Cooking Tips: Zucchini as a Pasta Replacement

Pasta is a food type that is really quite popular. It's no wonder too, considering how simple pasta dishes can be to make. Unfortunately, the simplicity of pasta often comes directly at odds with trying to be healthier. In order to help decrease carbs in meals, here are some pretty simple ways to replace ordinary pasta with some zucchini without sacrificing flavor or texture.

Men's Health Magazine suggests slicing zukes lengthwise into 3/4" thick strips and sprinkling them with Italian seasoning. Bake at 425° for 20 minutes, then bake the lasagna normally, but replace the lasagna noodles with the zucchini.

My Madison Bistro recommends replacing regular spaghetti noodles with zucchini by creating vegetable spirals and tossing it in with your favorite pasta sauce or dish instead of your regular, dried pasta.

Don't have a good mechanical vegetable slicer? That's okay. Use a regular vegetable peeler or cheese slicer to "peel" the zucchini tip to tip. You'll end up with thin, flat, long peels which you can then cut down to your preferred size or shape with a paring knife.

Are you looking for a recipe to try this out on? Check out the Zucchini "Spaghetti" with Quick Sausage, Tomato, and Basil Sauce recipe over at Kalyn's Kitchen. Skinny Taste also has a delicious Zucchini Lasagna recipe worth checking out.

Enjoy!

Comments

[Gaye]

I can't make it my designated free-day and cheat on a daily basis:( It beigns when I don't plan my meals and decide, Oh, I'll just stop and grab something at McDonald's. Then, I get a 560 calorie bacon egg and cheese bagel and a 140 calorie hash brown for breakfast 2pm rolls around and you will find me scrounging for change to hit the vending machine for 3 musketeers, m&ms, or some other delectible treat. Good grief! One Free Day! ONE!I love your tips and awesome recipes. Keep up the good work!

[Carlos]

Ooooh I love zucchini crsips! I once tried making them fried, but the baked version actually tastes better! Sometimes I make them into "fries" too :)

[Rhebburn]

This looks and sounds like a healthy and yummy alternative to pasta! Very creative!~