Would you like a light, summery dish with few calories and a wonderful taste? Then you've come to the right place - we offer you an alternative to traditional pasta. Perfect for anyone who wants to try a grain-free version of the popular pasta. The zucchini noodles are gluten-free, perfect for vegans, allergy sufferers and anyone who wants to eat healthily and at the same time don't want to miss out on Italian delicacies. In the article you will find a list of the different cutting and preparation options. As well as some tips for garnishing. Let yourself be inspired by the vegetable spaghetti and surprise the family with delicious food.
Make your own vegetable spaghetti from zucchini using a spiral cutter
The spiral cutter proves to be an indispensable kitchen aid when preparing spaghetti noodles. There are numerous models available on the market in different designs. Its blades are crucial to the end result - the motor-driven versions (which are confusingly similar to a mixer) are usually equipped with interchangeable blades. In the others they are usually built in. Robust stainless steel knives are recommended, as they will cut the pasta over timeProcess zucchinican.
Furthermore, easy handling and the least possible effort required play an important role as criteria when purchasing. Last but not least, the accessories should be easy to clean and take up little space in the cupboard. Some models can even be taken apart and cleaned in the dishwasher. Last but not least, the length of the pasta is important - automated spiral cutters usually process the zucchini into long spaghetti, which then have to be cut in half.
Advantages at a glance: most of them haveSpiral cutter is easy to use, can be easily cleaned under running water and produces even spaghetti.
Disadvantages at a glance: depending on the model, they can take up a lot of space. The space-saving, compact alternatives usually require more effort.
Make your own pasta without a spiral cutter
Since the zucchini are soft vegetables that require little effort to process, they can also be cut into spaghetti without a spiral cutter. If you have a julienne maker at home, you can easily make thin pasta with it. Simply pull the julienne cutter lengthways over the zucchini and cut carefully until you reach the center with the seeds. Then turn over and continue on the other side. You can't use the seeds for spaghetti - the meat is too soft and the noodles will fall apart. The procedure for the vegetable slicer is similar.
Advantages of the julienner and vegetable slicer: They produce long, evenly thin noodles effortlessly. Space-saving, practical, easy to clean, easy to use.
Disadvantages of the julienner and vegetable slicer: They take more time to cut and cannot use the core of the zucchini. There is a risk of injury if you are not careful when cutting.
And this is what the end result looks like: at the top left are the zucchini noodles made with the vegetable slicer, at the bottom right - the spaghetti cut with the julienner. For everyone elseVariants were differentModels spiral cutter used.
Eat the pasta raw and garnish with avocado sauce
When it comes to preparing the popular zucchini noodles, you shouldn't forget one thing in particular - the vegetable, like cucumber, consists of 95% water. To ensure that the spaghetti does not turn into a sticky mass, the preparation time is very important. Because zucchini are not cooked, but warmed up. Even one minute is too much… just too much and the end result will not be convincing. Beginners and vegans can easily make pastaeat raw– and garnish with a delicious avocado sauce. Simply puree an avocado with a cucumber, a squeezed lemon and 2-3 cloves of garlic, add a pinch of salt and pepper and mix with the pasta.
Sauté the noodles and eat with shrimp
For the next recipe they will beVegetable noodles sautéed– simply add 2-3 drops of cold-pressed virgin olive oil to a pan and fry the pasta over medium heat for 1-2 minutes. You can prepare the gluten-free spaghetti made in this way with shrimp.
Here are the ingredients for the quick recipe: 4 zucchini for the pasta, 30 peeled and cleaned shrimp, 2 teaspoons olive oil, 4 garlic cloves, 2 teaspoons butter, juice and zest of 1 squeezed lemon, 1/4 cup white wine, 1/4 cup parsley , pinch of salt and pepper. Preparation: First add olive oil to a pan, then preheat the hob and fry the shrimp on one side for 1-2 minutes over medium heat, turn them over, add the pressed garlic cloves and fry again for 1-2 minutes. Carefully remove the shrimp and add the butter, white wine, lemon juice and lemon zest to the pan. Bring to a boil and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. Then add the shrimp and noodles, stir and cook for a minute.
Cook the spaghetti and serve with minced meat and Bolognese sauce
Similar to Italian pasta, this method is super easy and very quick - just bring water to the boil in a pot, then let the zucchini noodles cook for a minute, then remove from the heat. To prevent them from sticking, add a drop of olive oil to the water. At the end, pour the noodles into a bowl. Here you cana saucePrepare Bolognese according to the classic recipe and garnish with it.
The necessary ingredients at a glance: 5 large zucchini for the pasta, 500 grams of minced meat, 10 pureed tomatoes, 1/2 onion, diced, 3 pressed garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon oregano, 1/4 sea salt, pepper, cheese to taste. Preparation: first add olive oil to a heated pan and fry the onion for 2-3 minutes, then add the garlic cloves and fry for another minute. Add the tomatoes and oregano and let the sauce thicken on the hob for 20-30 minutes. Stir the mixture occasionally. Meanwhile, place the minced meat in a separate pot and stir with a wooden spoon. When the meat is ready, add it to the thickened sauce, add salt, pepper and basil if desired and stir to combine. Serve the zucchini noodles with the sauce and garnish with cheese of your own preference.
Bake noodles
Yes, you can bake the zucchini noodles - but to what extent this preparation technique really makes sense is questionable. It takes longer than the other three and as far as taste goes, the end result isn't really that different. But if all hobs are currently occupied, then you canPrepare spaghetti in the oven. Simply set the oven to 90 degrees and preheat it, then place the pasta on baking paper on the baking tray and bake for 10-15 minutes. Serve with pesto sauce, cherry tomatoes and mozzarella.
