Zoodles with Basil Cherry Tomato Sauce, Pine Nuts & Lemon Zest

Hi there!

Happy 4th of July weekend to all of my fellow Americans! I am certainly looking forward to a 3-day holiday weekend. Whose got fun plans for the 4th? I’ve got a beach yoga class and hanging out at a friend’s house on the agenda, and I’m hoping to catch some fireworks on Saturday night.

Today I’m sharing a new recipe that will probably become a go-to dinner in my kitchen. Packed with veggies and flavor, it’s a healthy meal that revolves around my recent favorite kitchen gadget: my spiralizer!

I’ve seriously been a spiralizing maniac. My hubby and I have eaten zoodles so often in the last few months, he’s started joking around and putting the letter ‘z’ in words where it shouldn’t be.

For instance, we started saying ‘zauce’ instead of tomato sauce.

He told me I created a ‘zess’ after I made quite a mess making this meal. Get it, a zoodle mess?!

We also said I should start calling it a ‘zoodlizer’ instead of spiralizer because I have only been putting zucchini in my new favorite gadget lately. Note to self: Branch out and get more creative with my spiralizing ASAP. 

But for right now, zoodles are my love. Speaking of things I love, a flavorful tomato sauce is on my list of things I’m forever obsessed with. I like to make my tomato sauce zoodle dishes really saucy so that I can dip pieces of fresh bread in, but you can conserve some of the tomato sauce for another occasion if you aren’t quite as obsessed with it as I am (no hard feelings).

For my beloved tomato sauce in this recipe, I used ripe cherry tomatoes, a can of diced tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic and sweet onion. I also threw in some lemon zest for a summery, citrusy flavor punch, and some pine nuts for some crunch and healthy fat.

I included grated mozzarella in the recipe, but you could always keep this dish vegan by omitting it. The mozz gives the meal more saltiness and more protein, but either way it’s delish.

Trust me when I tell you that I love a fresh pasta dish and am not one to go throwing out statements about veggies making a believable substitute for real pasta (I’m talking about you, my beloved spaghetti squash!), but with this dish, you don’t even miss the pasta. I promise!

Zoodles with Basil Cherry Tomato Sauce, Pine Nuts & Lemon Zest

Foodie Loves Fitness

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Servings 2 -3

Ingredients

  

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• 3 large zucchini
• 2 cups of cherry tomatoes
• 1-14 oz can of diced tomatoes
• 1/4 cup of packed fresh basil
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1/4 sweet onion
• 1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup pignolia nuts
• 1/2 cup grated mozzarella optional
• Zest from 1/2 lemon
• 1/2 TSP salt plus more to taste
• 1/4 TSP pepper plus more to taste
• Fresh slices of bread for dipping (optional)

Instructions

 

• Quarter cherry tomatoes, chop basil, and mince garlic and onion. Spiralize zucchini.
• Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium low heat. Add in minced garlic and onion, and cook for 5 minutes, or until they begin to lightly brown.
• Meanwhile, throw diced tomatoes in a food processor or blender. Pulse until mostly smooth.
• Transfer both cherry tomatoes and pureed diced tomatoes to the pan. Add in fresh basil, 1/2 TSP of salt and 1/4 TSP of pepper. Cover, and cook for about 10 minutes, or until sauce thickens and the cherry tomatoes are nice and tender. Stir a few times while it's cooking.
• Add zoodles, pine nuts and lemon zest to the pan. Toss together to combine, and allow to cook for just about 2 minutes, or until zucchini is a bit more tender, but not cooked and shrunk in size. Add in more salt and pepper if desired.
• Distribute the zoodle recipe into 2-3 dishes to serve. Sprinkle grated mozzarella onto each dish, and serve with crusty fresh bread for dipping.

Notes

*This recipe will make a lot of tomato sauce for the dish. If you don't like your sauce saucy (ha!), simply remove a few large spoonfuls before adding in the zoodles. Reserve for use at another time.*

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Tell me… Do you spiralize? Zucchini – yay or nay? 

YAY all the way for me… It’s one of my favorite veggies!