Ahhh, summer. It is that time of year again when hot summer days are spent lazing around the pool, drinking rosé, and eating an abundance of fresh produce. From June to August, summer squashes reign king with their ability to be turned in to sweet breads, savory mains, and lets not forget, faux noodles.
Since turning veggies into noodles became a craze a few years ago, I decided it was worth a try. I took my first bite and was surprised by how similar the texture of lightly cooked zoodles are to al dente pasta. After getting sick of garlic and oil zoodles or zoodles with red sauce, I decided to start experimenting. Avocado and zucchini is an unlikely pair, but they really do make an amazing team. This recipe is the perfect light dish for summer. I like to eat it for lunch instead of a salad (it holds up well in the fridge) or for dinner I’ll add proteins like crumbled tempeh or chickpeas. If you eat meat, this would go nicely with grilled chicken or fish. It also works as an awesome side dish. Plus, this recipe can easily be doubled or even tripled. Have I sold it yet? 🙂
Recipe (serves 2)
2 medium zucchinis spiralized or julienned
1 medium avocado
1/2 lemon
2 cloves of minced garlic
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
Any add-ons such as spinach, tomatoes, or proteins
- Heat the zucchini over medium-high heat until the zoodles begin to cook down. They will release a lot of their water content and begin to stream.
- While the zoodles are cooking mash the avocado in a bowl add garlic, lemon juice, and salt and pepper. Mix well.
- After the zoodles are almost finished cooking, about five minutes, add the avocado mixture to the pan and mix with the noodles well.
- If you are adding leafy greens, such as spinach or arugala, add to the pan and let it cook. If you are adding tomatoes or proteins, add to the pan when completing step one.
- Enjoy!
P.S. If you don’t have a spiralizer, I would highly recommend adding the tool to your kitchen. You can find one for under $10 on Amazon. Also, Trader Joes sells spiralized zucchini in both the fresh produce section and the frozen foods aisle.