Pesto zucchini noodles, or zoodles, tossed with juicy sautéed shrimp are a simple, scrumptious low-carb dinner! Make this recipe in a single skillet with store-bought or selfmade basil pesto and tender spiralized zucchini.
Swap the shrimp to your favourite elements! I like this pesto zucchini noodles recipe tossed with creamy Hen Lazone, zesty Italian mushrooms, or extra veggies for a light-weight, flavor-packed meal.
Springtime Fridays are made for the coldest glass of chardonnay and simple dinners, like these tender, flavor-loaded pesto zucchini noodles. I handed a current haul of zucchini via the spiralizer the opposite night time, then cooked some juicy shrimp and sautéed all the pieces along with contemporary basil pesto. It was scrumptious and so refreshing. Even my husband, who makes spaghetti at the very least as soon as every week, wolfed up these pesto zoodles and went again for seconds.
What Makes This Pesto Zoodles Recipe So Nice?
- Contemporary flavors. I’ve made this recipe with selfmade pesto and store-bought pesto (when time is of the essence) and it’s scrumptious each methods. The brilliant, zesty, basil and parmesan flavors do wonders for spiralized veggies!
- Filling protein. I toss my pesto zucchini noodles with juicy sautéed jumbo shrimp, however you should use any protein you favor. Totally different seafood, rooster, steak bites… absolutely anything goes. You possibly can even make a vegetarian model with further greens or mushrooms.
- One pan. Prepare dinner the protein and zucchini noodles in the identical pan, and add the pesto proper on the finish. It’s a quick and simple, one-skillet dinner that’s prepared in 20 minutes.
Elements You’ll Want
With zucchini season approaching, I’m already dreaming of all of the fritters and salads on the horizon. Spiralizing these summer time veggies is only one extra method to take pleasure in them! I’ve included some fast recipe notes right here, and you’ll discover the printable recipe card and step-by-step instructions on the backside of the put up.
- Olive Oil – Or avocado oil, for sautéeing.
- Shrimp – I exploit pre-cooked jumbo shrimp. You should utilize contemporary or frozen shrimp, ensuring to peel and devein them as wanted. Thaw frozen shrimp fully beforehand.
- Garlic – Freshly minced cloves, or you may substitute ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder per clove.
- Zucchini – I normally finances 1 entire zucchini per particular person every time I make this recipe. Select contemporary, ripe zucchini that’s agency and darkish inexperienced. There are a number of methods which you could flip zucchini into zoodles (see beneath).
- Pesto – Be at liberty to make use of your favourite jarred or selfmade basil pesto. I even have recipes for parsley pesto and spinach pesto that additionally go nice with zucchini noodles.
- Parmesan – End your pesto zoodles with freshly grated parmesan, pecorino, or any cheese you’d like. Goat cheese or feta would additionally style scrumptious.
Make Zucchini Noodles
There’s multiple method to zoodle – I like my countertop spiralizer, however these are different instruments that you should use to make zucchini noodles at house:
- Spiralizer. I exploit my spiralizer to make curly zoodles that look just like spaghetti. You should utilize a countertop spiralizer, or a KitchenAid spiralizer attachment.
- Julienne. Use a handheld julienne peeler to make thinner “angel hair” zucchini noodles. These will want hardly any cooking time.
- Mandoline. Use a mandoline to slice the zucchini into planks, after which slice the planks into lengthy strips, just like fettuccine.
- Vegetable peeler. Use an ordinary veggie peeler to make lengthy and extensive, pappardelle-style zucchini ribbons.
What Else Can I Add to Zoodles?
I’m at all times altering up this zucchini noodles recipe with seasonal elements. I’ll add grilled shrimp in the summertime, or swap shrimp for an additional protein altogether. These are some concepts to strive year-round:
- Seafood. As an alternative of shrimp, make this recipe with seared scallops, or nestle a salmon filet over prime earlier than serving.
- Hen. Strive slicing up rooster breast or parmesan crusted rooster. Or, toss these zoodles with crispy rooster spiedini.
- Veggies. Add much more greens like pan-fried oyster mushrooms, burst cherry tomatoes, roasted asparagus, and steamed broccoli.
- Beef. Prime a mattress of pesto zoodles with sliced New York strip steak or grilled steak.
- Nuts and seeds. Pine nuts, crushed pecans, walnuts, slivered almonds, and pepitas (or pumpkin seeds) are tasty methods so as to add crunch to those zucchini noodles with pesto.
- Spicy. Add crushed purple pepper flakes or chopped contemporary chilies, like poblanos or jalapeños.
- Creamy. Add a splash of heavy cream, half-and-half, or stir in a spoonful of cream cheese for creamy pesto zucchini noodles.
Serving Options
These one-pan pesto zucchini noodles with shrimp are a meal-in-one, so if I’ve one thing on the aspect, it’s normally some charred vine tomatoes, contemporary heirloom tomato salad, or Mediterranean salad, and possibly some tender garlic breadsticks for the desk. Since we’re loading up on scrumptious veggies for dinner, it’s solely truthful to observe it up with a thick slice of pumpkin spice cake for dessert. Elevate your glass(es) of chardonnay and luxuriate in!
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- Refrigerate. Zucchini noodles are greatest served contemporary. Cooked zucchini tends to change into a bit soggy as soon as it’s saved within the sauce. That being mentioned, you may retailer leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for a day or two. Zucchini isn’t an important candidate for freezing.
- Reheat. Heat the zoodles gently in a skillet or the microwave. They’ll change into softer as they reheat.
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Prepare dinner the shrimp. Warmth 1 tablespoon olive oil in a big skillet over medium-high warmth. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper, and add them to the skillet. Sauté for two to three minutes, or till pink and cooked via. Take away from the skillet and put aside in a bowl.
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Sauté. Add the remaining olive oil to the skillet, then add garlic and prepare dinner for 15 seconds, or till aromatic.
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Prepare dinner the zucchini noodles. Add the spiralized zucchini to the skillet and proceed to prepare dinner for 7 minutes or till tender, stirring ceaselessly.
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Put all of it collectively. Add the shrimp again to skillet, stir within the pesto, and prepare dinner simply till all the pieces is heated via, about 1 minute.
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Serve. Switch the zoodles to a serving bowl, sprinkle with parmesan cheese, and serve!
Serving: 1.5cups | Energy: 217kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 3g | Fats: 19g | Saturated Fats: 3g | Ldl cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 306mg | Potassium: 511mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1040IU | Vitamin C: 35.6mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 0.9mg
Dietary information is an estimate and offered as courtesy. Values could differ in response to the elements and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
Make Pesto Zucchini Noodles (With Shrimp)
My #1 recommendation when cooking zucchini noodles is: Don’t overcook. Zoodles want solely a fast flash within the pan to warmth via and change into al dente. On this recipe, the nice and cozy pesto is sufficient to soften them. Observe the steps beneath:
- Sauté the shrimp. First, season the shrimp with salt and pepper, then sauté them in a big skillet with oil for 2-3 minutes. Set the shrimp apart for now.
- Prepare dinner the zoodles. Subsequent, add garlic to the pan, and as soon as that’s aromatic, add the zucchini noodles. Prepare dinner for 5-7 minutes till the zucchini is tender.
- Put all of it collectively. Add the shrimp again to the skillet, stir within the pesto, and let all the pieces warmth via earlier than serving. Sprinkle over contemporary parmesan, and dig in.
