If you’ve ever heard someone complain that zoodles “aren’t enough like real noodles” — usually accompanied with a complaint that they’re soggy — chances are they were overcooked.
The problem is that when you cook your zucchini noodles, especially if you’ve salted them, a lot of their moisture immediately leaks out. This can lead to watery sauces and stir-fries, which, let’s be real, no one wants.
Overcooking your zoodles also leads to a loss of nutrients, and since you’re likely eating them for the health benefits to begin with, you definitely don’t want to be missing out on those vitamins.
Luckily, there’s a solution! Zucchini noodles are actually delicious when served raw. They take well to dressings and sauces and have a pleasant crisp-tender texture that’ll keep you going back for that next bite.
If you’re uncertain about how to use raw zucchini noodles, take a look at the following recipes. Try raw zoodles once, and we guarantee you’ll be hooked.
Basil Alfredo Zoodles
Make a creamy raw pesto Alfredo sauce from cashews, butter beans and basil, then toss with raw zucchini noodles and cherry tomatoes for a fresh, light summer meal.
Coconut-Garlic Shrimp With Zoodles
Raw zoodles bring balance to this garlicky shrimp dish. Keep things light by using unrefined coconut oil instead of coconut cream to bring flavor to your meal.
Cod en Papillote With Zoodles Marinara
You can pair raw zoodles with cooked foods. Choose something light, like cod baked in parchment, and serve it with the crisp-tender raw zoodles for a refreshing textural contrast.
Raw Peanut Zoodle Salad
Thin ribbons of zucchini act like noodles in this fresh and fragrant Thai-inspired salad. There's peanut butter in the sauce, which makes it ultra-creamy and also adds some plant-based protein to your meal.
Zucchini, Carrot & Cucumber Zoodles
Once you start to get used to zucchini noodles, you can branch out. Combined with spiralized carrots and cucumbers, they become part of a multicolor, multi-texture salad that you'll want to make part of your weekly menu.
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