Packing Zucchini Pasta for Lunch

Hopefully, you’re going to notice the picture quality to get better on Inspiralized. I’m working...

Hopefully, you’re going to notice the picture quality to get better on Inspiralized. I’m working on it everyday, with help from my kind boyfriend. It’s a learning process, so bare with me! Over the weekend, I spent a small fortune on “staging” items for my photo “shoots.” I’m happy to debut some of these cute little napkins, bowls and plates on today’s post! Sorry for the girl rant, dudes – patterned tablecloths get my heart racing, I can’t help it.

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How BORED are you of salads for lunch? Gone to Chipotle too many times? Might go crazy if you have one more turkey sandwich? Inspiralized has the perfect cure – zucchini pasta for lunch! Don’t fret, I will equip you with great lunch-appropriate recipes throughout this blog (see recipe below for Feta Basil Lemon Vinaigrette Cucumber Pasta with Kalamata Olives, Corn, Avocado, Walnuts and Grilled Chicken).

Cucumbers are a GREAT option for spiralized vegetable pasta. Cucumbers are so light and refreshing – one cucumber is about 45 calories, depending on the size. Topped with the right sauce/vinaigrette and you have yourself the perfect lunch meal. For example, use Monday’s post on Sesame Ginger Peanut Noodles – make a big batch on a Sunday, place in the refrigerator and eat them for lunch!

Packing Zucchini Pasta for Lunch

Zucchini pasta will revolutionize your packed lunch! Leftovers are easy to pack (just like regular pasta and noodles) and can be microwaved. Instead of leftovers, take a Sunday to make the preparations for a week of zucchini pasta joy! Spiralize a few zucchinis, place in a container and do the same with a protein such as chicken, quinoa, or beans. Cook some vegetables. The night before your workday, combine everything in tupperware (get creative – throw on raisins, nuts, sunflower seeds, olives, avocado, canned artichokes, anything!)  and pour your sauce/vinaigrette into a smaller container. Throw in a bag and you’re all set! It may take an hour for all of the preparations on a Sunday night, but the satisfaction all week will prevail. Your friends coming back from the salad bar will be envious. Make sure to tell them where you got your spiralized inspiration – Inspiralized!

Here’s an example for you to start.

 

Packing Zucchini Pasta for Lunch

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 2

Ingredients

  • For the Vinaigrette
  • 3 tbsp basil chopped
  • 1/2 cup feta
  • 1 shallot chopped
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 small garlic clove minced
  • For the rest
  • 10 Kalamata olives pitted and halved
  • 1 ear of corn
  • 2.5 large cucumbers Blade A
  • 1 avocado insides cubed
  • 1/2 cup of walnuts
  • 2 chicken breasts grilled

Instructions

  • Place down a paper towel or two, put on the cucumber pasta, and press a paper towel on top until most of the moisture is absorbed.
  • Place a small saucepan on high heat and place in enough water to cover 1 ear of corn. Place in corn (halve first) and bring to a boil. Cook for about 3 minutes or until corn turns a brighter yellow and can pierce more easily with a fork. Place in a colander to drain and then shave off kernels in a bowl, using a knife. Set aside.
  • In a food processor, combine all ingredients and pulse until creamy. Place the "dried" cucumber pasta in a bowl, add vinaigrette and mix thoroughly to combine. Plate onto two dishes.
  • Top with the rest of the ingredients, extra dressing and enjoy.

Instructions with Pictures

Because cucumber is almost 95% water, it is a little, well, watery when spiralized. Simply place a paper towel or two down, place on the cucumber pasta, and press a paper towel or two on top until most of the moisture is absorbed.

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Place a small saucepan on high heat and place in enough water to cover 1 ear of corn. Place in corn (halve first) and bring to a boil. Cook for about 3 minutes or until corn turns a brighter yellow and can pierce more easily with a fork. Place in a colander to drain and then shave off kernels in a bowl, using a knife. Set aside.

In a food processor, combine all ingredients and pulse until creamy. Place the “dried” cucumber pasta in a bowl, add vinaigrette and mix thoroughly to combine. Plate onto two dishes.

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Top with “the rest”, some of the remaining creamy vinaigrette and enjoy… and I had leftovers and packed them away for lunch… see? You’ll never have a boring salad again after you’ve been Inspiralized!

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with love, Ali

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  • I recently bought an spiralizer and in looking for recipes I came across your blog. It is the best one I've seen and the recipes all look terrific. Can't wait to try them all! BTW, do you mind sharing where you got the green salad containers? -Thanks!
    • Thank you so much for the kind note! I hope you have fun making the recipes.... As for the green salad, container - of course, click here (it's so cute!) http://www.amazon.com/Rubbermaid-1806179-Lunch-Blox-Salad/dp/B0078K3ZPM/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1377629715&sr=8-5&keywords=salad+container
  • I'm new to spiralizing so I just want make sure I understand how to reheat my zucchini pasta. When I am prepping my packed lunch, I put the raw zucchini noodles in the microwave and heat to my desired temperature (or just so it's lukewarm and not soggy)? Then I re-heat my sauce separately right? Final step is to combine the two heated items so I can have a hot lunch?
  • I love these ideas!! Spiralized veggies make the perfect base for a take-along lunch. They are deliciously satisfying without being heavy. Would love to see more ideas along these lines!