Zoodles are all the rage these days, and I definitely jumped on the zoodle train as soon as I could. It was scary at first. I mean, spiralizing. It sounds so fancy, and sooo labor intensive. Well, it’s not…at all! These Weight Watchers Pesto Zoodles are a testament to that – they’re fast, they’re easy, they’re healthy, and they’re delicious. A win all around in my house! I mean, I could eat almost anything if it’s covered in pesto…
This is my favorite spiralizer to use – you can use a small handheld one if you don’t have the space, but it takes a little longer and typically only has 2 spiral settings. The best part about owning a great spiralizer is that you can use it for so many different veggies! Carrots, sweet potatoes, beets, you name it! My other go-to is parsnips because of their crispiness and neutrality. And they look like noodles, talk about a brain tease!
My first zoodle experience was a while ago, and it left me feeling guilty. “Did I really just eat that whole bowl of pasta in one sitting?!? Ugh, I’m going to regret this tomorrow.” But, alas! The dreaded carb-induced coma never hit and I actually felt really good inside! My brain was confused, but my belly was happy. Very, very happy.
Here’s what you need to start your soon-to-be zoodle addiction (this recipe will seriously do it for you!):
- 3 zucchini
- 2 red bell peppers
- 1 tomato (but be careful, the juice sometimes make the pasta watery…use your discretion)
- 8 tsps (around 2.5 T) Pesto (store-bought, or make your own with this 21 Day Fix pesto recipe)
- Whole artichoke hearts
- Lemon
- 1 cup spinach
- Fresh basil (a handful or so is all you need)
Make sure to pat dry the zoodles, artichoke hearts, and even the tomatoes (if you use them). The moisture can affect the consistency of the dish, so the drier, the better!
Serves 4-5.
Weight Watchers Points: per recipe, 9; per serving, 2.
Weight Watchers Pesto Zoodles
Ingredients
- 3 zucchini
- 2 red bell peppers
- 1 to mato
- 8 tsps around 2.5 T Pesto
- Canned whole artichoke hearts
- 1/2 Lemon
- 1 cup spinach
- 2 tsp olive oil
- Fresh basil a handful or so is all you need
- Optional: black olives and pine nuts I didn't use these, but thought they would be good!
Instructions
- Dice the red bell pepper and tomato. Chop the basil and open the can of artichoke hearts. Let those drain in a colander (you may want to chop those, too...that's up to you!).
- Use a spiralizer to create your zoodles. Once your noodles are cut, wrap them up in paper towel and squeeze to get any excess water out.
- In a pan, sautee the bell pepper and tomato with 2 tsp olive oil until soft. Once your bell peppers and tomatoes are ready, add the zoodles, basil, spinach and artichoke hearts to the pan. Sautee together until your zoodles are soft (2-3 minutes or so).
- Pour into a bowl. Squeeze half a lemon over the top. Add 8 tsps of pesto, and salt and pepper to taste (but go easy on salt if you're on the Fix!).
- Cover and chill in the fridge for several hours.
- Enjoy!