Stir Fry Zucchini Noodles Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you cook zucchini noodles so they don't get soggy? ›

To avoid soggy and limp noodles, I recommend cooking for only 3-5 minutes (5 if you're cooking more than 1-2 spiralized zucchinis) and tossing frequently. You want a slightly al dente noodle.

Can I Boil Zucchini Noodles? Never boil your spiralized zucchini noodles! If you're serving the zoodles in a liquid or sauce, that's ok. But boiling noodles for other dishes, like sauces or salads will guarantee that they come out soggy and watery.

Add zucchini noodles. Toss with tongs and let the zucchini cook for just a minute or two. Remove from heat and add to sauce or add some salt and eat as is. Note: Don't salt the zucchini before you saute it; the noodles will release more water and they'll end up limp.

Stovetop Cooking Method:

Let them drain for 20-30 minutes. Squeeze the zoodles gently over the sink to release more water. No need to get out every last drop, but just the majority.

The secret to zucchini with the best flavor and texture is roasting it in a 450°F oven. Roasting zucchini at a high temperature instead of baking or sautéing helps develop browning and a slight char on the outside, which keeps it from getting soggy.

Reduce cooking time

Since zucchini gets mushy and soft when overcooked, my first tip is obvious - reduce the cooking time. Depending on the recipe, this is an easy step to implement.

If you're already cooking on the stovetop, sautéing your noodles may be the easiest. Just add one tablespoon of olive oil or avocado oil to a pan and sauté for 1-2 minutes. This is a perfect cooking method if you're making zucchini pasta with lemon garlic shrimp – or something similar.

Zucchini is low in fat, sugar, and calories, and high in vitamin C and fiber, making it a great substitute for traditional pasta noodles. Fiber helps to regulate bowels and maintain good digestive health, and vitamin C acts as an antioxidant to protect cells.

Benefits of Eating Zucchini Noodles

If you are trying to eat low-carb, that is a huge difference! More fiber: Zucchini contains more grams of fiber per serving than regular pasta, which helps your digestive function, aids in weight loss, helps control blood sugar levels, lowers cholesterol, and more.

The main problem that confronts the cook when preparing zucchini is its wateriness. Zucchini is 95 percent water (among vegetables, only lettuce contains more water) and will become soupy if it is just thrown into a hot pan.

Do you salt water for stir fry noodles? ›

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook noodles until they are about 1 to 2 minutes from done, according to package instructions. They should be very al dente, still a little too firm to eat, but not excessively hard and chewy. Drain and toss with 1/2 tablespoon of the oil to prevent sticking.

Zucchini will never stand in for noodles.

They will never have the starchy bite or the satisfying firmness. They will not taste good with Alfredo sauce. They cannot be prepared like cacio e pepe. They will not make you full.

Salt and wrap your zoodles.

Let them sit for about 10–15 minutes — just enough time for the salt to extract the moisture. You may have to change the paper towels depending on how damp they get, but a gentle squeeze at the end will drain any leftover water before you sauté.

Slice and salt zucchini in advance of cooking to draw out some of the vegetable's excess moisture (while also seasoning it more thoroughly). To do this, cut up a pound of zucchini and toss it with ½ teaspoon of table salt. Let it drain in a colander for about 30 minutes before patting it dry and cooking it.