Zucchini Pasta with Italian Lentil Sauce

Zucchini Pasta with Italian lentil sauce
Zucchini Pasta with Italian lentil sauce – A delicious Zoodles dish with an Italian flair.

During a conversation last week, my mom inspired me to try zucchini pasta. While I love this wonderfully delicious veggie, I was skeptical about replacing one of my favorite staples with a vegetable sliced into ribbons. Besides, David doesn’t like zucchini. However, when she said my meat-and-potato loving dad ate his whole plate, I figured I would give it a try.

What? Zucchini Pasta?

What exactly is it? Well, spiralizing veggies is the latest trend to do a healthy take on carb-loaded pasta. Basically, you sliced vegetables like zucchini, carrots, or other long veggies, into ribbons with a vegetable peeler.

ALICIA’S NOTE: After using a vegetable peeler on this, I invested in a spiralizer designed for this.   Having made several spiralized recipes since, I believe it was worth every penny – and even got one for my mom.

While this recipe is vegan (as long as you leave off the Parmesan), feel free to use your own favorite meat sauce if vegetarian fare just isn’t your thing, but you don’t know what you’ll be missing.

My favorite thing about this recipe? I didn’t miss the pasta and I’m a carb-o-holic. The hearty sauce blends well with the delicate squash texture and a pinch of red pepper adds just the right amount of zest. I also place the red pepper flakes and Parmesan on the table so people can add more to their liking. Round out the meal with a light salad or some garlic bread.

Zucchini Pasta with Italian Lentil Sauce

  • Prep time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 20 minutes
  • Total time: 30 minutes

Yields: 4 servings

zucchini pasta with italian lentil sauce

Zucchini pasta turned my veggie-hating dad and zucchini eschewing husband into true veggie-pasta lovers! The protein-packed and fiber-rich sauce bursts with flavor and fills you up!

  • 1 cup dried Lentils, prepared - 4 servings worth (or use store-bought prepared lentils canned or freezer section)
  • 1 Onions, chopped
  • 3 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 4 Zucchini
  • 1/4 cup Tomato Paste
  • 2 packets monkfruit, or sweetener of your choice
  • 2 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
  • 2 14oz cans Diced Tomatoes
  • 1 tsp Basil
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tbsp Parsley, chopped

Prepare lentils according to package directions.

Using a spiralizer or vegetable peeler, peel zucchinis into ribbons.

Spray a large saute pan with cooking spray. Heat over medium high heat. Add onions, garlic, and bell peppers. Saute until the onions are soft - just a couple of minutes.

Add tomato paste, vinegar, and sweetener and stir for about a minute till well mixed.

Add cooked lentils, tomatoes, basil, pepper flakes, and oregano. Allow to simmer over low heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

While sauce simmers, place zucchini ribbons into microwaveable bowl. Microwave in on minute increments until it is soft, but just a bit crunchy (about 3 minutes). Drain well.

Divide noodles onto plates and top with lentil tomato sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan and enjoy.

Nutrition

  • Calories: 280
  • Fat: 3 grams
  • Carbs: 46 grams
  • Protein: 19 grams
I submitted this recipe as part of the My Legume Love Affair #112 for the month of October 2017. 
Learn more at Lisa’s Kitchen and The Well Seasoned Kitchen

 

Zucchini Pasta with Italian Lentil Sauce
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Happily married to the love of my life. It's just us, our 5 cats, and our beautiful woods. I'm loving living back in the Florida panhandle being close to family. I love cooking, living a healthy lifestyle, taking care of our cozy home, and trying new things.

We enjoy hosting parties and my husband and I are both avid gamers. You can find me on PS4 as SunshineFlaGirl. We also play tabletop RPGs and eurogames.

Alicia Taylor

Happily married to the love of my life. It's just us, our 5 cats, and our beautiful woods. I'm loving living back in the Florida panhandle being close to family. I love cooking, living a healthy lifestyle, taking care of our cozy home, and trying new things.

We enjoy hosting parties and my husband and I are both avid gamers. You can find me on PS4 as SunshineFlaGirl. We also play tabletop RPGs and eurogames.

24 Comments

  • sadhna grover

    October 15, 2017 - 1:56 pm

    I love Zucchini noodles, this recipe is healthy and tempting. Thanks very much for bringing your recipe to MLLA for this month. Round-up will be on 2nd of November.

    • Alicia Taylor

      October 15, 2017 - 7:46 pm

      Awesome! Thank you so much 🙂

  • Amy

    April 19, 2017 - 11:07 pm

    I completely agree that a spiralizer is worth the investment! We love zucchini noodles and this looks like a delicious and healthy dinner!

  • Puccini Zucchini Spiralized Raw Food Vegan Recipe - TaylorLife.com

    September 5, 2016 - 1:34 pm

    […] for a spiralizer, I recommend the Wonderesque spiralizer.  You can see a demo for that in my Zucchini with Italian Lentils recipe […]

  • Shrimp Pad Thai with Zoodles • TaylorLife

    May 25, 2016 - 4:30 pm

    […] course, you can make spiralized vegetable noodles using a vegetable peeler as I did in the Zucchini Pasta with Lentil sauce, I recommend investing in a compact device made for this purpose.  I used the WonderEsque […]

  • Marci

    March 29, 2016 - 8:44 pm

    I have the Paderno spiralizer, love it. This looks like such a nice, clean meal!

    • Alicia Taylor

      March 29, 2016 - 10:40 pm

      It’s very clean – low-calorie and vegetarian. It’s also delicious. I love my spiralizer and have really put it through it’s paces recently

  • CourtneyLynne

    February 26, 2016 - 1:27 pm

    Omg this pasta looks beyond delicious!!! I must give your recipe a try!!

    • Alicia Taylor

      February 26, 2016 - 3:01 pm

      Be sure to let me know how you liked it!

    • Alicia Taylor

      February 28, 2016 - 1:36 am

      Cool. I look forward to hearing what you thought

  • Toughcookiemommy

    February 23, 2016 - 7:09 pm

    Lentil sauce is definitely a flavor combination that I would love to sample. My grandmother prepared many dishes growing up that contained lentils.

    • Alicia Taylor

      February 23, 2016 - 7:42 pm

      They are so healthy – full of fiber and protien – just don’t tell anyone 🙂

  • Jeanine

    February 23, 2016 - 8:31 am

    Yum. Zucchini is a huge favorite in our house. My kids just love it. This looks super delicious, I’ll have to give it a try!

    • Alicia Taylor

      February 23, 2016 - 12:03 pm

      Even my dad liked it. He thought it was pasta. It didn’t taste like pasta to me, but it was delicious.

  • Annemarie LeBlanc

    February 23, 2016 - 2:07 am

    This is one of the reasons I really need to get a vegetable spiralizer! It looks so delicious and healthy! Thank you for sharing the recipe.

    • Alicia Taylor

      February 23, 2016 - 11:51 am

      I don’t have one either. I used a hand vegetable peeler. It’s definitely worth investing in one, though.

  • Neely

    February 22, 2016 - 6:15 pm

    I lovezoodles 🙂

    • Alicia Taylor

      February 22, 2016 - 7:07 pm

      I’ve never hear them called that before 🙂

  • Heather Johnson

    February 22, 2016 - 10:31 am

    My kiddos love zucchini! I love all the healthy ingredients in this easy recipe.

  • valmg @ Mom Knows It All

    February 22, 2016 - 6:53 am

    My sister-in-law loves her spiralizer. I bet she’d be interested in this recipe, she’s always looking for new ones.

    • Alicia Taylor

      February 22, 2016 - 8:49 am

      Be sure to pass it along to her! I’d love to see what she thinks!

  • JENN

    February 21, 2016 - 4:10 pm

    That looks so good! I never thought of adding lentils to my pasta sauce! great alternative!

    • Alicia Taylor

      February 21, 2016 - 4:14 pm

      It’s very healthy – full of protein and fiber. Definitely delicious.

  • Koninika

    February 21, 2016 - 3:59 pm

    Inspiration and thought behind the recipe suits it’s style. Simple and delicious, love the theme of the post!

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