Zucchini Noodles With Pesto (Printable Page)

Fresh zucchini spirals meet fragrant basil pesto in this quick, healthy Italian-inspired dish ready in 20 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Zucchini Noodles

01 - 2 medium zucchinis, spiralized
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - Pinch of salt

→ Pesto

04 - 1 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
05 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
06 - 1/4 cup pine nuts or walnuts
07 - 1 garlic clove
08 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
09 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
10 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Garnish

11 - Extra grated Parmesan
12 - Fresh basil leaves
13 - Crushed red pepper flakes

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - In a food processor, combine basil, Parmesan, pine nuts, and garlic. Pulse until finely chopped.
02 - With the processor running, slowly drizzle in olive oil and lemon juice until the pesto is smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
03 - Spiralize the zucchinis into noodles using a spiralizer or julienne peeler.
04 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add zucchini noodles and a pinch of salt. Sauté for 2–3 minutes until just tender but not mushy.
05 - Remove from heat and toss zucchini noodles with desired amount of pesto (start with half and add more to taste).
06 - Divide between plates. Top with extra Parmesan, fresh basil, and red pepper flakes if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Its ready in twenty minutes start to finish, making it perfect for weeknight dinners when you want something fresh but fast
  • The homemade pesto makes everything taste luxurious and expensive, even though it costs pennies to make
02 -
  • Salt the zucchini lightly while cooking because oversalting draws out too much moisture and makes the dish soggy
  • Serve immediately after tossing with the pesto because the longer zucchini sits, the more water it releases
03 -
  • Pat the spiralized zucchini dry with paper towels before cooking if it seems especially wet from the spiralizer
  • Toast the pine nuts in a dry skillet for 2 minutes before adding to the pesto for deeper flavor
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