Say hello to your new clean eating best friend. Easy to prepare zucchini noodles can perfectly replace traditional pasta. Additionally, there are hints and information about zucchini and zucchini noodles.
Zoodles, or zucchini noodles, are the answer to those who wished they could enjoy their favorite pasta dishes while still eating a nutritious and balanced diet. People like me, basically. Don’t get me wrong, I still occasionally enjoy a traditional pasta dish. But I typically stick to my reliable zoodles.
Zoodles go well with a variety of dishes, including pasta sauce, chicken parmesan, and shrimp scampi.
When you use zucchini noodles in place of pasta, you still get that warm, comforting feeling that comfort-food pasta dishes are known for. But without all the carbs. And with fewer calories. And gluten-free.
Not as much as you think. And the reason for this is that because zucchini has a mild flavor, it enhances the flavors of the other ingredients in the dish rather than changing their flavor.
Summer is zucchini’s season. However, you can find zucchinis in grocery stores year round. Even though they are more delicious in the summer, I wouldn’t trade my year-round zucchini noodles for pasta.
Actually, you know what, I’ll share more information about zucchini and zucchini noodles with you because I think you should fully appreciate how incredible zucchinis are.
Before I begin listing zucchini’s health advantages, let me share a fun fact with you: zucchini is a fruit.
Nope, I’m not joking. This versatile veggie is actually a fruit. Of course, a fruit should be used as a vegetable, but it is still a fruit. Is it just me, or are zucchinis becoming more intriguing by the minute?
If you’re still unclear about why all of those things are healthy for you, read on for more information.
I claimed that zucchini contains few calories and carbs. So how many calories and carbs does zucchini contain?
Let’s see how many calories and carbs are contained in the same amount of pasta for comparison’s sake.
Choosing the right zucchini is an important deal. Especially if you want to make zucchini noodles. Wondering why?.
Since zucchinis are a type of squash, there is no distinction between them. There are different types of squash out there, yes. Zucchinis are the green summer type. Basically, butternut squash is to the fall what zucchini is to the summer.
Spiralizing zucchini. This is such a fun activity. If you’ve ever used a spiralizer, you know what I’m referring to. If not, you must figure out how to make vegetable noodles. Because you won’t get it until you try.
Making zucchini noodles can be done in many different ways. And there are different types of spiralizers you can try:
To create zoodles with a handheld spiralizer, you must hold it in your hand and twist. Check out this post on how to use a spiralizer for a huge list of additional vegetables, fruits, and starches that you can spiralize.
The most popular and, may I add, the most straightforward to use spiralizer is a countertop model. I have this one.
You can also make zucchini noodles without a spiralizer. I didn’t own a spiralizer for a long time. But I was still making zucchini noodles. And so can you if you don’t have one.
Freezing zucchini noodles is not recommended. They become very mushy if you keep them after cooking or if you freeze them. Additionally, you desire sturdy zoodles that won’t break when combined with other ingredients. Therefore, preparing zucchini noodles in advance is not an option. These are the bad news.
Zucchini noodles can be prepared ahead of time and kept chilled in an airtight container. They last for up to 5 days like this.
Alternatively, you could line the inside of your container with paper towels and then layer the zucchini noodles on top. The zucchini noodles’ moisture will be preserved by the paper towel, keeping them fresh.
I’ll give you some general instructions on how to cook zucchini noodles before I describe the various cooking methods:
I know what you’re about to say. That’s only one tip. Yes, it’s true. However, it is a super important one. Overcooking zucchini noodles makes soggy noodles. This happens because the moisture leaks out of the zucchini. Therefore, resist the urge to cook the zoodles until they are no longer crunchy.
Ok, this method is actually called blanching. Blanching is the process of briefly cooking something (typically a fruit or a vegetable) in boiling water. However, blanching sounds fancy and complicated. I also didn’t want you to think it was difficult to make zucchini noodles.
One more thing. Raw zucchini noodles are also a great option. You’re good to go if you reheat the pasta sauce and add the zucchini noodles. I mean… ready to serve and eat.
No matter how fantastic this recipe for zoodles is, there is never enough to be done with zucchini. Obviously, I have 3 more healthy zucchini recipes for you. They are delicious and addictive, so I hope you are prepared for them.
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!.
How to Sauté Zucchini Noodles
Sautéing your noodles may be the simplest option if you’re already cooking on the stovetop. Simply pour one tablespoon of avocado or olive oil into a pan and sauté for one to two minutes. If you’re making zucchini pasta with lemon garlic shrimp or something similar, this is the ideal cooking technique. But I discover that I’d rather not have the extra oil on the noodles if I’m adding a bolognese or other sauce to them.
With a Spiralizer
The Paderno World Cuisine Spiralizer is far and away my favorite tool. It creates curls of your favorite vegetables, literally in seconds. It’s the fastest tool of the bunch and requires the least amount of strength or effort (with suction cup feet to keep it in place). You simply cut off the ends of a zucchini, place it next to the blade and spin. In less than 8 seconds you’ll have spiral sliced the entire zucchini.
Although these reviews are for zucchini noodles, keep in mind that you might want to slice up other vegetables as well. Carrots, sweet potato, apples, pears…the list is endless!.
With the simple to change blades on this spiralizer, you can make your favorite carrot pasta, curly sweet potato fries, or apple chips. Although it is larger than some of the other options, I still prefer it over them all because of how frequently I use it.
PROS: requires little strength or effort, works quickly, is durable, affordable, and offers a variety of blades for slicing.
CONS: will require more storage space than other options.
The great thing about a julienne peeler is that you likely already have one in your kitchen. Win! A julienne peeler frequently does double duty with a vegetable peeler. One side juliennes, the other side slices. And that’s perfect for when you want thick, flat slices of zucchini pasta. The single biggest benefit of a julienne peeler is that it’s small. It takes up virtually no space in your kitchen and will most likely reside in your utensil drawer.
Using a julienne peeler, you can create the thinnest, most delicate zucchini noodles. Then, you simply pull the strands apart with your fingers. This tool comes in at number two on my list because it requires more time to use (you rotate the zucchini to create a rectangular shape), leaves the largest core, and presents a high risk of finger nicking (yep, I’m clumsy).
PROS: cheap and easy to store.
CONS: requires more time to cut and results in a fairly large core.
I actually hummed and hawed about making the mandoline #2 on my list (because I love it that much) – but the julienne peeler won for size. I’ve had this mandoline for several years and it gets used a ton in my kitchen.
The mandoline creates julienne noodles that are slightly thicker than a peeler, but does it in half the time. The blades are SUPER sharp on a mandoline, so please please always use the plastic holder or a cut-resistant glove. I’ve sliced a massive divot out of my thumb before – and it’s not fun.
The best flat zucchini pasta can be made with a mandoline, and you can adjust the thickness. It has several blade options, similar to the Paderno World Cuisine Spiralizer, giving you the choice of perfectly consistent noodles, slices, or rounds (and easily cutting through any “harder to slice” vegetable). Alright, maybe this is actually a tie for #2.
PROS: Slicing is quick and simple thanks to the sharp blade, and the output is always the same size.
CONS: Sharp blade (use caution when handling your fingers) and medium storage size
If you own a KitchenAid stand mixer, you are probably familiar with the wide range of attachments available. Although expensive, these attachments can be automated by connecting to the power hub on the mixer’s front. The KitchenAid does, in fact, have a spiralizer attachment.
The Kitchenaid spiralizer comes in a nice storage box (though it’s quite large) and provides the most blade options, with 7 blades (including a peeler). But even with all these blade options I found that I still gravitated toward the 3 basic blades – the same ones which are included with the Paderno Spiralizer.
Another thing to remember is that this automated tool has a fixed width. This necessitates cutting large zucchini in half, then spiralizing each half separately.
This is a great option if you already own a KitchenAid and enjoy using attachments. The cost alone, however, will likely be the biggest deterrent for everyone else.
PROS: only automatic spiralizer, comes with a peeler, and has the most blade options.
CONS: Fixed width, takes up the most storage space, and I discovered that using the Paderno Spiralizer by hand still allowed me to spiralize a zucchini more quickly.
The handheld spiralizer is the newest kid on the block and the solution for curly noodles in a small contraption. It produces zucchini noodles most similar to the Paderno Spiralizer, though they tend to be flatter and not as consistently sized. I was really hoping to love this little device, but with all the other options on the market, I had to rank it last.
When spiralizing several zucchini, it can be difficult to maintain straight zucchini slices and your wrist may hurt from all the twisting. Additionally, this tool will be the most challenging if you intend to spiralize other vegetables (such as carrots and sweet potatoes), as it demands the most strength and effort. Yes, it’s inexpensive, but occasionally you get what you pay for.
PROS: cheap and takes up little space.
Cons include inconsistent noodles, the need for strength and wrist power, and a lack of the other options’ versatility.
FAQ
Can you use a peeler to make zoodles?
You can use the same Y-shaped vegetable peeler to make wide, thin noodles that are similar in shape to pappardelle, so just so you know, vegetable peelers are great for more than just peeling those russet potatoes for dinner. After cutting off the ends, lengthwise slice a side of the zucchini.
How do you Spiralize zucchini with a peeler?
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.
How do you cook zucchini noodles by hand?
I love having a mandoline on hand to make paper-thin slices of vegetables like radishes, cucumbers, and cabbage, but you can also use one to make zucchini noodles by first slicing thin zucchini planks, and then using a sharp knife to cut those planks into fettuccine-sized strips.
