Zoodles - Zucchini Noodles

Since I have gone gluten-free, I have been looking for pasta alternatives. So, I stumbled upon zucchini pasta. I was instantly intrigued because I absolutely LOVE zucchini! So I became a google machine trying to figure out how I was going to make this stuff.

Last night I was itching to try something new! I pulled out the zucchini that I brought a while ago and got to work. Most of the recipes/instructions that I found online yielded too many zoodles than I needed so I had to modify the recipe a bit. 

Admittedly, they did not taste like pasta, however the zoodles were absolutely delicious! They twirled around my fork and with the right amount of oil and "cashfredo" I could slurp them up like regular pasta with alfredo sauce.

Before I go on with my preparation of the zoodles I just have to list the incredible benefits of zucchini.

Zucchini Health Benefits

1 cup has 36 cal and 10% of the RDA of fiber

The fiber in zucchini helps lower cholesterol

Helps prevent carcinogenic toxins from settling in the colon

 The phytonutrients in zucchini aid in reducing the symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy

Vitamins A and C are anti-inflammatory agents

Over 10% of the RDA of magnesium, a mineral proven to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke

Potassium helps lower blood pressure

19% of the RDA of manganese allowing for healthy skin and wound healing

Ingredients

• 2 Zucchini

• 1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• Salt and Pepper to Taste

Instructions

1. Thoroughly wash the zucchini
2. Peel the skin of the zucchini (tends to be bitter in taste)
3. Use a vegetable peeler to cut into thin ribbons
4. Zucchini tends to have a high water content. Drain the ribbons for at least 20 to 30 minutes
5. After the zoodles drain, place in boiling water
6. Add salt to the water
7. If the zoodles are still fairly moist when you place them in the water, only boil for 5 minutes. You can cook for longer but once they start to break apart, they should be removed from the water
8. Drain for at least 5 minutes
9. Toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper
10. Serve

Tips

- Use zoodles raw in a salad (make sure you drain them completely)
- Saute them in a skillet with a little oil
- Microwave the zoodles (make sure you do not drain off all of the water)

How do you prepare your zoodles???