If you know how to cook zucchini noodles you can have a healthy and delicious side dish ready to eat in just minutes – perfectly seasoned with just butter and herbs or topped with your favorite pasta sauce.
How to Cook Zucchini Noodles
If you’re like me, you likely prefer to eat your zucchini cooked. So, here’s the best way to cook zucchini noodles. It’s going to take less time than you think.
First, and the most important part of cooking zucchini noodles, is not to overcook them. You’re barely bringing them to a warm temperature when cooking them. You don’t want to change the texture much at all.
Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles
My favorite way to cook zucchini noodles is to saute them. Heat up a pan or skillet on medium-high heat for a minute. Then, add a bit of oil and the zucchini noodles.
Note: Zucchini has a very high water content. You can quickly end up with a pan full of mush if you overcook them.
Don’t overcrowd the pan, but leave them plenty of room to breathe. After about 60 seconds, you should be able to flip them once.
Then, give them a taste test. If they aren’t ready, check again in 30 seconds. They are finished when they are tender and crisp.
Best Way To Cook Zucchini Noodles
I can’t overstate the importance of testing with a fork and also tasting the vegetables when trying new cooking methods.
We prefer our vegetables more firm than soft, with a solid bite to them. If you prefer your vegetables to be a bit more cooked, just add a minute or two to the provided cooking times. It’s always better to err on the side of undercooked versus overdone.
Keep in mind that cooking times are estimates and adjust them to be exactly what you like best.
Zucchini with Parmesan
- Trim the ends of the zucchini and use the method of your choice to create zucchini noodles. A spiralizer will make quick work of this task.
- Heat the oil in a large skill over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for just about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Add the zucchini noodles and toss them for barely a minute until they are warm. Remove from the heat.
- Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle on the grated parmesan, if desired. Toss once more and serve warm. If desired, top with warm marinara or a hearty meat sauce.
Whether you choose to grill, roast, steam, fry, or saute zucchini, there’s no end to the ways you can enjoy this summer vegetable.
Just try stuffing cheese and thinly sliced zucchini between buttery crisp tortillas, and you’ll never think of vegetable quesadillas the same way again.
Parmesan zucchini can best be described as crispy and delicious – it’s also been described as the best way possible to eat zucchini. This zucchini stir fry with chicken is another easy dinner that delivers a whole lot of great flavor.
Saucy and cheesy, BBQ Chicken Zucchini Boats are a deliciously hearty meal that is a refreshing change from the typical sandwiches we usually make with leftover chicken.
Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 3-4 medium zucchini about 6 cups of noodles
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt adjust to taste
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper adjust to taste
- 2 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan OPTIONAL
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice OPTIONAL
Instructions
- Trim the ends of the zucchini and use the method of your choice to create zucchini noodles. A spiralizer will make quick work of this task.
- Heat the oil in a large skill over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for just about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Add the zucchini noodles and toss them for barely a minute until they are warm. Remove from the heat.
- Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle on the grated parmesan and squeeze lemon over the zucchini, if desired. Toss once more and serve warm.
Nutrition
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