I’ve said it dozens of times on this blog and I’ll say it again: not only is zucchini pasta healthier than regular pasta, it’s quicker! It takes about 15 seconds to spiralize one zucchini into spaghetti and it’s in edible form. How long does it take to get a cup of regular pasta into edible from? Well, about 10 minutes to boil the water and then an additional 10 minutes to cook the pasta. So you’re saying it takes 15 seconds to make zucchini pasta and 20 minutes to make regular pasta?
Let me get this straight. You’re saving 19 minutes and 45 seconds by making zucchini pasta? You’re also saving about 190 calories, 36 grams of carb and 1.3 grams of fat? Now that’s Inspiralized. What can we do with the additional time we now have in our day? Here are some options:
- Run 2 miles.
- Take a power nap.
- Grab a cup of coffee with a friend.
- Meditate or do a few yoga poses.
- Doodle.
- Brush up on your celebrity gossip.
- Call your mother.
- Enjoy a glass of wine.
- Read a chapter in a book.
- Paint your nails.
- Organize your closet.
- Buy a Groupon.
- Save the world.
As you can see, there are many benefits of zucchini pasta, aside from the fact that you’re eating more vegetables. I’m going to introduce to you a mind boggling concept: you can make a big ‘ole bowl of pasta in…. 3 minutes! If you want to cook the noodles instead of eating them raw, you can have it ready in….. 5 minutes!
Here are some quick ideas, followed by a full Inspiralized recipe, timed out. You can literally follow the directions as they are, no preparation involved.
- Mac n’ Cheese: Preheat the broiler. Spiralize a zucchini into ribbons. Chop them up roughly, into about 3 inch pieces. Lay in a 8″ rectangular baking dish and top with 1 cup shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese. Top with 1/3 cup breadcrumbs and broil until cheese belts and breadcrumbs appear browned and toasted.
- Pesto with Beans & Spinach: Spiralize a zucchini into spaghetti and place in a bowl. Put a medium skillet on medium-high heat. Throw in 2 cups spinach and cook until wilted. Throw into the pasta bowl alongside 1/3 cup cannellini beans, top with 1/4 cup canned pesto sauce and mix thoroughly to combine.
- Garlic Shrimp Linguine: Spiralize a zucchini into spaghetti. Put a large skillet over medium-high heat. Pour in 3 tbsp olive oil. After 10 seconds, add in garlic and cook for 15 seconds. Add in shrimp and cook for 2 minutes and then add in zucchini pasta and cook for another 1-2 minutes or until noodles heat up. Pour onto a plate and top with shredded Parmesan cheese.
Tuna Pasta with Olives and Arugula
Serving size: 1
Time to prepare: 2 minutes
Time to cook: 3 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 can of solid white albacore tuna
- 1 can of halved black olives
- 1 can of Rao’s tomato basil sauce (or your favorite)
- 1 container or bag of baby arugula
- 1 large zucchini
Directions with Time Stamps
Step | Time | |
1 | Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. | 5 seconds |
2 | Measure 3/4 cup tomato sauce and pour into skillet. | 10 seconds |
3 | Open can of tuna and pour out liquid. | 15 seconds. |
4 | Pour drained tuna into skillet and stir to break up and combine. | 20 seconds. |
5 | Prepare your zucchini and then spiralize it, Blade C. | 30 seconds |
6 | Add zucchini noodles to the skillet and mix thoroughly to combine. | 15 seconds |
7 | Open can of black olives. | 10 seconds |
8 | Take a handful of olives (or desired amount) and put into the skillet. Mix to combine. | 5 seconds |
9 | Let zucchini cook, stirring frequently to combine and make sure sauce covers all noodles. | 1.5-2 minutes |
10 | Once done, pour into a pasta bowl, top with a handful of arugula and enjoy! | 10 seconds |
Total time: 4 minutes!
For an even quicker meal, place the zucchini noodles in a bowl once spiralized and then pour over the sauce mixture. Top with arugula and eat! That will take no more than 3 minutes!
Total time: 3 minutes!
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