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A bowl of spiralized zoodles next to a spiralizer.
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5 from 5 votes

Simply Cooked Zoodles for Pasta (Recipe)

Cooking zoodles can be surprisingly tricky since they get watery and soggy very quickly. Here's a quick step-by-step way to cook them to prevent that from happening. The instructions include making zoodles with a spiralizer.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Course: vegan main or side dish
Cuisine: Any
Keyword: how to cook zoodles, how to make zoodles, simple zoodles
Servings: 2
Calories: 95.6kcal
Author: Susan Pridmore

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 medium zucchini
  • 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced or 1 teaspoon purchased Garlic Paste
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • lemon wedge

Instructions

Make Zoodles

  • Set up. Anchor the spiralizer to a work space so that it won't move around while you spiralize the zucchini. Insert the grater with the smallest holes. Place a bowl at the end to catch the spirals of zucchini.
  • Prep. Choose the straightest zucchini. Slice off the top and bottom of the zucchini, and trim to get the top and bottom parallel to each other. This makes it easier to get firm attachment to the spiralizer.
  • Attach. Fit one end of the zucchini into the center spoke of the grater, and anchor it with the prongs on the handle (shown on the right).
    A zucchini positioned in a spiralizer between the grater and the handle. Some zoodles are spilling into a bowl.
  • Twirl. Turn the handle to spin the zucchini around the spoke, and against the grater. As you push the zucchini through the grater with your other hand, zoodles come out the other end.
  • Cut. The strands are long, so it's best to cut them a couple of times to create shorter zoodles.

How to Cook Simple Zoodles

  • Flavor Foundation. Warm the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and add the garlic and crushed red pepper flakes. Sauté for about 30 seconds, or until very fragrant.
  • Sauté. Add the zoodles, and gently toss using tongs to coat. Cook for 2 - 3 minutes, until the zoodles begin to relax into the pan. Lightly salt and pepper, toss, and transfer to a plate.
  • Serve. Serve with grated Parmesan and lemon wedges.

Nutrition

Calories: 95.6kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 4.1g | Fat: 6.1g | Saturated Fat: 1.5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3.3g | Cholesterol: 4.3mg | Sodium: 112mg | Potassium: 542.6mg | Fiber: 2.2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 583.8IU | Vitamin C: 36mg | Calcium: 82.7mg | Iron: 0.9mg