Zucchini Noodle Salad with Beans, Feta, and Lemon Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (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.

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.

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.

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!).

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 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.

As of yesterday, the Italian chain's carb-heavy menu got a bit lighter with the introduction of Zoodles Primavera. Ahead of summer, Olive Garden is adding the zucchini noodle dish as a healthier alternative to similar, higher calorie offerings. Here's a hot take for you: Better for you can also mean better tasting.

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.

Thin Blade (small core): for a 2 mm ribbon-style result to make extra-thin slices for salads and other garnishes. Slicing Blade (small core): for a 4 mm ribbon-style result with fresh fruits and vegetables with little to no cores, such as zucchini.

kitchen knife is always a good option for making zucchini noodles at home, especially if you're not looking to buy any specialized gadgets. To make zucchini noodles with a kitchen knife, slice off each end of the zucchini and then slice it lengthwise into thin planks.

How do you know if zucchini noodles have gone bad? ›

Mushy texture: A spoiled zucchini has a mushy or stringy texture when you cut it, and it may feel slimy to the touch. "Off" smell or taste: If your zucchini smells sour or foul in any way, or if it tastes unusually bitter, it has likely gone bad.

Caloric Density: Regular pasta tends to be denser in calories compared to zucchini noodles. If you are looking to increase calorie intake or need sustained energy for physical activities, traditional pasta may be a better choice.

Dogs can eat both raw and cooked zucchini, but cooked zucchini will be easier for them to digest (and is less likely to cause an upset stomach or diarrhea). Cooking zucchini also helps to break down any harmful bacteria that might be present.

Zucchini noodles benefit from raw or quick-cooking preparations. Cooking them longer won't make them any crunchier — it'll just do the opposite. "They're not supposed to be mushy, but zucchini is also never going to be al dente like pasta," explained Gellman.