Zoodles (Zucchini Noodles) with Tomatoes and Capers Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (2024)

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Zoodles (Zucchini Noodles) – This raw 5-Ingredient zoodles is a healthy zucchini noodles recipe you’ll make all through the warm months. It’s fresh, fast, and furiously flavorful.

Zoodles (Zucchini Noodles) with Tomatoes and Capers Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (1)

Summertime Recipes

It’s that time of year when we all internally decide we only want to cook outdoors… Or not cook at all.

Obviously, I can’t condone not cooking. Especially if that means living off take-out for the rest of the season. However, I fully understand the desire to spend more time in the gorgeous warm weather and spend less time over a hot stove.

Preparing your own meals not only satisfies a deeply rooted ancestral urge we all share. (Or at least most of us share.) It also provides a creative outlet and offers complete quality control. You should definitely do it.

However, I have a solution to the not cooking scenario…

Zoodles (Zucchini Noodles) with Tomatoes and Capers Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (2)

Raw Zucchini Noodles

How about incorporating a few RAW meals into your weekly menu? Raw foods provide all sorts of healthy vitamins and minerals to your diet, cut down on prep time, and eliminate cooking altogether. If only for a night or two.

One popular raw dish you should give a try is “zoodles”… Also known as a zucchini noodles recipe.

By shredding zucchini with a spiralizer, you can create long raw noodle strands.

Spiralizers are inexpensive, and a fun kitchen tool to have on hand. We’ve used ours to make apple noodles for fruit salad, raw beet and sweet potato salads, and even cut potatoes for curly matchstick fries.

Once your zoodles are spiralized, you can simply toss them with other fresh ingredients for a quick light meal.

Zoodles (Zucchini Noodles) with Tomatoes and Capers Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (3)

Summer Night Dinner

Today I’m sharing 5-Ingredient Zoodles with Cherry Tomatoes and Capers, a fast and healthy go-to zucchini noodles recipe you can make in moments!

I tossed these zucchini noodles with sun-dried tomato pesto until well coated. Then I mixed in sweet cherry tomatoes, briny capers, and a handful of freshly shaved parmesan cheese.

This 5-ingredient recipe offers a sweet and salty combination that is extremely satisfying…

Especially on nights, you don’t feel like cooking.

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Zucchini Noodles Ingredients

  • Zucchini
  • Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto or Homemade Red Pepper Pesto
  • Cherry Tomatoes or Grape Tomatoes
  • Drained Capers
  • Shaved Parmesan Cheese

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How to Make Zoodles

  1. Grab your spiralizer and your zucchinis. Cut off the ends of the zucchini and then spiralize them into long strands. Put them in a large bowl and set aside.
  2. Take your cherry or grape tomatoes and cut them in half. Put them to the side in a separate bowl.
  3. Mix the pesto in with the zoodles and make sure that it is well mixed and all the zoodles have a good coating of the pesto.
  4. Top the pesto zoodles with the tomatoes and capers. Add a sprinkling of parmesan cheese.
  5. Serve it up!

Get The Full (Printable) Recipe Below For How To Make Zoodles (Zucchini Noodles).

Zoodles (Zucchini Noodles) with Tomatoes and Capers Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (6)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it last in the fridge?

This recipe can last in the fridge for 3-4 days. One thing to be careful of is the excess water that you might find in your air-tight container. The zucchini will release it’s moisture over time, so you may need to pour off the excess liquid when you eat the leftovers.

Why are my vegetable noodles soggy?

There are a few reasons why zoodles become soggy. The water content in the zucchini could be a factor. If your zoodles seem very moist, try using a paper towel to squeeze out some of the noodles before adding the pesto or any other ingredients.

You also have to be cautious about which kind of pesto that you use, because if it has higher water content, then that is going to turn the pesto from a thick sauce to a watery sauce.

Zoodles (Zucchini Noodles) with Tomatoes and Capers Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (7)

Other Vegetable Recipes

  • Braised Brussels Sprouts with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Artichokes, and Olives
  • Holy Guacamole (Healthy and Authentic)
  • Oven Roasted Broccoli Recipe
  • Roasted Cauliflower Rice Recipe
  • Perfect Baked Plantain Recipe
  • Ultimate Mashed Sweet Potato Recipe
  • Healthy Baked Zucchini Tots Recipe
  • Baked Kale Chips Recipe
  • Baked Turnip Fries (+ AirFryer) Recipe

Zoodles (Zucchini Noodles) with Tomatoes and Capers Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (8)

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Zoodles (Zucchini Noodles) with Tomatoes and Capers

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Fresh RAW 5-ingredient Zoodles with Capers and Cherry Tomatoes! This healthy zucchini noodles recipe is loaded with flavor and so easy to make.

Servings: 4

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Trim the ends of the zucchini and cut into noodles with a spiralizer. Place the "zoodles" in a large bowl. Cut the cherry tomatoes in half.

  • Add 1/3 cup pesto to the zoodles and mix to coat. Then top with the tomatoes and capers. Lightly toss, and serve with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g, Calories: 140kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 10mg, Sodium: 811mg, Potassium: 781mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 1220IU, Vitamin C: 63.4mg, Calcium: 218mg, Iron: 2.1mg

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Author: Sommer Collier

Making this recipe?Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!

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Zoodles (Zucchini Noodles) with Tomatoes and Capers Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (2024)

FAQs

How do you cook zucchini noodles so they don t get 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.

Are zoodles healthier than pasta? ›

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.

What's the difference between zucchini noodles and zoodles? ›

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.

Should you salt zucchini noodles before cooking? ›

Should I Salt Zucchini Noodles? 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!). Salting adds extra prep work.

How do you get excess moisture out of zoodles? ›

Sprinkle salt on the vegetables and let them sit overnight (or at least 6-8 hours), if possible. Remove the salt and the excess water by flushing in running water, then draining well and pressing between layers of paper towels before cooking them or by spinning the vegetables in a salad spinner.

How do you sweat zoodles? ›

Place the noodles on a cookie sheet lined with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt. “Sweat” the noodles in the oven for 30 minutes until the paper towels have absorbed most of the moisture that the zucchini let. Wrap the paper towels over the noodles and give them a good squeeze to extract any remaining liquid.

What is the healthiest pasta for weight loss? ›

The best type of pasta to eat while on a diet is pasta containing whole grains. In addition to whole wheat pasta, pasta made from other ingredients such as chickpeas, lentils, and veggies are great options when you are on a diet.

How many cups is 2 spiralized zucchini? ›

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.

Are zoodles high in carbs? ›

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.

Is it cheaper to make your own zoodles? ›

Plus, making your own zucchini noodles is cheaper than buying them at the store, and it's fun to transform a vegetable into your favorite pasta shapes. So grab a bunch of zucchini, and let's get started!

Can you get zucchini noodles at Olive Garden? ›

The Zoodles Primavera, which is part of Olive Garden's lower calorie Tastes of the Mediterranean menu, is available as a lunch portion for $8.99 or as a dinner size for $14.99. You can add chicken for an extra two bucks and shrimp for $4.

What is healthier spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles? ›

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.

Why do you soak zucchini in salt water? ›

Salt causes zucchini rounds to release excess water. This important extra step helps the zucchini to sauté rather than stew in its own juices.

Are you supposed to boil zucchini noodles? ›

Don't! We like our regular pasta with a nice al dente bite, and the same goes for cooking zoodles! If you serve a warm sauce over the noodles, it will gently heat them through, so no actual cooking is necessary.

How long to salt zucchini to remove moisture? ›

If you do not have kosher salt on hand, use a teaspoon or so of regular table salt. 1. Place zucchini slices in colander and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons salt. Set colander over bowl until about 1/3 cup water drains from zucchini, about 30 minutes.

Why is my zucchini so slimy when I cook it? ›

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.

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