Raw Spiralized Zucchini Noodles with Tomatoes and Pesto
Raw Spiralized Zucchini Noodles with Tomatoes and Pesto
As much as I look forward to the Fall, I’m not quite ready for summer to be over. Having fresh herbs at my fingertips is what I’ll miss the most, so I’m taking all my basil and making skinny pesto with it to freeze and use throughout the year.
I’m also going to miss eating zucchini 4 days a week, although I’m not putting my spiralizer away just yet!! (btw, love my Paderno Spiral Vegetable Slicer – the easiest way to make zucchini noodles, sweet potato spirals, carrot ribbons and more!)
And let’s not forget to mention summer tomatoes, this is the best time to eat them!! One thing I should note if you’re making this for one, I would make the whole batch of pesto, but only spiralize 1 small zucchini and add 1/4 of the pesto. This needs to be eaten right away, if it sits too long it will get watery.
Raw Spiralized Zucchini Noodles with Tomatoes and Pesto
Ingredients
For the Pesto:
- 1 cup packed fresh basil
- 1 clove garlic
- 1/4 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
- Â kosher salt & pepper to taste
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
For the zoodles:
- 21 oz 3 medium or 4 small zucchinis
- 1 cup heirloom grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
- kosher salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a food processor pulse basil, garlic, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper until smooth.
- Slowly add the olive oil while pulsing. Set aside.
- Spiralize the zucchini, cut it into smaller strands if they are too long and place them in a work bowl.
- Toss with the pesto and tomatoes and season with salt and pepper as needed.
My spiralizer arrived yesterday and last night I made this! It was so easy and just absolutely delicious! Gina, you rock!!
I don't usually eat my zucchini raw so mixed all this up, sauteed w/ a little olive oil for about 2 min, topped it with a few slices of avocado and served with leftover chicken. Dinner was done in about 15 min and kept me from caving into "Pizza Friday" after a long week and ruining my progress. Thanks for sharing, it was amazing!
I love my spiralizer and have a ton of tomatoes and zucchini in my kitchen right now. And pesto in the freezer from last summer… Pinned to make tomorrow night!
I have made the zoodles with my vegetti and love it. But I made your pesto and it was very thick…like paste. I had to add two more T evoo to get it pourable. Are you on those measurements? But it was tasty! And I used lemon basil…mmmmm.
I am positive on the measurements, but it's pretty thick so I used a spatula to incorporate it, and after a minute or 2 the liquid from the zucchini releases and helps mix it all together.
My veggetti spiralizer just arrived! only $12 on amazon and doesn't take up much space. Just sauteed some zoodles- came out great. excited to try this!
Thank you for giving your recommendation on a spiralizer/slicer! I've been wanting to purchase one for weeks but I'm always so overwhelmed when I hit 'search' on google with all the results that pop up!
This picture pushed me to order my spiralizer, which I have been putting off. I cannot wait to make this!
great! I wish I had stock in the company : )
I really need to pull out my spiralizer more often! Your zoodle dishes always look so good.
I use the. Spirooli spiralizer from Bed Bath and Beyond. It works great for me!
I use my old fashion apple peeler. Works well, also. Marsha
I'm seeing a lot of recipes that require a spiralizer lately. Might we see some that do not in the future? I'm starting to feel alienated here… ��
I get lots of requests for them, but I also do so many without. I basically share what I eat!
I use a veggetini I got at walmart for about $14.00. works great. I have also seen them in some grocery stores
Bed Bath & Beyond has them, too, but cheaper of you have their 20% off coupon.
I don't have the spiralizer … yet … so last night I used angel hair pasta, home grown tomatoes, julienned zucchini, sauted diced onion and pesto! It was a nice half home grown meatless meal. Boiling the water for the pasta took most of the time but I had it on the table in 15 minutes or so. That's fast food!
I was just thinking about what I wanted to take out Out for dinner, now I don't have to take anything out to make this delicious and simple meal for dinner. Thank you!
This is by far one of my fav recipes. I don't use cheese I simply make a sauce made of avocado, cauliflower and some olive oil. So light but so filling:)
http://aniqadreams.blogspot.com
Nom Nom Nom, super recipe.
I was excited to see you in Taste of Home this month! Congrats 🙂
Thanks Kasey!
Loving all the simple ingredients, the colour – the whole shebang!
My favourite thing about this time of the year is that it is really fresh in the morning, not quite cold, and…. red currants and blueberries – the sweetest there are, mmm ^ ^
This looks so light and fresh. LOVE!!
Such the perfect summer meal. And so pretty!
I added garbanzo beans. Delicious!
yum!
My mouth is watering looking at these photos Gina! Great combo, a total classic! Pinned.
Well I think you just sealed the deal for me with these pictures, must get spiralizer, NOW! Going on amazon now! This looks amazing and these too are my favorite flavors in one bowl! Thank you for such a beautiful recipe
They have a 'vegetti' at Walgreens!
I finally bought a spiralizer and pulled it out for the first time the other day to make a similar recipe to this. LOVE the pesto idea!
This looks delicious! I love the way the zucchini looks. I'll definitely have to try this in a few weeks… I need to take a side to a get together.
Tomatoes are just so perfect right now, and combined with the pesto these zucchini noodles look wonderful! I'm wishing I had a spiralizer!
I've made zucchini noodles with a potato peeler. Works great but not as pretty.
I absolutely love my spiralizer. It is SO easy and quick! And clean up is a breeze. I used a Groupon and got mine for about 1/2 price.
Such a great idea!! I love zuchini noodles lately and can't wait to try this recipe. It's great for using those summer tomatoes, which I just stocked up on at a local produce stand. I would also add chicken breast or even salmon to this to make it a complete meal.
I use a vegetti spiralizer. Works well and easy to store.
Thank you for sharing that! I was debating on which type to purchase and while the one she has looks great, I hated having to try and find a place to store it!
I actually tried to make a version of this last night by taking your spaghetti with garlic scape pesto recipe and replacing the pasta with zoodles. I roasted some grape tomatoes and added them as well. I didn't come out as good as I expected though.The flavor was very watered down. I had cooked my zoodles (maybe about 4 minutes) to soften and warm them up so I imagine the problem was caused by the water that was released during the cooking process. I'll give it another shot this way and hope for better luck!
Simply saute' the zucchini in a bit of olive oil in a non-stick frying pan for 3 to 4 min on medium high and you're good to go with no liquid at all. Just made that last night and dressed it with a mixture of freshly made marina sauce and pesto..yummm
And I saute mine in coconut oil, YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes for this recipe I would not cook the zucchini, it doesn't need it. keep it raw!!
I steam mine to eliminate all that water that you get from boiling it. works great. Makes great Zucchini pasta !!!! Had friends over for dinner and they loved it with my spaghetti sauce and meatballs.
Sweat your zucchini noodles. 20 minutes @ 250 in the oven between a paper towel. It will help dehydrate them so they will not get soggy in the cooking process. Makes a huge difference.Â
I love this meal! So, so perfect for the end of summer!
I make this quite often at home. For those who dont want to buy a spiralizer because of the space it takes up – I make my zucchini noodles with a Kuhn Rikon julienne peeler and get the same effect. Takes up a lot less room and you can buy on amazon too! 🙂
Loving all the simple ingredients, the colour – the whole shebang!
My favourite thing about this time of the year is that it is really fresh in the morning, not quite cold, and…. red currants and blueberries – the sweetest there are, mmm ^ ^
Good idea! Thanks!