15 Zucchini Noodle Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How do you cook zoodles so they are not mushy? ›

To avoid soggy and limp noodles, I recommend cooking for only 3-5 minutes (5 if you're cooking more than 1-2 spiralized zucchinis) and tossing frequently. You want a slightly al dente noodle.

A note on serving size. We recommend spiralizing just about 1 pound of zucchini per serving (for a large, lunch or dinner-sized meal) – that equates to about two medium sized zucchinis or 2 cups, cooked.

Compare two cups of pasta weighing in at 480 calories, 90 grams of carbs, and two grams of fiber with two cups of zucchini zoodles at 66 calories, twelve grams of carbs, and four grams of fiber.

The secret to zucchini with the best flavor and texture is roasting it in a 450°F oven. Roasting zucchini at a high temperature instead of baking or sautéing helps develop browning and a slight char on the outside, which keeps it from getting soggy.

If you cook zucchini until it releases its moisture and keep cooking until that moisture evaporates, you're left with buttery-soft pulp, which can add creaminess and sweet vegetal flavor when stirred into pasta or rice dishes, like this Skillet Chicken, Zucchini, and Cheesy Rice.

Salt and wrap your zoodles.

Let them sit for about 10–15 minutes — just enough time for the salt to extract the moisture. You may have to change the paper towels depending on how damp they get, but a gentle squeeze at the end will drain any leftover water before you sauté.

One pound of zucchini equals about 4 cups grated zucchini; 2 cups of salted and squeezed zucchini; about 1 cup mashed zucchini; and 3 cups chunked zucchini. Zucchini bread is one of the most popular ways to use zucchini. Bigger is not necessarily better.

While the exact amount will vary, this rule of thumb can help you estimate how much to buy: 4 small or 3 medium zucchini = about 5 to 6 cups shredded zucchini.

Plus I discovered that an 8" zucchini weighs just about 8 ounces; so if you don't have a scale but you do have a garden, you can simply take your ruler out to the garden, harvest an 8" zuke, then measure off however many ounces you need – by the inch!

A look into essential Vitamins & Minerals, shows that Zucchini Pasta outdoes Spaghetti Squash on every one, except for Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium and Selenium. Information found from SELF's Nutrition Data calculator.

Can diabetics eat zucchini noodles? ›

Veggie Spirals and Ribbons

Some good options to try include zucchini, yellow summer squash, carrots, eggplant, peppers, and cabbage. Steam the ribbons so that they taste and feel like regular pasta. Enjoy a serving size of 1 1/2 cups of cooked veggie ribbons for only 15 grams of carbs.

Zucchini is low in fat, sugar, and calories, and high in vitamin C and fiber, making it a great substitute for traditional pasta noodles. Fiber helps to regulate bowels and maintain good digestive health, and vitamin C acts as an antioxidant to protect cells.

If you see mold, black spots, browning, yellowing, shriveling, or wrinkling on the skin of your zucchini, it has likely gone bad. A soft, mushy, or slimy texture also indicates spoilage.

Signs it has gone bad

The main sign to look out for is that it will feel rubbery and/or slimy to the touch. It might also give off a bad smell and show signs of mould growth. Even if the exterior of the zucchini looks good, be sure to check the insides for stringy, mushy flesh with an off-white or brownish colour!

Water at an adequate boil will cook pasta faster, without suffering a significant temperature drop when the noodles are added, and this will keep your pasta from getting mushy.

Mushy veggies are also often the result of overcooking. When the interior is loaded with moisture, you have to cook it for much longer to evaporate all of the water and avoid the interior having the unappealing, spongy, raw texture that eggplant and zucchini are notorious for.

Zucchini thrives in a dry environment, so pop it into the crisper drawer whole, preferably in a plastic or paper bag with one end open for ventilation. The minimal humidity will keep it from going bad. Stored properly, it'll last one or two weeks, though you'll probably see the skin shrivel as the days pass.

Don't pre-salt your zucchini noodles.

First of all, one of the benefits of spiralizing is that it's SO quick (just spiralize, cook, and enjoy pasta in under 5 minutes!).