to a big bowl of ice water using tongs or a spider.
How do you make zucchini noodles not soggy?
- Pat zucchini noodles dry with paper towels after spiralizing them.
- Cook zoodles over medium-high heat. …
- Do not cover the zucchini during cooking. …
- Don’t overcrowd the pan. …
- Do not add salt to the pan. …
- Use a pan that conducts heat well. …
- Don’t overcook the zoodles.
How do you warm up zoodles?
Add a drizzle of olive oil or cooking spray to a skillet and heat it up to medium-high. Add the zucchini noodles once the skillet is hot (flick water into it; it should sizzle). Cook the zucchini noodles for 3-5 minutes, or until they are al dente, by tossing them lightly with tongs. Don’t let the noodles cook for longer or they’ll wilt.
