We all know veggies are important to eat for our health and beauty. Yet it’s equally important to find fresh, interesting ways to incorporate them into our lives. So get ready for a recipe that is super easy to make, incredibly fresh and crisp, and loaded with vitamins and nutrients!
My Savory Zucchini, Carrot & Cucumber Zoodles Recipe is fun and creative, and best of all, it’s tasty and filling! ????
Let’s see how…
Zoodles vs Gluten-free Pasta
First things first…why not just eat some healthy version of pasta? After all, it seems like it would be easier to get this meal prepped. By all means, feel free to use a gluten-free noodle for this dish.
However, I still would encourage you to add these veggies into the mix to ensure you are receiving all of nature’s goodness, as a nice, veggie-based way to mix things up.
You can choose to chop these veggies however you’d like and toss them with your prepared pasta and dressing, and bam, there you go!
On the other hand, what I’m trying to show all you Beauties is how you can create a dish that is satisfying without all the added heaviness that grains (even healthy ones), can bring to your gut.
Rather, let’s fill our insides with hydrating, nutrient-rich veggies that will keep you glowing and full of energy.
You will want to invest in a spiralizer for this recipe. You can purchase one for under $30. Here’s the one I like. If you’d like a less bulkier one, try this one! It will take a bit more strength and coordination, however, it will give you those beautiful spirals we’re looking for. Have fun with it!
Hydrating Fruit: Zucchini
Anytime you’re looking for a blank canvas for sauces or the dressing we’re using today, zucchini noodles really are fantastic at holding up their crunch, while soaking in all the flavor.
Is it a surprise to hear that zucchini is a fruit? I know, we usually think of fruit as the juicy, sweet kind! But technically, zucchini contains its own seeds and is a fruit.
Zucchini is a hydrating fruit that can be eaten and prepared raw, or cooked. In this recipe we’ll be retaining all of its freshness, without losing its nutrients (which tends to happen when we overcook it).
Whether it’s hot or cold outside, our bodies need as much hydration as possible to keep our insides and outsides at their best, and zucchini is a great way to keep your body on point, well into the day.
Zucchini being extremely hydrating—due to its high water content and fiber, and low in calories—gives you the feeling of being full, without the bloat.
Check out what zucchini supplies, to make it a great beauty and health food:
- Manganese: helping to promote stronger bones and teeth
- Vitamin C: plays a major part in the synthesis of collagen, which is important to maintain the health of your largest organ, the skin and blood vessels
- Vitamin A, magnesium, folate, potassium, copper, and phosphorus: promoting optimal functioning of the thyroid gland and adrenaline function
- Omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, niacin, and protein: making your hair strands stronger and healthier
- Vitamins B1, B2 and B6, for optimal health and energy
- Calcium, for strong bones and moving gracefully
- Soluble and insoluble fiber, sodium, minerals, amino acids, and many more: adding to your overall health, digestive power and energy
I’m telling you, adding this fruit to many dishes is a great way to satisfy your appetite without feeling like you still need to reach for other foods.
Note: The younger zucchini have a more subtle taste than the more fully developed, which are usually more than 8 inches long. With it’s soft covering and buttery white flesh, almost all its parts can be eaten (including the flesh, seeds and the skin).
Beautifying Root: Carrots
This bright colored orange root contains super charged amounts of beta-carotene, which is the precursor for vitamin A (vitamin A being necessary for a well-moisturized and shiny head of hair and in promoting a healthy scalp), which is needed for the growth of healthy hair. And we all want healthy shiny hair?!
Carrots actually possess strong cleansing properties that are extremely effective in cleansing our livers and removing toxins from the blood. It’s critical for our overall wellbeing to get these nasty toxins out of our bodies so we’re glowing rather than looking dull and feeling lifeless.
These cleansing properties are also an important aid in transporting nutrients and nourishing hair, and our entire bodies.
Carrots contain calcium, potassium, iron, fiber, vitamins B1, B2, B6, C, K, and biotin (amazing skin refresher and beautifying properties). They boost your immune system (just like ginger), improve digestion, detox the body, and boost oral health.
Carrots and their juices, aid the immune system by helping to defend the body from free radicals, harmful bacteria, and inflammation—providing loads of other vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.
In addition, carrots benefit brain health by improving memory and lowering oxidative stress in the brain that can weaken nerve signaling capacity.
It’s important to keep everything running like a well-oiled machines Beauties. And when I say beauty from the inside out, this is a perfect example—everything from our memory, to our guts, and out onto your glowing skin, hair, and nails!
Adding this fibrous veggie to your beauty routines is just another great way to take the edge off of hunger, while still providing tons of nutrients.
Beauty Gourd: Cucumbers
Top all that hydration off with even more hydration—cucumbers are another wonderfully water-packed vegetable, filled with beauty minerals.
The phytochemicals in cucumber cause the collagen in the skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer, and reducing the visibility of cellulite.
You can actually rub a few cucumber slices on pesky cellulite right before going to the pool or beach, and/or, rub it on wrinkles before a photo op or evening out for younger and fresher looking skin!
Cucumbers are are high in all the B vitamins (except for B12), Vitamin C, zinc, iron, folic acid, calcium, magnesium and potassium. They will give you energy while helping to repair and smooth the collagen in your skin.
Cucumbers are a valuable source of antioxidant nutrients, which include vitamin C, beta-carotene, and manganese.
Cucumbers also contain flavonoid antioxidants, such as quercetin, apigenin, luteolin, and kaempferol—all of which contribute to their antioxidant and anti-Inflammatory benefits.
Let’s not forget to mention how these juicy cukes support the digestive tract (cleansing the liver, which is our main detoxifying organ), by removing accumulated toxins and waste materials from the blood and gut.
Give your body that extra boost of love with THIS bundle!
Try to purchase organic cucumbers, which will allow you to leave on their beautiful skin and eat them as they are, providing even more beauty minerals.
Our beautiful Earth provides us with a bountiful variety of greens, so let’s start balancing and supporting our entire body and well-being with this fresh, tasty, and simple recipe!
Prepare ingredients, including spiralizing the veggies.
Add rice vinegar to a bowl.
Add the mustard.
Add the fresh lime juice.
Add the maple syrup.
Add the sesame oil.
Whisk until fully combined.
Add all your veggie spirals into a large bowl.
Toss spiralized mix with sauce.
Garnish with red pepper flakes, sesame seeds, and green onion.
Enjoy!
Check out the full recipe here…
Savory Zucchini, Carrot & Cucumber Zoodles Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 English cucumbers spiralized
- 2 large carrots spiralized
- 2 medium zucchini spiralized
- 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 Tbsp mustard
- 1 Tbsp lime juice about half a lime
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 Tbsp toasted black sesame seeds
- 2 Tbsp chopped green onion
Instructions
- Spiralize the cucumbers, carrots, and zucchini. (Pat cucumbers of extra moisture)
- Combine rice vinegar, mustard, lime juice, maple syrup, and sesame oil.
- Toss spiralized mix with sauce and garnish with red pepper flakes, sesame seeds, and green onion. Enjoy!
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was on Instagram!
Don’t forget to add this recipe to your Dinner Recipes Pinterest Board!
All my love,
Kimberly
Have a loving day!! xo
Love your recipes and how you share all your knowledge with us. Thank you so much!
Lots of love to you Caroline and thanks for checking out my recipes! ;)
I know the rule of thumb on when to eat fruit, as it does not digest well if eaten after a meal. I always stick to morning and snack. But does zucchini apply to this as it is considered a fruit? I always pair zucchini in my salads for lunch & dinner and don’t seem to have any digestive issues with it. Thanks!
This can be tricky I know…because zucchini is a fruit. However, it is full of water and easy to digest, making it easy to add to other veggies with little or no digestive issues. Glad to hear your body does well and that you’re keeping track. Keep up the great work and sending you lots of love! ;)
My family and I love this dish. We have made it so many times this summer. I have also spiralized beets and carrots and used your dressing recipe and it was delicious for something a little different and that will hold up for me to have for lunch the next day without getting to watery from cucumber and zuccini.
So thrilled to hear you and your family are loving this recipe. Thanks so much for your support and keep up the great work! ;)
I want to make this ahead of time for a buffet style party any tips on if this will get soggy? Should I serve it with the dressing on the side?