Zoodles Recipe: Fresh Zucchini Noodles with Cherry Tomatoes 2026

Zoodles are spaghetti made from zucchini or other vegetables, a colorful and fun way to eat more greens. This version keeps the zucchini raw and tops it with a quick sauté of cherry tomatoes, black olives and toasted almonds for a fresh, bright dish.

The only real equipment you need is a vegetable spiralizer, though a peeler or mandoline with evenly spaced blades will also work. The whole thing comes together in about 20 minutes, with just 5 minutes of cooking for the topping.

Serve it as a light starter or a meatless main, and feel free to eat the zoodles plain as a side if you prefer. Here the spiralized zucchini becomes the star of the plate.

To make zoodles at home you can use different tools: from a peeler to a mandoline, as long as they have evenly spaced blades that give you attractive vegetable spaghetti. The tool invented specifically for this job, though, is the vegetable spiralizer.

With a spiralizer you get extra-long noodles, since it cuts the vegetable in a spiral and makes good use of its whole surface, not just its length. There are very simple models that work like a pencil sharpener, and more elaborate ones with clamps, handles or even electric motors.

Ingredients for Zoodles

This makes 2 servings.

• 1 good-sized zucchini (about 300 g)
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 150 g cherry tomatoes
• 50 g pitted black olives
• 30 g toasted almonds
• 30 g Parmesan cheese
• 1 garlic clove
• A few leaves of fresh basil

How to Make Zoodles Step by Step

1. Wash and trim the zucchini

Wash 1 good-sized zucchini, dry it and cut off the end of the stem. A firm, seedless piece with plenty of flesh is what you want so the spiralizer can cut cleanly.

2. Spiralize the zucchini

Feed the zucchini into the spiralizer and keep turning to make the zoodles. Every few turns, snip them with scissors, otherwise they end up too long and awkward to eat. Once the whole zucchini is spiralized, salt it and leave it to drain in a colander, as it releases quite a bit of water.

3. Chop the tomatoes, olives and almonds

Cut 150 g cherry tomatoes in half, slice 50 g black olives into rings and roughly chop 30 g toasted almonds. Keeping the pieces chunky gives the topping good texture against the soft noodles.

4. Slice the Parmesan

Cut about 30 g Parmesan cheese into shavings with a peeler or a sharp knife, then set them aside. Thin shavings melt slightly against the warm topping and look great on top.

5. Brown the garlic

Peel and finely chop 1 garlic clove and brown it over medium heat in a large skillet with a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Watch it closely so it turns golden rather than burning.

6. Sauté the topping

When the garlic starts to color, add the tomatoes, olives and almonds, tear in a few fresh basil leaves with your hands and give it all a very quick sauté of 1 or 2 minutes. You want the tomatoes just warmed through, not cooked down.

7. Dress the zoodles

Place the zucchini spaghetti in a serving dish, drizzle with a thread of extra virgin olive oil and add a pinch more salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Toss and set aside.

8. Add the sautéed topping

You could serve the zoodles as they are, as a side, but here we turn them into a main by adding the contents of the skillet. Spoon it all over the dressed noodles and mix gently.

9. Finish with cheese and basil

Toss everything together, scatter the Parmesan shavings and a few more fresh basil leaves over the top and it is ready to eat.

Tips for the Best Zoodles

Pick the right vegetables

Zucchini is the most popular choice, but you can also spiralize carrot, turnip, beet, parsnip, pumpkin, sweet potato or cucumber. Choose pieces with enough flesh, no seeds or hollow parts, and firm enough to cut cleanly; eggplant, pepper and tomato will not give good results.

Salt and drain them

Salting the spiralized zucchini and leaving it in a colander lets it release plenty of water, so the finished dish does not turn soggy. Snip the noodles with scissors as you go so they stay a comfortable length to eat.

Keep the topping quick

The sauté should take only 1 or 2 minutes so the tomatoes stay fresh and the almonds keep their crunch. Eat the zoodles raw like this, or serve them as a side with a sauce of your choice.

30 Top Recipes I Enjoy Cooking at Home

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a balanced lineup ready to go: simple comfort dishes, well-known international plates, and desserts that make everyone happy.

On nights when I want something rich and indulgent, my picks tend to be this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this elegant Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a decadent Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And whenever something fruity and soothing sounds good, this classic French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I keep coming back to.

For quick breakfasts and lighter plates, these fluffy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe are a regular in my rotation, along with a satisfying Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe and these fresh Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple to keep in the pantry, this simple Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe is one I like to prepare.

When tapas and Mediterranean flavors are calling, I move between this bold Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crispy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, creamy Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and refreshing Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is also a favorite of mine to serve when the occasion calls for something a bit more special.

For filling lunches and cozy dinners, these are the ones I always point people toward: this comforting Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, traditional Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, rich Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and creamy Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. And if I'm after something even heartier, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a rustic Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the ultra-comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street food and party-style plates are another mood I cook for often, and that usually means this juicy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, flavorful Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crunchy Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These easy Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another one I like to set out as a no-fuss appetizer or snack.

And when I'm building drinks and a full spread for company, dinner often gets paired with this refreshing Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this bold Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the table, this tangy French Remoulade Sauce recipe works great on the side, and this striking Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe makes a beautiful finish.

Additional Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of testing and fine-tuning recipes in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the strongest dishes rely on three things: simplicity, techniques you can trust, and serious flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the ones I genuinely keep coming back to—whether it's a fast meal just for me or something a little more special for friends and family.

On the dessert side, the rich and silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I reach for when I want something elegant without much effort. Another sweet favorite is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, inspired by the famous Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better texture in desserts comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something fresh and unfussy is what I'm after, I usually reach for the classic Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a perfectly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For heavier comfort food, I'm quick to suggest the satisfying Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the quick weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

Traditional dishes from around the world are another thing I love to share, among them the authentic Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the classic Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is a category I turn to often too, since it saves time without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my comforting Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

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