Zucchini spaghetti with lentil marinara is a delicious, healthy, and easy-to-make meal that is perfect for a weeknight dinner. This dish combines the spiralized zucchini noodles, which provide a low-carb alternative to pasta, with a flavorful lentil marinara sauce packed with protein and fiber. The result is a satisfying, nutritious, and flavorful meal that is sure to please the whole family.
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THAT ZUCCHINI SPAGHETTI STANLEY TUCCI LOVES (SPAGHETTI ALLA NERANO)
After listening to Stanley Tucci lose his mind about this pasta and calling it life-changing and one of the best things he's ever eaten, I decided I'd give it a try. The results were amazing and the key to getting the toasted sweet taste of the zucchini was deep-frying it!
Provided by Chef John
Categories Vegetarian Zucchini Main Dishes
Time 8h55m
Yield 2
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Place sunflower oil in a deep fryer and heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Slice zucchini into 1/8-inch rounds.
- Add some zucchini to the hot oil and deep-fry until lightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a single layer on paper towels to drain and repeat to cook remaining zucchini. Let zucchini cool to room temperature.
- Transfer cooled zucchini to a bowl. Cover and refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until it's 2 minutes away from being tender yet firm to the bite, 9 to 10 minutes.
- As you are cooking the spaghetti, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add zucchini and salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until it starts to release juices, soften, and break down, 3 to 5 minutes. Add a couple splashes of the pasta water to the zucchini, but don't overdo it. Break zucchini into small pieces with the edge of a spoon or spatula. Reduce heat to low and toss in basil and butter; stir until butter melts.
- Grab spaghetti with tongs and transfer it right into the sauce; stir until coated. Mix in Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheeses. Add a final splash of pasta water and adjust salt if needed.
- Serve with more grated cheese and fresh basil.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1016.2 calories, Carbohydrate 62.5 g, Cholesterol 56.5 mg, Fat 78.1 g, Fiber 8.3 g, Protein 23.3 g, SaturatedFat 19.6 g, Sodium 479.3 mg, Sugar 11.9 g
ZUCCHINI MARINARA
The Monterey Jack cheese is surprising in this "Italian" dish but it works better than Italian cheeses, in my opinion.
Provided by TPubmgjbd
Categories Vegetable
Time 1h
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Saute zucchini in 3 Tablespoons olive oil until lightly browned; drain.
- Place in 1-1/2 quart casserole.
- Combine marinara sauce, wine, remaining oil, garlic, basil and oregano in small saucepan; stir well.
- Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Spoon sauce over zucchini; mix well.
- Sprinkle cheese over sauce; cover.
- Bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes.
- Bake, uncovered, for 5 minutes longer.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 235.6, Fat 16.7, SaturatedFat 5.1, Cholesterol 16.8, Sodium 484.3, Carbohydrate 11.8, Fiber 1.1, Sugar 8.3, Protein 7
ZUCCHINI SPAGHETTI WITH LENTIL MARINARA
I just love lentils and marinara so it was a quick decision to marry the two of them in this zucchini dish! I love to drizzle my dish with a little extra virgin olive oil then sprinkle some freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Provided by Cindy Anschutz Barbieri
Categories Squash Recipes
Time 1h30m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Place zucchini in a bowl and season with salt and pepper.
- Bring lentils to a boil in a pot of 1 1/2 cups water. Cover and reduce heat; simmer until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions; cook and stir until translucent, about 2 minutes. Stir in 1 clove garlic and carrots. Cook for 1 minute. Pour in crushed tomatoes and bring marinara sauce to a rapid simmer, about 2 minutes. Press tomato paste against the sides of the pan using the back of a spoon.
- Stir 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1 clove garlic, basil, oregano, thyme, parsley, and red pepper flakes into the marinara. Reduce to a simmer; cover and cook until flavors meld, about 20 minutes. Pour in lentils; simmer until lentils have absorbed the marinara, about 10 minutes.
- Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the zucchini noodles and the remaining 1 clove garlic. Seasoning with salt and pepper, cook until noodles are coated, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Serve noodles on plates with a ladleful of lentil marinara and a topping of Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 144.5 calories, Carbohydrate 11.7 g, Cholesterol 2.9 mg, Fat 10.3 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 3.8 g, SaturatedFat 1.9 g, Sodium 699.1 mg, Sugar 6.3 g
Tips:
- Use a spiralizer to create zucchini noodles. If you don't have a spiralizer, you can use a vegetable peeler to create wide ribbons of zucchini.
- Cook the zucchini noodles briefly. Overcooking will make them mushy, so cook them just until they are tender-crisp.
- Use a flavorful marinara sauce. A good marinara sauce will add a lot of flavor to the dish. You can use a store-bought marinara sauce or make your own.
- Add some protein. Lentils are a great source of protein, but you can also use other beans, tofu, or ground turkey.
- Serve with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Parmesan cheese adds a salty, nutty flavor that complements the other flavors in the dish.
Conclusion:
Zucchini spaghetti with lentil marinara is a delicious and healthy meal that is easy to make. It is a great way to use up summer zucchini, and it is also a good source of protein and fiber. This dish is perfect for a weeknight meal or a casual lunch. It is also a great option for meal prep, as it can be made ahead of time and reheated.
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