I never cook pasta anymore. Zucchini noodles (also called "zoodles") are quick and easy, and unquestionably healthy. Whether you're paleo, gluten free, diabetic, or just want to be eating more healthy veggies, these noodles are a great addition to your meals. They go beautifully with pesto, marinara, curry, Alfredo, or any other savory sauce you can dream up. What my son is using in the photo above is a spiralizer, or spiral slicer, which quickly slices zucchini into angel hair pasta. It can also make beautiful beet noodles!
You don't need a new gadget to try zucchini pasta though. Before we invested a whopping $16 dollars for our spiralizer, we used a veggie peeler to make zucchini noodles. They turn out wider and flat, like fettuccine, and they work just as well, though the spiralizer is faster.
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| Try these noodles with this delicious Raw Marinara Sauce! |
You probably already have a vegetable peeler; they're available everywhere for a few dollars. We bought our spiralizer online, but I'm sure they're also available at kitchen stores. You can get insanely expensive, giant metal spiral slicers, which probably aren't so much plastic (the only metal bits on ours are the tiny blades). The pricey ones might be useful for other things as well, like slicing fruit for dehydrating, but I like how the small size of our spiralizer fits in our tiny kitchen.
Update: This ad is for the spiralizer I'm using now. It works even better than my original, with more noodle size options, and it takes up less cupboard space!
Do me a favor and use this ad link to check it out; each purchase provides a small boon to our family.
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Raw Zucchini Noodles: Easy & Versatile
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Oleh
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57 comments
Write commentsI've got a spiralizer, but haven't used it for a long time. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyReminds me of Spaghetti Squash!
ReplyIt's like spaghetti squash... only easier!
ReplyDo you heat the "noodles" up? I noticed that the sauce isn't warmed. Thanks. I'd like to try this.
ReplyIt's all room temp, or cold if it's been in the fridge, equally delicious either way. I don't heat the noodles, but I have poured warm sauce on them if I'm doing a cooked sauce, which makes them nice and warm.
ReplyI really want a spiralizer now!!! This is the second recipe for zucchini noodles I've seen in a week- I think it's a sign ;)
Replythis looks amazing ;)
ReplyThank you for linking up on successful saturday!
also, can you tell us what type you use/the brand?
Replythankyou!
http://www.amazon.com/Joyce-Chen-51-0662-Saladacco-Spiral/dp/B0000DDVYE
ReplyThis is the one we bought about two years ago from Amazon. It was only $16 back then! It's a great kitchen tool though, and zucchini noodles are such a perfect replacement for pasta that it's totally worth a little investment. I don't like that it's all plastic, but the different spiralizers that were higher quality were much more expensive, and worse (for our small kitchen), they are very large. This one is a nice, storable size.
I love that spiralizer! I gotta get me one of those! This recipe looks delicious! Thank you for bringing it to Fit and Fabulous Fridays!!
ReplyWow! I didn't realize that the zucchini noodles didn't need to be cooked. Time to try this. I have a julienne type of peeler that would do the trick.
ReplyI do this, too, with zukes with a vegetable peeler -- but it does take some time! I never thought to do it with beets. May have to keep my eyes open for a spiralizer.
ReplyMy brother's a vegetarian and has made us zucchini noodles with pesto sauce- yum! I will have to try this soon when we start to get tons of squash and zucchini.
ReplyCan you twirl the regular julienned zucchini?
ReplyI don't know what you mean by regular julienned zucchini. I should have shown a photo of the zucchini before spiralizing; you usually just have to cut a whole zucchini in half, and then it's ready to run through the device. A longer zucchini may have to be cut into thirds. There is no julienning required!
ReplyVery creative, I love this idea! Looks delish too!
ReplyI love zucchini noodles!
ReplyOMGoodness - I love these. I will have to invest in this magic little gadget!!
ReplyIt's totally worth it, they are great!
ReplyStopping by from Totally Tasty Tuesdays!
ReplyI love your spiral slicer! Mine is a much less sturdy contraption. Your zucchini noodles look amazing!
You know, I've been putting off getting a spiralizer because they're so big and expensive. I didn't know that small and inexpensive like the one you have! But for this weekend, I have a vegetable peeler with a julienne blade, so I'm going to try that. Thanks for linking up at Tiny Tip Tuesday! I'm sharing this on FB and pinning it :)
ReplyThe noodles aren't cooked?
ReplyI have been wanting to try this! :) That is awesome!! I just need to do it :) LOL My name is Cindy and I blog over at Vegetarianmamma.com I wanted to invite you to link up your recipe at our Gluten Free Fridays Recipe Link up party! It happens every Friday and we'd love to have you join us with some of your awesome recipes! You can find this week's link up here: http://vegetarianmamma.com/gluten-free-friday-recipe-link-up-1/
ReplyThanks,
Cindy
Thank you! I'll check it out.
ReplyThank you!
ReplyWe use spaghetti squash instead of noodles,
and this looks like a great alternative to that!
This looks absolutely delicious!
ReplyYum!
Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays party! Thanks for helping get our party kicked off this week! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! :) I hope that you'll join us this week! Cindy from vegetarianmamma.com
ReplyWe have used zucchini to make noodles like this and have enjoyed it very much, much healthier than regular pasta. However, I may need to invest in a spiral slicer, as it would be so much easier than cutting by hand. Thanks for sharing on Hearth & Soul Hop. :)
ReplyThe spiral slicer is fun & quick, for sure!
ReplyCongratulations! You are the post with the most click and will be featured in tomorrow's Eat Make Grow blog hop.
Replyhttp://foyupdate.blogspot.com/search?q=eat+make+grow&max-results=20&by-date=true
Foy
That's awesome, thanks!
Replyi found your site this morning and have already tried your zucchini noodles but didnt have enough zucchini so i used some carrots as well and made a beetroot hummus my little brother screwed his nose up at the fact that dinner was ALL veggies he gets cranky when i add chickpeas to mince he trys to pick them all out but there was nothing left on his plate when he finished dinner and i tried your shampoo free bicarb and vinegar in my hair it hasnt even dried yet but im amazed at how easily i managedto get a brush through it
ReplyGlad you were inspired!
ReplyVisiting you from My Meatless Monday :)
ReplyI've never heard of a spiralizer, that looks like a tool I need to get. We are eating grain free and so we eat a lot of zucchini "noodles" and I think the kids would really enjoy the spiral cut as a change. Plus it looks easier than using a hand peeler to make the "noodles". Thanks for sharing!
I've been enjoying your blog! You have a lot of great information :)
I'd like to invite you to join in my blog hop tomorrow, Get Real Frugal Friday, if you are interested :)
http://realfoodrealfrugal.com/category/get-real-frugal-friday/
Blessings!
Susan
Thank you Susan, I will! I think you'll enjoy the spiralizer, especially if you already like zucchini noodles! It's quick and fun for kids to make the noodles, and they turn out really nice.
ReplyI love my spiralizer too. Such a small price for something I use at least 3x a week. I need to find a good winter alternative to zucchini noodles as the zucchini looked pitiful at the grocery this week. Thanks for sharing at Raw Foods Thursdays!
ReplyI have made beet noodles with the spiralizer. They have a firmer texture, but are very pretty! They might be a good winter alternative. What about sweet potatoes? I've never tried making noodles with them, but I've heard of it.
ReplyI just got a julienne peeler for about $8 from Bed Bath & Beyond. You're inspiring me to try it on zucchini--your "noodles" look yummy with the sauce. Thanks for posting!
ReplyI've always wanted one of those, but wasn't quite sure if they worked...now I know! I can't wait to buy one because we always have a ton of zucchini from the garden. Thanks so much for sharing at Mix it up Monday :)
ReplyThanks for linking with kids in the kitchen! I pinned and shared - love this!
ReplyThanks for linking up at One Creative Weekend. I shared your post on Google+, and I'll be featuring you tomorrow! Please come grab a featured button and link up anything new you'd like to share at OneCreativeMommy.com.
ReplyThank you for the feature, Heidi!
ReplyI totally want to do this! I think my people would eat it! YUM!
ReplyThanks for demonstrating this...very cool!
ReplyLooking forward to trying this. Thanks for sharing at Wildcrafting Wednesday.
ReplyThanks for sharing at Wildcrafting Wednesday. I am looking forward to trying this.
ReplyI am trying to stick to a low carb diet and will definitely be getting on of these (spiralizer) soon!
Replystopping by to visit from Fluster’s Creative Muster Wednesday Linky Party
Carolyn @ iamthecraftylady.com
We've recently removed pasta from our diet, so I really appreciate an alternative. Thank you for sharing on Fluster’s Creative Muster Party!
ReplyRobin
Fluster Buster
We made zoodles using a veggie peeler for the 1st time this past week, though we did heat them up a little. Thanks for sharing this with us at Eco-Kids Tuesday!! Hope to see you again today!
ReplyLooks delicious!!! Can't wait for the garden to start giving me lots of zucchini!
ReplyWow! This looks awesome! I am definitely going to try this. I love zucchini. :-) Thanks for linking up with "Try a New Recipe Tuesday!" I can't wait to see what you'll share this week.
ReplyThank you so much for the word zoodles!
ReplyReally, you don't cook them at all? I have a spiral thing I bought a couple months ago to make zucchini spirals with but didn't know how to prepare/cook the zucchini once I had it spiraled. Am I reading it correctly? You really don't cook it at all? Just spiral it and serve?
ReplyI found you at Mostly Homemade Monday. My link is for Choc Chip Cookie Dough Brownies that are Gluten Free & Vegan. The link is http://noskinnies.com/blog/2013/5/13/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-brownies-vegan-gluten-free.
Thanks! www.NoSkinnies.com
Really, you can eat zucchini raw! They end up a pretty nice texture, much like spaghetti. If you pour a warm sauce over them, it will be much the same experience, but way better for you ;)
ReplyWe just had stuffed zucchini for dinner last night. This would be another great zuke option. Thanks for sharing on Tuesday Greens!
ReplyI am wondering if you use young zucchini to make these "noodles" or if one could also use more mature zucchini too. Could one lightly steam these "noodles" if one didn't want them raw? I am wondering too if you have made lacto fermented dilly beans, and if so could you post your recipe with how to instructions. I like your blog and have tried your dandelion soda..although it turned into dandelion beer or wine on me :)..not bad to use in the slow cooker to tenderize meat.
ReplyI've made noodles with more mature zucchinis- it works OK. The seeds are big in mature zuccs, so you have to watch for that. Steamed zucchini sounds mushy! These noodles work so great raw that I wouldn't cook them. They'd lose their texture and nutritional value. But if you need them cooked you could certainly try it!
ReplyI've never done dilly beans, but I love to eat them and really would like to make them! Next year I must grow some beans and figure out how to ferment them.