Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles | Zoodles Vegetarian Dinner Recipe (2024)

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Katerina

4.80 from 10 votes

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This Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles recipe is made with delicious zucchini noodles (zoodles!) tossed in a creamy ricotta cheese sauce. An easy and delicious vegetarian dinner recipe that takes minutes to prepare!

Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles | Zoodles Vegetarian Dinner Recipe (2)

    AN EASY VEGETARIAN DINNER RECIPE WITH ZOODLES

    Hello Hello, my lovelyMonday-ers! ‘Sup?! Happy start to the week – I hope we all have a great one!

    I have to get something off my chest. It’s a guilty pleasure thing.

    This weekend, I waited until everyone went to bed and I binge watched The People’s Couch! For 4 hours… What is wrong with me?!

    Here’s everyone else talking about Scandal or Blue Bloods, and I’m all like, “But, YOU GUYS, the people on the People’s Couchare hilarious!!”… I got the “weirdo” look from everyone around me, but do I care?! NOPE. Sometimes their recaps are 100times better than sitting through an hour of some network tv program. Who’s with me??

    Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles | Zoodles Vegetarian Dinner Recipe (3)

    Also? I can’t sit through an hour of TV… it’s like I’ve got ants in my pants.
    Thank you, God, for DVRs and On Demand. And fast-forward.

    Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles | Zoodles Vegetarian Dinner Recipe (4)

    Okay, time for food! Welcome to today’s episode of make believe noodles twirled in a very real ricotta sauce. Balance is life.wah wah waaaaah.

    I don’t mean to be super obvious here, but we all know that real fettuccine would probably make a better starring role, right?! HOWEVER, let’s get real here. BARE legs-arms-tummies(?)-season is just about upon us, and allI’m trying to do is help out thisunderarm jiggle businessfind its way back to where it came from.

    Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles | Zoodles Vegetarian Dinner Recipe (5)

    MY FAVORITE WAY TO COOK ZOODLES

    Make no mistake, though, zoodles is where it’s at. I do a lot of zucchini noodles meals and there’s been plenty of times where this little family of mine thought they were real spaghetti. It’s all in the sauce, you know? AND in how they are prepared! I am not one to chill with raw zucchini. I like healthy, but not THAT healthy, ya know? Therefore, I always give my zoodles a swim in some hot olive oil for several minutes, or just until tender.

    Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles | Zoodles Vegetarian Dinner Recipe (6)

    I’d also like to share with you that I have served this treat as a cold salad, I’ve served it as a side dish, and I have served it as a light main dish. However you decide to have it is all up to you – it’s good no matter how it’s served.

    NOTE that ricotta is a protein-rich cheese that’s actually good for you, so go make somezucchini noodleswith garlicky ricotta sauce, serve it with blistered cherry tomatoesbecause it’s incredible, and then go for seconds. That’s sounds about right for aMonday.

    Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles | Zoodles Vegetarian Dinner Recipe (7)

    And now I eat.

    ENJOY!

    Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles | Zoodles Vegetarian Dinner Recipe (8)

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    Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles | Zoodles Vegetarian Dinner Recipe (9)

    Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles

    Katerina | Diethood

    This Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles recipe is made with delicious zucchini noodles (zoodles!) tossed in a creamy ricotta cheese sauce. An easy and delicious vegetarian dinner recipe that takes minutes to prepare!

    4.80 from 10 votes

    Rate this Recipe!

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    Prep Time 10 minutes mins

    Cook Time 25 minutes mins

    Total Time 35 minutes mins

    Ingredients

    FOR THE ZUCCHINI NOODLES

    • 6 zucchini , washed, dried and spiralized*
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil , divided
    • 1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh herbs (I either reach for rosemary or thyme, but use whatever you have on hand or use your favorite)
    • salt and fresh ground pepper , to taste

    FOR THE RICOTTA SAUCE

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 4 cloves garlic , minced
    • 1 cup ricotta cheese
    • 1/2- cup skim milk
    • salt and fresh ground pepper , to taste (season it well)

    FOR THE TOMATOES

    • 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 pint cherry tomatoes , halved
    • salt , to taste
    • freshly grated parmesan cheese , optional

    Instructions

    • Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat in a nonstick skillet.

    • Add spiralized zucchini; season with herbs, salt and pepper and continue to cook for 7 minutes, or until tender, stirring frequently.

    • Remove zoodles from skillet and set aside.

    • Return skillet to stove and heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat.

    • Add garlic and cook for 1 minute or until fragrant, stirring frequently.

    • Stir in ricotta cheese and milk; season with salt and pepper and continue to stir until cheese is completely melted and everything is well combined.

    • Bring to a steady simmer and cook for 3 minutes, or until thickened.

    • Remove from heat and stir in the previously prepared zucchini; taste for seasonings and adjust accordingly. Set aside.

    • In a small skillet, heat 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil over medium high heat.

    • Add the cherry tomatoes, sprinkle with salt, and let sit for 2 minutes, or until they start to blister.

    • Stir and continue to cook for 2 more minutes.

    • Remove from heat.

    • Serve tomatoes over the prepared zucchini and sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese.

    Notes

    *Remove as much excess water as possible from the spiralized zucchini before cooking.

    NUTRITIONAL INFO PER SERVINGS

    Nutrition

    Calories: 303 kcal | Carbohydrates: 18 g | Protein: 12 g | Fat: 21 g | Saturated Fat: 7 g | Cholesterol: 31 mg | Sodium: 101 mg | Potassium: 1149 mg | Fiber: 3 g | Sugar: 12 g | Vitamin A: 1505 IU | Vitamin C: 80.5 mg | Calcium: 230 mg | Iron: 2.2 mg

    Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

    Course: Dinner, Main

    Cuisine: American

    Keyword: best zucchini recipes, easy zucchini pasta recipe, how to cook zoodles, zoodles recipe

    Did you make this recipe?Leave a Rating!

    Categories:

    • Dinner Recipes
    • One Pot Meals
    • Vegetarian

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    Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles | Zoodles Vegetarian Dinner Recipe (2024)

    FAQs

    How do you cook zucchini noodles so they don t get soggy? ›

    To avoid soggy and limp noodles, I recommend cooking for only 3-5 minutes (5 if you're cooking more than 1-2 spiralized zucchinis) and tossing frequently. You want a slightly al dente noodle.

    Should you salt zucchini noodles before cooking? ›

    Don't pre-salt your zucchini noodles.

    First of all, one of the benefits of spiralizing is that it's SO quick (just spiralize, cook, and enjoy pasta in under 5 minutes!).

    What are 3 advantages of having zucchini noodles over regular pasta? ›

    More fiber: Zucchini contains more grams of fiber per serving than regular pasta, which helps your digestive function, aids in weight loss, helps control blood sugar levels, lowers cholesterol, and more. Lighter: Zucchini is not nearly as filling or heavy in the stomach, making it ideal for a lighter meal.

    How do you make zucchini less watery? ›

    Slice and salt zucchini in advance of cooking to draw out some of the vegetable's excess moisture (while also seasoning it more thoroughly). To do this, cut up a pound of zucchini and toss it with ½ teaspoon of table salt. Let it drain in a colander for about 30 minutes before patting it dry and cooking it.

    Why is my zucchini so slimy when I cook it? ›

    This, the outlet asserts, is due to zucchini's high water content: If it cooks too slowly, it will release its moisture before it sears, becoming soggy and sodden. Over high heat, on the other hand, zucchini becomes caramelized on the outside but retains a meaty, firm texture within.

    How do you firm up soggy noodles? ›

    Heat the olive oil in a skillet and add your overcooked pasta. Gently sauté over medium heat for a few minutes until the pasta's texture has firmed up. The whole process takes less than 10 minutes and you'll know it is done when the edges of the pasta have started to crisp and light browning has begun.

    Why do you soak zucchini in salt water? ›

    Salt causes zucchini rounds to release excess water. This important extra step helps the zucchini to sauté rather than stew in its own juices.

    Does Olive Garden use zucchini noodles? ›

    As of yesterday, the Italian chain's carb-heavy menu got a bit lighter with the introduction of Zoodles Primavera. Ahead of summer, Olive Garden is adding the zucchini noodle dish as a healthier alternative to similar, higher calorie offerings. Here's a hot take for you: Better for you can also mean better tasting.

    What is healthier spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles? ›

    A look into essential Vitamins & Minerals, shows that Zucchini Pasta outdoes Spaghetti Squash on every one, except for Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium and Selenium. Information found from SELF's Nutrition Data calculator.

    How do you know if zucchini noodles have gone bad? ›

    Mushy texture: A spoiled zucchini has a mushy or stringy texture when you cut it, and it may feel slimy to the touch. "Off" smell or taste: If your zucchini smells sour or foul in any way, or if it tastes unusually bitter, it has likely gone bad.

    Can you overcook zucchini? ›

    To be clear, if you know your way around the kitchen at all, you are unlikely to overcook zucchini to the point where it's unpleasant to consume; however, it's quite easy for the flesh to end up more translucent than white all the way through, and in my book, that's just a tad too far.

    Why is my zucchini turning to mush? ›

    Blossom End Rot

    It's occurs due to the plants inability to get calcium. This can be caused by a few things: Watering inconsistency (the most likely cause especially if you've had a lot of rain) Soil PH is either too high or too low (do a PH test to check)

    Why is my zucchini lasagna watery? ›

    To avoid a watery lasagna, make sure to salt the zucchini slices and let them sit to draw out excess moisture, as mentioned in the recipe instructions. Pat them dry before layering in the lasagna. Also, be sure not to overcook the lasagna, as this can also contribute to excess moisture.

    Are you supposed to boil zucchini noodles? ›

    Don't! We like our regular pasta with a nice al dente bite, and the same goes for cooking zoodles! If you serve a warm sauce over the noodles, it will gently heat them through, so no actual cooking is necessary.

    How long to salt zucchini to remove moisture? ›

    If you do not have kosher salt on hand, use a teaspoon or so of regular table salt. 1. Place zucchini slices in colander and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons salt. Set colander over bowl until about 1/3 cup water drains from zucchini, about 30 minutes.

    Are zucchini noodles supposed to be crunchy? ›

    Zucchini noodles benefit from raw or quick-cooking preparations. Cooking them longer won't make them any crunchier — it'll just do the opposite. "They're not supposed to be mushy, but zucchini is also never going to be al dente like pasta," explained Gellman.

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