4.4 48 Published Jun 14, 2021, Updated Jul 09, 2024 Pool parties, kick ball games, playing hide-and-seek outside until sunset and then chasing lightening bugs all evening long. I have a lot of fun memories from our family BBQs. Of course, there was always a ton of food around too. Spaghetti salad was one dish my Granny used to make for every family get-together. Her version was the classic with cooked spaghetti noodles, a bottle of Italian dressing, green peppers, cucumber, tomatoes and onion. I can’t remember if her version had cheese or not, but I remember it tasting delicious.
A Healthy Twist
Today I’m remaking Granny’s spaghetti salad with a healthy EBF twist — zucchini noodles instead of spaghetti noodles and a homemade Italian dressing instead of the bottled stuff. It’s light, fresh and the perfect complement to hamburgers, hot dogs and other grillables!
Ingredients You’ll Need for the Salad
zucchini – you’ll be spiralizing the zucchini to make zucchini noodles… aka zoodles! One zucchini makes about 1 1/2 cups of noodles so you should end up with 4-5 cups from 3 large zucchini. bell pepper – either a red or yellow bell pepper works. grape tomatoes – you can also use cherry tomatoes or a traditional tomato – just chop it! cucumber – any type of cucumber will work and you can de-seed the cucumber if you’d like. I personally love using mini cucumbers. Just chop into bite-sized pieces for the salad. red onion – this adds a pop of color and a little kick!
Homemade Italian Dressing Ingredients:
apple cider vinegar – acv is my go-to vinegar for dressings! When shopping for, look for a brand that’s unpasteurized with “the mother” included. This is where all the nutrients are. I personally recommend Bragg’s apple cider vinegar. It’s organic, raw and the best of the best. extra-virgin olive oil – the neutral flavor of olive oil helps to balance the tartness of the apple cider vinegar and gives the dressing some healthy fat. Dijon mustard – adds a little zest to the dressing and also acts as an emulsifier. maple syrup – adds just a hint of sweetness to the dressing. You can skip this or use a low-cal sugar substitute like stevia or monkfruit if you’d like! spices – onion powder, dried thyme, dried oregano, dried basil, pepper, salt
How to Make Zucchini Noodles
If you don’t have a spiralizer, I highly recommend getting one. It makes perfect vegetable noodles in no time and costs less than $30. There are soooo many ways to use your spiralizer. I have quite a few recipes including zucchini noodle lo mein, shrimp and asparagus with zucchini noodles and this apple slaw. That said, if you don’t have a spiralizer and still want to try this recipe, don’t stress! You can make zucchini noodles using a mandoline, julienne slicer or vegetable peeler, it will just take more time. Another quick and easy option is to buy pre-packaged zucchini noodles from the store. You can find them in the produce section of most grocery stores.
Optional Additions
Like I mentioned, there are plenty of ways to make this zoodle salad your own! Here are some ideas:
fresh parmesan – sprinkle some freshly grated parmesan for a cheesy addition. vegan parmesan – want to make this vegan or dairy free? Make my hemp parmesan! olives – I love the salty, savory flavor olives add to this dish! paprika – add a little smoky heat with a pinch of paprika.
How to Serve this Zoodle Salad
Like I mentioned above, this the ultimate backyard BBQ recipe! It goes with just about any main dish. Here are some pairing suggestions:
Burgers: this salad works great paired with burgers. Try my Black Bean Burgers or these Spinach and Feta Turkey Burgers. They’re both delicious fresh off the grill! Grilled protein: you can have this as a side to a grilled protein option, like my apple cider vinegar chicken, grilled lemon basil tofu or BBQ tempeh skewers. Serve the grilled protein on the side or on top for a meal-sized salad.
How to Store Leftovers
Leftovers of this zoodle salad store really well! Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
More Zucchini Recipes to Try:
Zucchini Noodle Fettuccine Alfredo Zucchini Boats Baked Zucchini Fries Healthy Zucchini Muffins Zucchini Bread Oatmeal Vegan Zucchini Bread
