Friday, October 05, 2012

{VeganMoFo} Raw Zucchini Pasta w/ Fresh Tomato Sauce



I absolutely love the way that eating raw foods makes me feel.  It's kinda my equivalent to that feeling some people describe when making the leap from an omnivorous diet to a vegan one.

Since my path to veganism essentially started at birth (my mom can attest to this fact), and I was a long-time vegetarian before becoming a vegan, I didn't experience an overnight change in my mood and energy when I altered my diet.

Honestly, my changes have been much more subtle (but nonetheless magnificent), which sometimes makes me envious of people who have a different story.  Fortunately, however, I've been able to cultivate that missing feeling through raw foods.

Eating raw seems to reboot my body in a positive way, making me feel refreshed, nourished, and energized.  (Which is not to say that I don't normally feel good on a vegan diet.  I do.  There's just something about eating raw that brings it all to a whole new level!)

So, whether you can relate or not, I hope you enjoy my raw zucchini pasta recipe.  It's a quick, low-stress, and surprisingly filling way to get mouth- after glorious mouthful of nutritious vegetables into your diet.

Gotta love that.

Recipe: Raw Zucchini Pasta w/ Fresh Tomato Sauce
Serves 4-6

4 large zucchini squashes, peeled (if desired)
4-5 medium red tomatoes, preferably heirloom, seeded
1 clove garlic (half if you're garlic-shy)
1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded & de-veined
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 c. yellow cherry/grape tomatoes, halved
1/4 c. pine nuts
1/4 c. fresh basil, chiffonaded

1) Using a spiralizer or vegetable peeler, spiralize/peel zucchini length-wise into ribbons (stop when you reach the seeds).  Divide zucchini pasta among bowls & set aside.
2) In a food processor, process red tomatoes, garlic, jalapeno, olive oil, & salt, until pureed.  Taste for salt, adding some if desired.
3) Top each bowl of pasta with tomato sauce.  Add yellow tomatoes, pine nuts, & basil to each one, & serve immediately.

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11 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks so much, I was really happy with how it turned out, especially since I like to pretend I'm running a raw vegan kitchen. Haha!

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  2. so pretty! i can get down with zucchini noodles, but i can't find a spiralizer that works well without costing a million bucks.

    xo
    kittee

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    1. I had a hard time finding one too, especially since I'm pretty cheap! The one I have was about $30. It's by World Cuisine, & it's called the "Tri-Blade Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer." I love that it has suction cups on the bottom so it doesn't slide all over the counter when you're getting your spiralize on!

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  3. Yum, so fresh and delicious. What kind of spiralizer do you use? Your zucchini pasta looks perfect. I have one that doesn't deliver (the strands are always stuck together) and want to find one that really works. Love the pine nuts and cherry tomatoes here, so pretty.

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    1. I have the World Cuisine "Tri-Blade Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer" & I love it! It creates perfect noodles every time, but I've only tried it w/ zucchini so far (not potatoes or carrots yet!). I ordered it on Amazon a year or so ago, & haven't had any problems w/ it at all. Hope that helps!

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  4. So much color! I haven't yet tried zucchini pasta, but I need to get on it stat so I can try this dish :)

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    1. Thanks - I really love the colors, too! And you definitely have to give zucchini pasta a try. Personally, I was afraid I wouldn't like it, but I finally gave in & now I can't get enough!

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  5. What a beautiful plate of food! Must get out my sprialli thing again. Raw food does make you feel great. I'm not sure quite why I drop out of the habit...

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    1. Thanks a million, Lucy! I get on a raw food kick every once in a while, but I have a hard time sticking to it long-term, too! Every little bit definitely helps though :)

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  6. I hear ya. I went vegetarian (and then vegan) so long ago that I never got to experience that lovely "clean"/"weightless" feeling (and associated weight loss) that folks who go vegan these days get. But going raw for any period of time totally does it for me, too.

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