Zucchini Noodles with Avocado Sauce

Getting kids to eat vegetables can be a struggle, but they also tend to love the unexpected, and having vegetables prepared in this way adds a new, playful element to dinner. So, if you’re looking for a new nutritious, quick, and easy meal that the whole family will love, zucchini noodles with avocado sauce is a great choice!

Zucchini noodles are gluten-free and low-carb, and the avocado sauce adds a creamy texture that coats the noodles and makes them absolutely delicious.

Making the Noodles

A spiralizer is the best tool for making vegetable noodles, but if you don’t have one on hand, a julienne peeler or mandolin slicer can also produce similar noodle-like strands. Let your older kids have a turn with the spiralizer while the younger ones enjoy seeing the vegetable ribbons that magically come out the other side.

Your zucchini should be fresh and firm. You don’t need to peel or salt the zucchini beforehand; just wash it, cut off the ends, and spiralize. You can eat the noodles raw, but if you prefer them warmed, sautée them with a bit of olive oil in a skillet for 3 to 5 minutes, and avoid overcooking because they may become mushy.

Making the Sauce

To make the avocado sauce, you’ll need some fresh basil, a clove of garlic, a bit of lemon juice and olive oil, and a ripe medium-sized avocado. If you’re not sure how to tell if your avocado is ripe, this handy video shows you how: just check the color of the avocado’s skin and press on it gently to see if the avocado yields to pressure. If your avocado isn’t quite ready, you can help it ripen a little faster by placing it in a paper bag with a banana and leaving it for a few days. Check on it daily to see when it’s ready.

Once your avocado is ripe, all you have to do is blend the flesh along with the other ingredients in a food processor or blender until smooth and enjoy on top of your zucchini noodles.

If you or someone in your family is gluten-free, spiralized veggies offer a great alternative to conventional pasta noodles. The avocado sauce adds great taste for a meal that’s low in carbs and super tasty. Easy and fast, you can prepare this meal for your family in just a few minutes. Odds are, the kids (and adults too!) will be far more willing to eat their vegetables when they’re in a fun shape and topped with this delicious avocado sauce.