Get your spiralizer out! If you are looking for an easy, low carb, gluten free meal, or if you’re still harvesting loads of zucchini from your garden, here is a tasty dish to try. The Vodka Sauce is delicious and so creamy, you won’t believe it’s vegan. The vodka gives the sauce a bit of zip (although the alcohol is evaporated out so this is actually a kid friendly dish). Zoodles, or zucchini noodles, are low calorie, low carb and naturally gluten free. Check out the handy chart below which compares zoodles and regular pasta from Dr Axe or check out his blog for more info. Of course, if you are a pasta lover like I am, feel free to use regular pasta, no guilt intended.
I love kitchen tools like my spiralizer and my mandolin! They transform homely veggies into glorious pasta; spaghetti, linguini or even lasagna depending on which blade you use. Dark green zucchini makes the firmest noodles but finicky eaters might not like seeing the bits of green. Of course, you could peel it first but then you would lose out on a good part of the nutrients which hang out in or just under the skin. Yellow zucchini (or summer squash) looks more like regular noodles and are generally softer so cook more quickly. Just don’t forget to cut the zoodles into 6 or 8 inch strips or you could end up with a 6 foot long noodle which only works if you are in ‘Lady and the Tramp’.
For other zucchini ‘pasta’ recipes, check out these two goodies:
Zucchini Apple Spiral Salad with Basil and Mint which was the original inspiration for the Lady and the Tramp reference.
My zucchini plant is still going strong but my tomatoes are mostly done for the year. Time to plant some winter veggies! If you are lucky enough to still have fresh garden tomatoes, you can use a couple of them in place of the canned chopped tomatoes.
TIPS: Not all vodka is gluten free as it is usually made from grains like wheat, barley and rye which contain gluten. However, vodka made from potatoes, corn or other fermentable foods are gluten free. If you are having trouble finding gluten free vodka, here is a surprisingly long list – Gluten Free Vodka List from Very Well
Zoodles with Vodka Sauce
- 1 Tbsn olive oil
- 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 shallot, minced
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 1 14 oz. jar crushed tomatoes
- 1 14 oz. jar diced tomatoes
- 1/3 cup vodka (see TIPS for gluten free)
- 1 14 oz can full-fat coconut milk
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, more to taste
- 2-3 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
- 3-5 large zucchinis
- freshly grated parmesan, optional
- In a large skillet saute garlic, onion and shallot in olive oil until translucent, about 5 minutes
- Stir in tomatoes and vodka, and let simmer for 10 minutes
- Stir in coconut milk, red pepper flakes and basil. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and let simmer for about 20 minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper to taste and more red pepper flakes if desired.
- While the sauce is cooking, spiralize zucchini to make ‘zoodles’ and cut into 6 or 8 inch strips, if necessary
- Saute zoodles in a splash of olive oil for about 4-5 minutes, stirring often
- Serve zoodles topped with vodka sauce. Garnish with fresh basil and freshly grated parmesan, if desired.
Zoodles with Vodka Sauce
- 1 Tbsn olive oil
- 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 shallot, minced
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 1 14 oz. jar crushed tomatoes
- 1 14 oz. jar diced tomatoes
- 1/3 cup vodka (see TIPS for gluten free)
- 1 14 oz can full-fat coconut milk
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, more to taste
- 2-3 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
- 3-5 large zucchinis
- freshly grated parmesan, optional
- In a large skillet saute garlic, onion and shallot in olive oil until translucent, about 5 minutes
- Stir in tomatoes and vodka, and let simmer for 10 minutes
- Stir in coconut milk, red pepper flakes and basil.
- Bring to a boil then reduce heat and let simmer for about 20 minutes
- Taste and add salt and pepper to taste and more red pepper flakes if desired.
- While the sauce is cooking, spiralize zucchini to make ‘zoodles’ and cut into 6 or 8 inch strips, if necessary
- Saute zoodles in a splash of olive oil for about 4-5 minutes, stirring often
- Serve zoodles topped with vodka sauce. Garnish with fresh basil and freshly grated parmesan, if desired.
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