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 do-it-yourself basil pesto and tender spiralized zucchini.
Swap the shrimp to your favourite components! 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 latest haul of zucchini by way of the spiralizer the opposite evening, 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 not less than as soon as every week, wolfed up these pesto zoodles and went again for seconds.
What Makes This Pesto Zoodles Recipe So Nice?
- Recent flavors. I’ve made this recipe with do-it-yourself pesto and store-bought pesto (when time is of the essence) and it’s scrumptious each methods. The intense, 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 utilize any protein you favor. Completely different seafood, rooster, steak bites… absolutely anything goes. You may even make a vegetarian model with additional 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.
Substances You’ll Want
With zucchini season approaching, I’m already dreaming of all of the fritters and salads on the horizon. Spiralizing these summer season 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 publish.
- Olive Oil – Or avocado oil, for sautéeing.
- Shrimp – I take advantage of 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 price range 1 complete zucchini per individual at any time when I make this recipe. Select contemporary, ripe zucchini that’s agency and darkish inexperienced. There are a number of methods which you can flip zucchini into zoodles (see beneath).
- Pesto – Be happy to make use of your favourite jarred or do-it-yourself 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.
Methods to Make Zucchini Noodles
There’s a couple of method to zoodle – I like my countertop spiralizer, however these are different instruments that you should utilize to make zucchini noodles at dwelling:
- Spiralizer. I take advantage of 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 a typical veggie peeler to make lengthy and vast, pappardelle-style zucchini ribbons.
What Else Can I Add to Zoodles?
I’m all the time altering up this zucchini noodles recipe with seasonal components. 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 a substitute of shrimp, make this recipe with seared scallops, or nestle a salmon filet over high earlier than serving.
- Hen. Attempt 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 pink 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 Strategies
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 comfortable garlic breadsticks for the desk. Since we’re loading up on scrumptious veggies for dinner, it’s solely honest to observe it up with a thick slice of pumpkin spice cake for dessert. Increase your glass(es) of chardonnay and luxuriate in!
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- Refrigerate. Zucchini noodles are finest served contemporary. Cooked zucchini tends to turn out to be a bit soggy as soon as it’s saved within the sauce. That being stated, you may retailer leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for a day or two. Zucchini isn’t a fantastic candidate for freezing.
- Reheat. Heat the zoodles gently in a skillet or the microwave. They’ll turn out to be softer as they reheat.
Pin this now to search out it later
-
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 by way of. Take away from the skillet and put aside in a bowl.
-
Sauté. Add the remaining olive oil to the skillet, then add garlic and prepare dinner for 15 seconds, or till aromatic.
-
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.
-
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 by way of, about 1 minute.
-
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 supplied as courtesy. Values might fluctuate in accordance with the components and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
Methods to 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 by way of and turn out to be al dente. On this recipe, the nice and cozy pesto is sufficient to soften them. Comply with 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 by way of earlier than serving. Sprinkle over contemporary parmesan, and dig in.
