Spiralized zucchini cooked in a scampi sauce and served over couscous for a satisfying vegetarian dinner!
Shrimp scampi is the first dish I learned to make as an adult, and all these years later it remains a favorite. Wait – full disclosure – it was my first dish after learning how to top pasta with sauce out of a jar, broil garlic bread – the kind that comes ready-made in a bag, and whip up hot fudge sundaes. I had my priorities.
But next was shrimp scampi. I religiously ordered it in restaurants if it was on the menu, and wanted to make it at home. Now that I'm mostly vegetarian, I've tried a few times to recreate it – vegetarian style – but it never really hit the mark for me. Until now. And this time it was all about the spice blend I used – Healthy Solutions Spice Blends – Shrimp Scampi. They nailed the flavors!
Healthy Solutions sent me a packet of their Shrimp Scampi seasoning pack for their 2015 Blogger Recipe Challenge I've entered. I'm competing against 99 other talented bloggers' creations. I can't wait to see what everyone else comes up with! I liked the Shrimp Scampi blend so much, I used it all up and ordered more. And I'm trying a bunch more I'm sure I'll be writing about. Go check out their site to see their selection, and wish me luck in the contest!!
Since the flavor was all dialed in for me, I decided to have some fun with the actual dish. I have a new spiralizer – which I ADORE – and decided to spiralize some zucchini as the star of the dish and used the traditional butter, white wine, garlic, and tomatoes for my vegetarian scampi and served the whole thing over couscous to soak up all the wonderful sauce. To die for, and my new go-to dinner that's ready in under 30 minutes. Woot!
Zucchetti Scampi over Couscous
Ingredients
Zucchetti Scampi
- 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 spring garlic including 3" of the stem, minced, or 5 cloves regular garlic
- 1 large shallot minced (about 1 1/2 Tbsp)
- 1/4 cup white wine
- 1 Tbsp Healthy Solutions Shrimp Scampi Spice Blend
- 2 large zucchini spiraled – about 6 cups
- 2 roma tomatoes diced
- 1 1/2 Tbsp pine nuts
- 1 1/2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese
Couscous
- 1/2 cup vegetarian broth
- 1 Tbsp Healthy Solutions Shrimp Scampi Spice Blend
- 1 cup couscous
Instructions
Zucchetti Scampi
- Melt the oil and butter together in a large skillet over medium heat, and add the garlic and shallot. Simmer until soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add the white wine, spices, and zucchini spirals, sauté for 10 minutes, tossing the zucchini in the sauce to completely coat.
- Add the tomatoes and continue to cook for another 2 minutes.
- Serve on top of the couscous (recipe below), and top with some pine nuts and Parmesan.
Couscous
- Bring the broth to a low simmer in a small pot over medium-high heat. Remove from the heat and stir in the spices and couscous. Cover for 10 minutes and fluff.
Eha says
What a lovely light fun prawn recipe even tho’ I’ll have to combine my own seafood spice mixture here Down Under! No hardship – it looks very moreish and since I managed to be given two not one spiralizer just lately I have been dying to find time and opportunity to try them out!!
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
Thanks so much! And lucky you to have TWO spiralizers! I’m thinking of getting a second one that’s smaller now.
Suzanne says
I think this is wonderful, Zucchetti is so good and cooking in a Scampi sauce is just delicious, I also think having over cous cous is a great idea, This is a really lovely totally satisfying light meal.
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
Thanks Suzanne! It was a great way to sop up the scampi sauce 🙂
lizthechef says
You inspire me to try our the portable spiralizer Santa put in my stocking –
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
I can’t recommend these spiralizers high enough. It’s such a great way to get more veggies in the diet, and a little less wheat pasta 🙂
Healing Tomato says
I am a super huge fan of Couscous. Your Zucchini and Couscous recipe is very well done. I love the ingredients and I love your presentation. Thank you for sharing.
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
Thanks so much, and thanks for stopping by!
Des @ Life's Ambrosia says
I have been looking for different things to do with my spiralizer and I love this! Huge fan of scampi here too but I love the addition of the zoodles and couscous.
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
I love using the spiralizer! It’s my favorite gadget these days 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Norma Chang says
I have been looking and debating about acquiring a spiralizer, you convinced me to go out and get one.
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
I thought about it for a looooong time before I finally bought one, Norma. And now I want another one that’s small. With all the wonderful veggies you grow, you’ll get a lot of use out of it I think 🙂
Norma Chang says
How large is the one you currently have and how small is the one you are looking to acquire? Particular brand?
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
I use one by Paderno which I got on Amazon which sits on the counter with 4 suction cups. Here’s the link: http://www.amazon.com/Paderno…/dp/B0007Y9WHQ/ref=sr_1_1… Nicole at Daily Dish Recipes has just done reviews of two small hand held spiralizers on her site and is doing a great giveaway: http://dailydishrecipes.com/brown-sugar-and-cinnamon…/ and http://dailydishrecipes.com/garlic-herb-spiralizer-fries…/. Hope that helps, Norma!
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
Looks like the whole link for amazon didn’t copy over – here it is, Norma!
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_18?url=search-alias%3Dkitchen&field-keywords=paderno+spiralizer&sprefix=Paderno+spiralizer%2Cundefined%2C209&rh=i%3Akitchen%2Ck%3Apaderno+spiralizer
Norma Chang says
Thanks Susan, helped a lot.
Alisa @ Go Dairy Free says
What a fascinating combination of flavors and so cool that you would use a scampi spice blend in such a creative vegetarian way!
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
It was so so good, Alisa! And so easy too. You can use shrimp too, but I was looking for a vegetarian recipe. Thanks for stopping by!
LIsa says
I have been wanting to try the spiralized zucchini for a while. This recipe is very inspiring since I also love how easy shrimp scampi is to prepare. I’m sold. Heading to buy one of those spiralizers.
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
It’s amazing how easy it is. And the clean up is a snap. I can’t recommend these spiralizers enough – I want to get another one now – a smaller one. Thanks for stopping by, Lisa!
Brandy M says
This looks amazing! Maybe I can get my family to eat seafood with this kind of recipe!
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
I just made it again for lunch 🙂 It’s actually vegetarian, but you can easily add some shrimp – it would work really great! Thanks for stopping by!
amanda @ fake ginger says
This looks delicious! I don’t eat couscous nearly enough and now I’m definitely craving it.
The Food Hunter says
I need to add more couccous to my routine
Cynthia/What A Girl Eats says
Yum! I love all the flavors in scampi, I’ll bet this tastes great!
Debi @ Life Currents says
This looks delicious and healthy. I don’t have a spiralizer, but really want one. Especially after seeing this recipe.
Shelley @ Two Healthy Kitchens says
What a gorgeous photo of a fabulous recipe! Shrimp Scampi is such an ultimate classic, and I just love how you remade it, capturing the flavors in a vegetarian recipe! Brilliant! I’ve never used a Healthy Solutions spice blend before, and clearly I’ve been missing out! Thanks for setting me straight, lol! 😀
Oui, Chef says
WOW….you could be a Marvel comic book hero with that thing. We’ll call you “The Spiralizer”!