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How to make zucchini noodles

July 26, 2014 By Ashley 11 Comments

I have a new love, and it only cost $14.99.

I’ve wanted a spiral vegetable cutter for months, and last weekend I finally bought one. While I saw a few fancier versions on the market, the Veggetti from Bed, Bath and Beyond seemed like the perfect gateway spiralizer contraption for me.

With a 20 percent off coupon (and you know you have one of those sitting around), I actually paid less than $15 for this useful tool.

Veggetti spiral cutter

I was super excited to make my own noodles and was amazed at just how easy and quick it was.

Outside of just making a pasta replacement, you can use zucchini noodles as a side to a healthy entree, as a salad topper, or as a garnish on top of regular pasta, just to add some extra veggies to a dish.

Here’s how it all works …

How to make zucchini squash noodles 

How to make zucchini squash noodles - A Lady Goes West

It’s so simple, which is the only type of cooking method I enjoy. All you have to do is the following:

  1. Buy some fresh zucchini squash or yellow squash.
  2. Wash and dry the vegetables.
  3. Using your spiralizer, put one end of the squash into the cutter, spin the squash with your hand and let the spirals fall into a big bowl. It takes about one minute to fully spiralize an average-sized squash.
  4. Then, you can put the veggies in the fridge for later or continue the cooking process.
  5. Bring a pot of water to boiling on the stove and add a little salt.
  6. Throw in the noodles to cook for just two to three minutes. They cook very quickly, and if you wait too long they will get mushy.
  7. Strain the noodles.
  8. Serve as desired.
  9. If you use the noodles as a spaghetti replacement, top them with your favorite sauce, meat and additional veggies.

Here’s a look at the cutting process …

Zucchini noodles

And the spiral cut veggies before cooking …

Spiral cut zucchinis

I decided to use the noodles for pasta, so they went straight to my dinner bowl once cooked and strained.

Here’s the base of my dish. Looks like pasta, doesn’t it?

Cooked zucchini

To finish it up, I sauteed up some fresh spinach leaves, cabbage, cherry tomatoes and chickpeas in coconut oil to go on top of my bed of veggies noodles. I topped that with Sockarooni pasta sauce and some Trader Joe’s turkey meatballs.

And this was my dinner twice last week, all thanks to the $15 spiralizer.

Zucchini squash meal

Add veggies to your life with a spiralizer

Pasta has been one of my twice-a-week go-to dinners for years and years and years. Dave shares a love of pasta and throughout the course of our relationship, I’ve converted him from white to whole-wheat pasta, which is what we’ve eaten together for a long time.

In order to add some more veggies into my life, lately I’ve been eating spaghetti squash in place of pasta. I love the taste and texture, but Dave does not, so he’s stuck with regular whole-wheat pasta. (Spaghetti squash is another great choice, and for a look back, check out my post on the easiest ways to cook spaghetti squash.)

The good news is that Dave took a bite of the zucchini noodles and agreed he liked it more than the spaghetti squash. If cooked properly (careful not to go too long), the zucchini is actually a bit firmer and crunchier. We haven’t made a full switch with him yet, but I think there’s a chance he would eat this one day, especially if I start by throwing a few on the top of his regular pasta as a teaser.

No go forth and spiralize!

Questions of the day

Do you have a spiralizer? What else have you made with it? And what’s your latest healthy food obsession?

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Filed Under: Food, Healthy living Tagged With: healthy food, healthy recipes, how to make zucchini noodles, Veggetti

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I'm a mom and fitness instructor in Charlotte, North Carolina. And A Lady Goes West is where I share fitness, wellness and clean beauty tips, as well as stories from my life.
 
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Comments

  1. Karen @ Kama Fitness says

    July 27, 2014 at 6:07 am

    I Love these! You have to try using it with carrots too, super delicious! 🙂

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 27, 2014 at 6:10 am

      Yes, that’s next on my list!
      Ashley recently posted…How to make zucchini noodlesMy Profile

      Reply
  2. Emily says

    July 27, 2014 at 9:49 am

    I’ve been obsessed with spaghetti squash noodles lately. It was lunch twice last week!

    A spiralizer has been on my kitchen wish list for a while now, too. Time to finally break down and get one!
    Emily recently posted…And We’re Off!My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 27, 2014 at 6:18 pm

      I know, I shouldn’t have waited so long to get one. It’s awesome!

      Reply
  3. Megan says

    July 28, 2014 at 7:21 am

    That sounds awesome and useful! I have just saved a bunch of recipes using squash to make noodles. Since I don’t have a spiralizer how to do make the squash or zucchini noodles?
    Megan recently posted…Lemon Berry CobblerMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 28, 2014 at 2:52 pm

      Hi Megan, You could try a carrot scraper or maybe a julienne cutter. But I think those both may be laborious. Get a spiralizer. They’re so cheap and easy!

      Reply
  4. Breanne says

    July 28, 2014 at 10:30 am

    I love zucchini noodles! I use a julienne peeler, but always end up having to saute the middle of the zucchini for a different meal because I can’t peel the whole thing. I might need to try this instead. Also, I have a major crush on Trader Joe’s turkey meatballs. Love them SO much.

    Reply
  5. Jenn@Mark My Miles! says

    August 27, 2015 at 4:06 am

    I recently bought a spiralizer and love it! Thanks for the directions on how to make them even better!
    Jenn@Mark My Miles! recently posted…Post Partum PRMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      August 27, 2015 at 4:41 am

      You’re so welcome, Jenn!! So glad you are enjoying those veggie noodles! Have a great day! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Brenda says

    April 6, 2017 at 12:11 pm

    I am using mine for the first time today and I have to say I am excited. Thank you for the tips and instructions on using it because I can’t find my book.

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 7, 2017 at 7:36 am

      That’s awesome, Brenda! So glad you liked making zucchini noodles. Thank you for saying hi! 🙂

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Ashley. I'm a mom and fitness instructor living in Charlotte, North Carolina. I love to help you live a balanced life with no extremes, making sure you never skip a rest day. A Lady Goes West is where I share my workouts, simple meals, clean beauty tips and wellness insight with you. Find out more about me and stay awhile!

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