Zoodle Salad

This Zucchini Zoodle Salad is the perfect answer to getting something light fresh and healthy into your weekly rotation.

What is Zoodle Salad

A zoodle salad is essentially zucchini noodles mixed with fresh veggies and herbs. Here we took our Zucchini noodles and tossed them together with a mixture of herbs, lemon and olive oil to make a side dish that is very refreshing.  

This recipe has an amazing crunch from the cold and crisp zucchini and pine nuts. It hits all the summer flavors with the citrusy lemon and freshness from all the herbs. Aside from chopping the herbs there is very little prep. The zoodle salad comes together quickly because there is not an additional sauce that needs to be made and no need to heat the noodles. 

Keeping the zucchini raw not only makes this recipe easy, but preserves all the vitamin C this simple veggie has to offer.  High in nutrients such as everything from B vitamins to zinc  and rich in antioxidants, this is a heart healthy vegetable you always want to have on hand. 

Zoodle Salad Tips

We go through an extensive explanation on our Zoodle Post with a step by step how-to cut and cook the zucchini noodles, but for this recipe we have a few other tips since there is no cooking involved. 

• If you are using store bought Zoodles for this salad, drain them and dry them well once you open the package.  
• Don’t over dress the Zoodles. It’s important to add just enough olive oil and citrus because too much will weigh down the salad. 
• We keep this simple to appreciate the zucchini but you can add more veggies if you’d like. Cherry tomatoes, chopped peppers or cucumbers will give the zoodle salad more heft but still keep it light. 
• Once you’ve poured in the dressing, toss and allow them to sit in the fridge for 10 minutes. This helps all the flavors to meld together. 
• If you have leftovers you can keep the salad in air tight container in the fridge. Keep in mind the longer it sits the Zoodles loose their crunchy texture.  
• For a decadent finish, top with burrata and flaky sea salt.

What to Serve with Our Zoodle Salad

Zoodle salad is a great side dish. You can also serve it as a light entree topped with Instant Pot Shredded Chicken or grilled shrimp. Pair the salad with our turkey meatballs, sheet pan sausage and peppers or air fryer salmon for the quickest meal. 

Zoodle Salad

Recipe by Abuelas Cuban Counter

Servings

6

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

5

minutes

Ingredients

• 20 oz of pre-sliced zucchini noodles 

• 1/4 cup fresh basil, finely sliced

• 2 tablespoons of fresh mint leaves, finely sliced 

• 2 tablespoons of chives, finely sliced 

• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped 

• 1/2 cup parmigiano Reggiano, shaved or grated 

• 1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted 

• 1/4 cup of green castelvetrano olives 

• 1/3 cup of extra virgin olive 

• 1 lemon, zested and juiced 

• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 

• Salt and freshly ground pepper 

Directions

• In a bowl make dressing by adding the oil, lemon zest and juice and Dijon mustard. Whisk together until completely emulsified. Add salt and freshly cracked pepper. Set aside.
• Toss the cold zucchini noodles with the dressing, olives and herbs. Top with pine nuts and cheese.  
  Serve immediately or let it sit in the fridge for 5-10 minutes to let the flavors penetrate.