These Zucchini Noodles with Cherry Tomatoes, Basil and Parmesan Cheese is a seasonal recipe made with ingredients straight from the garden. I like to cook with the seasons in mind to enjoy fresh produce at its’ peak and have lots of variety naturally built into the way I cook.
Zucchini noodles, cutely referred to as zoodles, are quick and easy plus it's another way to use all the zucchini that people are giving away at this time of year. Everyone who grows zucchini simply has too many so if you haven’t tried making zoodles do it now. If you don't have a spiralizer you can use a vegetable peeler to peel long zucchini ribbons and cook them like that or slice the ribbons into thin strips.
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Farm-To-Table Zoodles
I’ve written about my Gourmet Dinner Club many times, especially our annual farm-to-table dinner at Kathy’s farm. It’s always a casual affair yet spectacular to eat outdoors and create a menu that showcases locally grown food. This year it was spontaneous and the final email read, “come after work, pick anything in the garden and make a dish with it.”
I knew immediately I was making a side dish of zoodles!
Kathy provided lamb burgers made from animals she raised herself. We all chipped in to create the rest of the meal and a memorable farm-to-table experience.
We walked around the gardens, dug Bintje potatoes and got a lesson on pronouncing that name. I picked zucchini and summer squash and got help delivering the excess zucchini to our cars. We took turns holding glasses of wine while we dug beets and pulled shallots and garlic. Others snipped string beans, salad greens, herbs and edible flowers. We tasted different varieties of cucumbers and tomatoes and Kathy even gathered a basket of fresh eggs just in case. This photo is my final dish that I called Garden Zoodles.
Get The Tools
You don’t really need a tool to make vegetable spirals but it sure makes the job quick and easy. I picked up a small handheld gadget so I could try some recipes with zucchini noodles and will definitely be making more spiralized vegetables soon. Here are some options to consider.
If you get a gadget to spiralize your vegetables go beyond just zucchini and summer squash noodles. Try apple, beet, carrot, cabbage, cucumber, parsnips, turnip, potato, sweet potato and butternut squash. I’m going to try a vegetable version of my Vietnamese Salad Rolls with spiralized vegetables.
Let me know in the comments below what you like to make with your spiralized vegetables or what you’ve been making with zoodles.
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More Zucchini Recipes
- Pan-fried Zucchini Fritters
- Try altering this recipe for Pasta with Fresh Sorrel and Feta by substituting zoodles for the pasta. The omit the zucchini and you have another version of Zucchini Noodles with Cherry Tomatoes and Feta. If you don't have fresh sorrel substitute with spinach or omit it.
- Zucchini Tomato Yellow Split Pea Dal
- Greek Moussaka
- Vegetable Stacks
- Mongolian Pork Chops with Grilled Zucchini and Peppers
Zucchini Noodles with Cherry Tomatoes, Basil and Parmesan Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 medium zucchini
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 shallot, finely chopped (or 2 tablespoon onion)
- 6-8 cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves, cut or torn if large
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
- OPTIONAL – zucchini blossoms for garnish
Instructions
- Trim and spiralize zucchini. Alternately, make long ribbons using a vegetable peeler and slice into thin strips.
- Heat oil over in large saucepan over medium heat.
- Add garlic and shallot, cook for 2 minutes.
- Increase heat to medium high then add zucchini in centre of the pan and place cherry tomatoes around the edge.
- Gently turn the zucchini noodles using tongs or a pasta stirrer, making sure all zucchini touches the pan. Cook for 4-5 minutes until zucchini is wilted but still has a crunch.
- Add basil, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Stir and cook for 1 minute.
- Garnish with zucchini blossoms if available. Serve immediately.
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