Zoodles with Crispy Pancetta, Pecorino and Basil

September 8, 2014

Zoodles with Crispy Pancetta, Pecorino and Basil


I’m so digging the zucchini spaghetti lately - dubbed “zoodles” or “zoods” for short.
It might have to do with the fact that at the farmers’ market zucchini are wonderfully inexpensive right now.
It might also have to do with the fact that whenever I feel like having spaghetti, with zoodles I don't have to worry about being glutinized — which btw, is not really an issue for me since I don’t have celiac disease. It’s more like I can load up on my fave nutrient-dense sauce without being weighed down by a heavy bowl of floury pasta.

Zoodles with Crispy Pancetta, Pecorino and Basil


Finally, it might have to do with the fact that I thought (until this morning) that zoodles were super hip.
Which they are not.
I found this article on the Huffington Post listing the 22 most hipster foods on the planet, and (sadly) zoodles didn’t made the cut.
Cold-brewed coffee; pickles; food trucks; kombucha; kale; Korean tacos; anything served in a mason jar...but no zoodles.
This can only mean that I'm past hipster and already at the next trend: the zoods.
Take notice Williamsburg hipsters!

Zoodles with Crispy Pancetta, Pecorino and Basil


All joking aside, the really cool thing about zoodles is that you don’t have to be grain-free or gluten-free or paleo to want to gobble down a bowl of them.
Zoodles are awesome because they taste good. Period.
As you know, I love me zoodles with marinara sauce, but zoodles are delish even sans tomato sauce. Some crispy pancetta (or slab bacon), garlic, pecorino and basil it’s all you need to make a great dish.
Simple, quick, easy.
A wholesome meal that comes together in 15 minutes tops (and you don’t need to be a spiralizing ninja to make it happen.)

Zoodles with Crispy Pancetta, Pecorino and Basil


Zoodles with Crispy Pancetta, Pecorino and Basil                                                Print this recipe!

Ingredients
Serves 4

6 zucchini
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 oz / 113 gr pancetta (or slab bacon), cubed or sliced into small strips
2 garlic cloves, minced
Handful fresh basil leaves, chopped
Zest and juice of one lemon
4 tablespoons shaved (or grated) pecorino

Directions

Using a spiralizer or peeler create zucchini spaghetti (always read the directions for your spiral slicer as they vary by brand - I use this spiralizer.) If you don't have a spiralizer use a regular vegetable peeler to vertically peel long, thin strips of the zucchini. This will form more of a wider "noodle" from the zucchini, like fettuccini.
Transfer zucchini spaghetti to a large bowl and set aside.
In a large pan heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add pancetta and fry for about 4 to 5 minutes until it starts to crisp.
Remove pancetta with a slotted spoon and set aside.
Add garlic to the pan and saute’ until the garlic is fragrant and pale golden, about 2 minutes.
Add zucchini spaghetti and saute’ for 5 minutes, stirring constantly until heated through.
Add zest and lemon juice, and pancetta and give a good stir.
Transfer to a platter, sprinkle with chopped basil and pecorino and serve.

Nutrition facts

One serving yields 220 calories, 13 grams of fat, 17 grams of carbs and 12 grams of protein.

26 comments:

  1. Delightful and Tasty! This settles it, I need to get a sprializer.

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  2. This looks soooo delicious! I've been wanting to try zoodles for a while now and now you really make me crave them. I love zucchinis so I'm sure I'll love this, too. Thank you for the awesome recipe inspiration!

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    1. Zoodles are so so good Beate you should totally get onboard!

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  3. Vegetable noodles are the shiz! I like to mix them with some GF rice noodles to get a bit of both tastes. :-)

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    1. That is actually a great idea Lauren. I'm so gonna do it!

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  4. Zoodles are not hip? I do not believe that! This definitely looks like a tasty meal to me, although I do not have a spiralizer....but I am losing my battle with ignoring it! This would be a great recovery food for me right now, making the most of the summer squashes too....before they go away! Love the addition of pancetta :)

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    1. It's lost battle Tina, you need to get yourself a spiralizer. That's the only way out!

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  5. I beg to disagree with the Huffington Post - who ARE those people? Zoodles are the peak of hipsterism - and yes, I made this word up.

    and, I agree with you on the glutinized feeling - when I am done with a platter of zoodles I feel energized, light, alert - no matter the sauce. If we are talking pasta, all I want is to lay on the sofa and pretend I'm watching TV as I doze off to dreamland. No bueno, my friend. No bueno

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  6. I have never tried zucchini noodles before, it seems like I am the last person that hasn't tried the fad! Definitely inspired to give this recipe a go Mike. Love the idea of adding pancetta to the noodles..

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  7. Mike - your photos are GORGEOUS!!!I am a fan of zoodles - but never have had them with pancetta!
    Throw these zoodles in a mason jar and they are hipper than hip! :)

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    1. Shashi, you are a genius. Zoodles + mason jar = hipstest thing ever.
      I need to do it, right now!

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  8. Oh wow!
    This looks so delicous and healthy eather. I will try this soon, as there is so much zucchini around these days ;)

    Greets,
    Lisa from Blogschokolade & Butterpost

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  9. These look absolutely delicious, Mike! That lighting in your photographs (esp the first one) is insanely awesome, too. And thanks for the hipster food link...that was hilarious. #WolfpackEats #WolfpackPhotographyStudio

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  10. I love them too but don't eat them nearly enough! Love the flavour combos here : )

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  11. Dude, you are way beyond hipster... so much so in fact that there's not even a term created for the amount of awesome you have. These zoods are pretty rad. Pinning. #wolfpackeats

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  12. Love zucchini noodles, in fact just made some this week too.. we must be on the same wave length! Can't wait to try this one Mike, I'm basically in love with pancetta!

    Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats

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  13. I love zucchini noodles so much, I finally bought a full blown spiralizer instead of the julienne peeler I was using! This recipe might as well be tailor made for me - just a few ingredients + cured meat = perfection!

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  14. Hi Mike! I love zucchini and spiral sliced vegetables. I am compiling a FREE ebook of Spiral Vegetable Recipes. I was wondering if you would allow me to include this recipe and photos in my ebook? These are amazing photos, by the way! I will include a photo credit and link to your site. Please let me know if that works for you.

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  15. Hey Mike! I just discovered your blog and what can I say? Your photos are gorgeous!!

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  16. Hopefully you're still monitoring this post...I've considered getting a spiralizer, however I wonder what kind of waste is involved. Can you get into the core, where the seeds are, or will the noodles just fall apart at that point?

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