Zoodles are all the rage these days with people looking for lower-carb, lower-calorie, healthier dishes. A zoodle, for those of you not familiar, are zucchini “noodles,” but people have been using all sorts of veggies, like carrots, asparagus, cucumbers, and more, to make yummy veggie-noodle-based dishes.
The easiest way to make veggie noodles is with a spiralizer tool, but if you don’t want to spend the extra money on another kitchen tool that takes up valuable kitchen space, try some of our ideas with kitchen tools you likely already have. They may not be perfectly round, but they taste the same and are just the right size and texture. So swap out that spaghetti, and try zoodles with spaghetti sauce tonight thanks to our helpful how-to.
Box Grater
This is the quickest, easiest way to make zoodles without a spiralizer. Use your box grater’s side with the largest sized holes. Slice the ends off of the zucchini, and run the zucchini vertically along the grater. You’ll have noodles in no time!
Standard Vegetable Peeler
By using a standard vegetable peeler (hello, trusty potato peeler), you can cut veggies into long ribbons. The more pressure you apply to the peeler, the thicker the noodle ribbons you will have. These wider ribbons are beautiful and could emulate a papardelle pasta. Of course, if you’re looking for thinner noodles, you can break out your kitchen knife to cut the wide ribbons into thin noodles.
Julienne Peeler
Use this method the same way you would with a standard peeler. The only difference here is that the julienne peeler has sharp grooves in it to create thinner strips. This way, if you prefer thinner strips, you can save time by not having to use the extra step of cutting them with a knife.
Mandoline Slicer
Mandoline slicers can be dangerous if you’re not careful, and thus, a little scary, so use caution when utilizing this method. Set your mandolin to 1/8” thickness and insert the julienne blade facing up for thicker noodles. Cut off ends. Run zucchini down mandoline or rotate the zucchini as you push it down for longer, more spiraled noodles.
Do you have a different method for making zoodles or a favorite zoodle recipe? We’re always interested in finding more kitchen hacks and ways to eat lighter, delicious meals. We can’t wait to hear your ideas!