8 Zesty Zoodle Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How do you cook zoodles so they're not soggy? ›

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.

Salt and wrap your zoodles.

Post-spiralizing the zucchini, lightly salt your zoods with kosher salt and wrap them in paper towels. Let them sit for about 10–15 minutes — just enough time for the salt to extract the moisture.

My Verdict – Hands down my favorite way to get the moisture out of zoodles! Salting – Place the zoodles on a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Sprinkle the zoodles with sea salt and allow them to sit for at least 20-30 minutes. I typically do this as I'm preparing the rest of my dinner.

Coming in at only 19 calories per cup, zucchini also packs a nutritious punch. The bright green summer squash contains potassium, vitamin C, folate, vitamin A, and iron, no cholesterol and almost zero fat. Zucchini is also a super low-carb fruit, containing only 4 grams of carbs per cup when eaten raw.

Add zucchini noodles. Toss with tongs and let the zucchini cook for just a minute or two. Remove from heat and add to sauce or add some salt and eat as is. Note: Don't salt the zucchini before you saute it; the noodles will release more water and they'll end up limp.

All you have to do is slice the zucchini into your desired shape, drizzle with oil, season, place on a baking sheet cut-side down, and pop it in the oven until it's nicely browned and tender. This can take 15 to 35 minutes, depending on the size of the zucchini.

Remove the Seeds: The seeds and surrounding flesh can sometimes contribute to bitterness. You can scoop out the seeds before cooking. Salt and Drain: Sprinkle salt on sliced zucchini and let it sit for about 15-20 minutes. This draws out excess moisture and bitterness.

This, the outlet asserts, is due to zucchini's high water content: If it cooks too slowly, it will release its moisture before it sears, becoming soggy and sodden. Over high heat, on the other hand, zucchini becomes caramelized on the outside but retains a meaty, firm texture within.

Zucchini is made of 95% water, making it a high water content vegetable. Freezing and thawing high water content produce generally results in a mushy, watery texture. Blanched or not, your zucchini will thaw a little softer and more watery than fresh zucchini.

Before diving into the cooking process, it's important to properly thaw the frozen zucchini noodles. You have two options to choose from: Refrigerator thawing: Transfer your frozen zucchini noodles to an airtight container and place them in the refrigerator overnight.

Are frozen zoodles mushy? ›

Some say that zoodles turn out great if you just freeze them without any prep. I find that if I do that with zoodles made with smaller zucchini, it can work well, but I've been left with a mushy mess. So, for best results, preparing the zoodles before you freeze them is best.

Zucchini noodles can be made into different shapes, much like regular pasta. The most common way to make zoodles is to run the zucchini through a spiralizer, which makes a spaghetti-sized zoodle.

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.

Another potential side effect of eating raw zucchini is bloating. This is caused by nutrients like cellulose, a structural component of plant cell walls, and soluble fiber, which is fermented by your healthy gut bacteria and produces gas as a side effect ( 4 ).

Arrange the zucchini pieces into a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. (It will stick to the pan if you don't line it first!) Freeze the zucchini for about 1 hour, until it's firm to the touch, then transfer it to an airtight container to preserve the flavor as you store it.

Heat the olive oil in a skillet and add your overcooked pasta. Gently sauté over medium heat for a few minutes until the pasta's texture has firmed up. The whole process takes less than 10 minutes and you'll know it is done when the edges of the pasta have started to crisp and light browning has begun.

Let them dry at room temperature for at least 30 minutes to remove excess moisture. Heat oil in a deep frying pan over medium flame. Deep fry boiled noodles in batches until light brown and crispy. Drain excess oil and transfer them on to oil absorbent paper spread on a plate.