zucchini noodles
May 6, 2015 § 59 Comments
I’m easily over-stimulated in large department stores, especially ones that involve home & kitchen products. I find it difficult to concentrate and I end up spending way too much time walking the isles in sensory overload. But on this visit I was on a mission. I needed to find a spiralizer and I knew BB&B would have one.
And sure enough. I found this kitchen tool. A spiralizer. After paying for it I headed over to the co-op and picked up 3 medium sized organic zucchini. My plan for the day was to prepare zucchini noodles for dinner and toss them in my favorite parsley pesto.
I am not a kitchen gadget & tool person. If you can believe it I don’t own a blender, food processor (it stopped working), Kitchenmaid mixer, slow cooker or microwave (well, we have one but it’s in the basement). I guess you could call it an ill equipped kitchen, but we get along just fine. However, this gadget…the spiralizer is something I have grown very fond of. It creates beautiful strings of vegetables. You can even twirl your freshly spiraled vegetables around your fork and have the same wonderful sensation that only spaghetti can satisfy. It’s a hot item and most likely considered a trend, but I am convinced it is a nice alternative to enjoy a bowl full of delicious healthy noodle-like textured vegetables similar to semolina pasta. If you are unable to obtain a spiralizer you can achieve the same wonderful pasta like “noodle” by using a vegetable peeler and shaving your zucchini into thin ribbony Pappardelle.
I n g r e d i e n t s
- 3 medium sized zucchini’s – spiraled or shaved with a vegetable peeler
- large handful fresh parsley (about 1 cup once it is finely chopped)
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan
- 2 small cloves garlic, peeled
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup pecans, walnuts or pine nuts (I used pecans)
- 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
- salt (about 1/2 teaspoon)
- large handful arugula
Spiralize the zucchini and set aside.
If you don’t own a food processor finely chop parsley, garlic and pecans. Combine with olive oil, parmesan and chili flakes. Toss zucchini, arugula and pesto in a large bowl. Taste and add a little more parmesan and / or salt to your liking.
If you own a food processor…place the parsley, parmesan, garlic, pecans and salt in a food processor and pulse for a few seconds to combine. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then pulse again. Drizzle in the olive oil while the machine is running just long enough to incorporate the oil. Toss zucchini, arugula and pesto in a large bowl. Taste and add a little more parmesan and / or salt to your liking.
COTTAGE GROVE HOUSE 
Mmmm! I’m glad to hear about your lo-fi kitchen – I sometimes feel like a freak because we don’t have a toaster, but, honestly, we just throw any bread/bagels under the broiler and away we go.
Ha! I went years without a toaster and used the broiler too, finally my dad bought me one for Christmas. It doesn’t sit on my counter top though. I keep it in a drawer and pull it out when needed. Out of all the things I don’t have I’d really like to have a slow cooker though. ;)
I didn’t think that I was a kitchen gadget person… but I now know that I am! :) I’m sure I’d get along just fine without all of the stuff….
But wait- I don’t have a spiralizer! (Yet!) Looks delicious :)
I could be a gadget / tool person too! :) I think living in a tiny white cottage forces me to keep it slim. The spiralizer is great fun and we’ve used it for carrots, cucumber and even potatoes for hash browns. Knowing how beautiful your cooking is, you’d love to experiment with one.
My brother has a spiralizer & LOVES it! I should put it on my Mother’s Day wish list! ;)
I am not a gadget person either but these have been on my mind. I think you have me convinced to get one too!
We certainly enjoy eating all these lovely stringed veggies. The sauces and dressing are endless. It’s fun to twist the vegetables and watch the strings form. Hope you get one and try it out. :)
this looks appetizing and delicious. i wish i have the time to make this… over the weekend, perhaps :-)
thank you for sharing.
Thank you for stopping in and leaving me a comment today. :) Nice to see you here.
So you actually do live in a tiny white cottage. Hopefully with a larger kitchen than mine – which is based on the dimensions of a small caravan. And like you, I keep gadgets out of the way. It’s so much easier to clean counters without clutter! Does that make me sound lazy. Hopefully not. I just prefer clean counters. :)
Ah, I’m going to have to get my speed peeler out and try these courgette/zucchini noodles. Actually, I’ve just remembered I have one. And, at last, I have enough toms in to do your soup from previous post. Shame I can’t be bothered to cook tonight! :) Mañana…
Yes..we do live in a tiny white cottage. :) I guess it would be a good size for one person, but we are three, plus a very large dog. We get along fine and are accustomed to living in small spaces. Strangely the kitchen is quite large. It’s a never-ending improvement project though..the whole place. Built in 1931. And you seem far from lazy! Just look at your flapjack recipe! Speed peeler sounds interesting…
I have been looking for spiralizer inspiration. I think I may adapt to make it dairy free.mthanks for sharing.
You could definitely adapt to dairy free with this recipe. The parmesan isn’t necessary at all. Thank you for stopping in and leaving me a comment pinkiebag. :)
Cute new avatar, but where are YOU Seana? I don’t have many gadgets either though I do have some machinery to do the heavy stuff. Every time I eat at a Japanese restaurant, at least every 2 weeks, I think I should buy a spiralizer. I Have parsley pesto scheduled too…..yum
Oh yes…is it because of the spiraled daikon? You know, Japanese food is the only food we go out and eat. Well, actually we do out for pho too. The new avatar is a something my son painted several years ago. And my last avatar was one of his paintings too. I guess I’m shy. :)
How healthy and refreshing for scorching noons!
Had to lol about “noons” Love it Sonal. :)
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OMG I’m the same way in department stores! I have this device too! it’s one of the only devices I own. My mother in law gave it to me after making zucchini with it too. Look how gorgeous that is!! Love the chili flakes here too! I love the idea of twirling it like pasta :)
Oh, I know…I love this gadget. I bought it 3 weeks ago and it’s still sitting on the kitchen counter. Something very satisfying about twisting the vegetables around and creating these stands. Oh, and the endless sauces and dressings…love it. :)
Hi Seana – looks like you have zucchini noodles mastered – they’ve been on my list for a while and they really do look so good, I could almost pretend to myself I was eating pasta!
That’s exactly what I do! I pretend I’m eating a bowl of spaghetti. I love spaghetti and could eat it everyday so I’m glad to find another way to eat a “stringy” noodle-like dinner. :)
I’m not a fan of gadgets, but this tiny tool is great! The final result of the zucchini noodles looks super, Seana! :)
Thank you! Sometimes I miss my little Cuisinart chopper. Especially when I’m making pesto. It sure cuts out a lot of time. Maybe some day I’ll pick up another one. :)
I keep seeing recipes for zucchini noodles and have always been intimidated, or not really overly excited about trying them, but this looks absolutely delicious! Now I need to set out on my own hunt for a spiralizer…
It’s so simple! Just twist and watch. This particular spiralizer really does a nice job. It creates continuous strands, so you can control the length of your vegetables. Hope you find one. :)
Not particularly gadget minded, but I could be tempted. Another solution to the courgette (zucchini) glut!
That would be me. Zucchini & cauliflower are on the menu every week in some shape or form. Thanks for stopping in and leaving me a comment! :)
I have the exact same spiraliser in a rather fetching mint green colour in my kitchen drawer.
Dang. I want a mint colored one! :) Do you use it often? It’s a hot item in my kitchen right now.
All the time. One sure fire way to up the vegetable intake of teenagers. I love spiralising cucumber and then lightly pickling with vinegar, sugar and salt. Now that we’ve moved into Autumn I’m substituting the cucumber for broccoli stalks. Sounds strange but it works.
I adore my spiralizer. We have a vegetarian-focused day on my Farm to Table curriculum and I have the students make “pasta”. They are fun.
Cool Janet! I bet your students enjoy using it. You”re right they are fun to use. And I really love the stringy results. :)
My husband recently bought me one of these contraptions. I need to use it! This looks yummy!
Yes! You must use it! Stringy cucumber salad is really good too. I actually used it the other day and made tzatziki. After peeling and spiraling the cucumber I chopped it and mixed it in the greek yogurt mix. It was very efficient. Thanks! :)
That sounds great! Thanks :)
This looks beautiful and delicious! Pesto sounds like a great sauce for them! I am definitely going to try this. Did you just eat it cold?
Hi Lilly Sue! It’s so nice to hear from you today. Thanks for stopping in! We did eat it cold / room temperature but I think you could also give the zucchini a quick stir fry in a little olive oil then toss with the pesto and it would be delicious. Raw or cooked, you can’t go wrong. :)
Fantastic, I have one waiting to be used and – quel blamage – forgot about it. Super, Seana, thanks for reminding & inspiring again – I’ll get going on some zucchini noodles soon. Nicole
See Nicole, that’s what happens with kitchen gadgets! They get lost. :) Well, hope you rediscover yours and make a delicious bowl of zucchini.
Exactly, we’re talking discovery here: I was so excited about all those vegetable noodles and one of us just went into a Sleeping beauty mode …
Elegant indeed. Very healthy too.
Thank you Conor. :)
Spiralizer has done a wonderful job for you! As you have introduced this, I will be looking for it. I like the simplicity of this recipe and the fresh pesto! Thank you for this recipe!
Thank you so much. :) Hope you get the opportunity to find a spiralizer. It’s great fun to use and you’ll love the results. So nice of you to stop in. I really enjoyed your blog earlier today. Looking forward to reading more. :)
You have done a great job without kitchen “gadgets” with your cooking and recipes! I might have to “restrain” myself from buying the sprialzer from our local BBB!
Do not restrain yourself on the spiralizer Kathryn! :) I know…it get’s to the point where you have to ask yourself if you really need another kitchen gadget. This one’s inexpensive ($15) and it really is fun to use and eat the results. Especially carrots too! (sounds like their paying me to push their product doesn’t it?!?) :)
Such a lovely and clever alternative to pasta/noodles Seana! Must have been fabulous mixed with the pesto and arugula (that which we call ‘rocket’ over here)! I try to keep my kitchen gadgets to a minimum… but not really succeeding! ;) I miss being able to shop at BB&B, Crate & Barrel and Williams Sonoma!
I try to stay away from those stores, especially Crate & Barrel because I covet their merchandise! I guess I am forced into keeping gadgets and tools to a minimum due to lack of storage space. I am certainly grateful for my hand blender and hand mixer though…couldn’t manage without them! Going back to your swiss roll post with a question…
This sounds so good–I’m going to have to get a spiralizer!
:) Thanks Nancy. You’ll enjoy it!
Looks fantastic! I recently discovered zoodles and can’t stop eating them. Plus, its so fun to use that spiralizer! Your kitchen and my kitchen sound the same….we both own spiralizers but neither microwaves, food processors or mixers!
I know…we have our priorities straight, right! :) We can’t quit eating them either. The dressings and sauces are endless. I even tried to force potatoes through it. It worked but not easily. I guess it’s best to stick with circular produce!
Good for you for being simplistic in the kitchen (in terms of gadgets only!!) This recipe look delicious :) I love pesto on just about everything.. will have to try it with the zucchini noodles!
I love pesto on everything too! Hi there and thank you for stopping over! I visited your blog the other day and for some reason was not able to subscribe. I entered my email address and after clicking subscribe nothing happens. (?) What a lovely blog you have and I would love to keep in touch. :)
That’s weird.. Thanks for letting me know though.. I just updated some of my plugins so I think the error might be resolved. It seems to be working from my end at least. Please let me know if you’re having any further issues! Would love to keep in touch :) Thanks!
I love this shit. Marinated with lemon, chilli, mint and olive oil… So damn tasty 😁
I love mine! Plus it always gives my son and husband a laugh when we say the name of our Veggeti when used in a sentence. ha ha
I’ve wanted to try spiralised vegetables for quite a while – like you, I’ve been seeing all these ‘inspiralized!’ posts and… well, despite being a ‘fad’ item I do think this one has incredible merit!!! I haven’t bought the tool yet but I do think I might try this with julienne or shaved zucchini/. The chilli, mint and lemon sounds divine xx