Raw Zucchini Noodles with Marinara Sauce
This recipe is part of Brooke’s 5 Day Healthy Meal Challenge. Brooke, from The Intentional Momma asked me if I would be up to creating healthy, easy, affordable recipes for a five-day meal plan. I was definitely up to the task! You can follow Brooke’s mini-series on her blog, and see how she does trying my recipes (and read what her verdict is too).
I wanted to share with you one of the recipes from DAY 1 that is super easy to do and is surprisingly delicious! Yes, I used surprisingly – because let’s face it, the first thought that comes to mind when I say that you are going to eat zucchini instead of pasta noodles…well, is probably not you, jumping for joy. Or maybe it is! Either way, I think you’ll be happy to try this healthy, light-weight alternative to traditional noodles.
This makes an ideal work lunch. You can prepare the noodles in advance and tote them and the marinara sauce in separate containers, mixing only when it’s time to eat. Plus, when you leave the zucchini noodles to ‘sit’ outside the fridge for a 2-4 hours, they take on a more noodle-y texture. And the beauty of such a light meal is that you’re not weighed down for the rest of the afternoon 🙂
Bon Appétit !!
Raw Zucchini Noodles with Marinara Sauce
Serves 4
6 large zucchinis
1 1/2 cups of blended tomatoes (3-4 Roma tomatoes blended in blender or food processor)
1 clove of garlic
1 green onion, chopped
2 Tablespoons of virgin olive oil
1/3 cup of fresh lemon juice
Pinch of sea salt or pink Himalayan salt
- Wash and prepare all vegetables.
- Use a spiral slicer or like me, a good ole’ vegetable peeler to make noodles from your zucchinis. Hold them firmly and run the vegetable peeler along the top to bottom. Place each noodle in a dish as you prepare them (I curled mine, because I thought it looked prettier).
- The earlier you make your noodles (2-4 hours in advance), the more they will feel like traditional noodles. So if you can, prepare them and let them sit on the counter before serving them.
- In a blender or food processor, place peeled garlic, onion, tomatoes, lemon juice, and olive oil.
- Blend until smooth.
- Serve the noodles in each individual dish and then top with marinara sauce. Add a pinch of salt or grated himalayan salt on top for taste. Enjoy!
Emily Smith is the Editor of The Best of This Life who has been writing in the lifestyle niche and creating delicious recipes for over 10 years. Her work has been featured on BRIT + CO, Today's Parent, Chatelaine, Huffington Post, The Pioneer Woman, and Food Bloggers of Canada. She writes about family, food, entertaining, home decor, wellness, travel and a litany of other topics. She loves sharing her three core values - love life, live well, share the beauty - and encourages her readers to enjoy the best of their lives every day. She lives in Ottawa with her loving husband, two darling children, and dreams of one day owning a puppy.
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That is artwork and that is beautiful and that is something I like to have for lunch 🙂 thanks for the visual treat!
PINNING this immediately! Not only does it look delicious, but it’s like, totally Martha Stewart gorgeous. I hope I can master the ribbon effect like you.
I swear zucchini noodles seem to be the newest and most delicious new idea 😀
Yours look awesome!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Interesting! Looks great! YUM!
Mmmm this looks delicious Emily, I love shave zucchini 😉
Sounds like an absolutely delicious meal! I’ll definitely be giving it a try. Nominated you for the Liebster Award! Hope you’ll be able to pass it along 🙂 http://befreckled.blogspot.de/2012/09/blog-awards.html
oh wow…that looks so flipping yummy and so simple
I love pasta, but I’ve been trying some healthier substitutions. Brown rice pasta is good, but I like the idea of zucchini… will definitely try this!
Found you in the Saturday Sharefest… I’m glad I popped over to have a look 🙂
It’s definitely a cinch to make and tastes sooo good – a wonderful substitute to regular pasta! Thanks so much for coming by 🙂
Thanks Kate for popping on by! I hope you give these noodles a try, they are awesome 🙂 A great way to include more veggies in your diet and a wonderful alternative to traditional pasta. Cheers!
YUM! I love the zucchini ribbons. I have the peeler than makes zucchini spaghetti but the ribbons are so pretty. This would be great with my client, Rose Romano’s peppers!