31 July 2013

zucchini noodles

If you planted zucchini this year, I'm guessing right about now you're thinking, “What am I going to do with all this zucchini??” I haven't planted zucchini the last two years because I don't actually like zucchini unless it's baked into bread or zucchini cake. But after Monday night's dinner, I'm starting to change my mind.

My sister-in-law gave me two zucchinis last weekend, as well as two cups of grated zucchini for the freezer. (How perfect is that? Love her!) Inspired by this Kitchn post, I pulled out my mandoline and julienned the whole zucchinis into “noodles”. They're not noodles, Mom, my 9-yr old said with that almost-teenager look in her eyes, they're zucchini.

But she liked them anyway. I put them in a bowl, added some thinly sliced sweet onions and chopped cilantro, then tossed it all with some leftover peanut dressing. I topped it with cooked, diced chicken breast and sprinkled on some pepper flakes for the adults.

It was so good! It didn't taste like zucchini at all. I promise you, this is the only way I have ever liked zucchini that wasn't zucchini bread or cake. 

Oh, and it was fast. Since the chicken was already cooked, I had a healthy dinner on the table in less than 20 minutes.

I'll have to find room in the garden for zucchini next spring.