Scottsdale Chef Lisa Brisch with Sweet Basil Gourmetware & Cooking School stopped by Arizona Midday (KPNX Ch 12) last week to share one of her favorite gadgets, a mini spiralizer. She was spiralizing zucchini for a Tomato Pesto Zoodle dish that was out of this world! Chef Brisch mentioned that you can make a big batch with a larger spiralizer. That’s all I heard. I headed to Sweet Basil that day to buy one. I know I’m a little late to the picnic. By now many of your own a spiralizer, but pasta has always been my go-to dish. I never much thought about making zucchini noodles. But a couple of cranks of the handle made me a believer! I’ve had more fun in the kitchen, spiralizing zukes, potatoes, apples, carrots and anything else I have in my crisper. But the zoodles are my favorite! From now on, it’s oodles of zoodles for me!

Watch my Video for Tomato Pesto Zoodles here!

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Tomato Pesto Pasta with Zoodles or Noodles

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Servings

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup toasted almonds
• 1/2 cup packed fresh parsley
• 2 cups packed fresh basil
• 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes
• 1/2 cup finely grates Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
• 1 large clove garlic
• 1 tablespoon drained and rinsed capers
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

For the Noodles:

• 1 pound pasta OR
• 1 pound zucchini for Zoodles with Spiralizer (About 2-3 large zucchini)
• olive oil for pan

Servings Ingredients 1/2 cup toasted almonds 1/2 cup packed fresh parsley 2 cups packed fresh basil 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes 1/2 cup finely grates Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving 1 large clove garlic 1 tablespoon drained and rinsed capers 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil For the Noodles: 1 pound pasta OR 1 pound zucchini for Zoodles with Spiralizer (About 2-3 large zucchini) olive oil for pan

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Instructions

1. In a small skillet, toast almonds over medium heat, stirring frequently, until pale golden and fragrant, 2 to 4 minutes. Cool almonds to room temperature. In a food processor or blender, pulse cooled almonds until finely chopped. Add basil, parsley, tomatoes, cheese, garlic, capers, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper and lemon juice. With machine running, add oil in steady stream until emulsified. For the noodles: If using pasta, cook according to package directions. Just before draining, reserve ½ cup of pasta water. Drain pasta (do not rinse unless you want a cold pasta salad). Transfer to a large bowl. Pour pesto over pasta, using tongs to toss the mixture together. Add pasta water, if needed, to loosen the pesto. Serve, sprinkling with extra parmesan. 4. If using squash, make the zucchini noodles by cutting off the ends from the squash then carefully running them down the blade of a mandolin fitted with the julienne attachment. (The blade should be set at ⅛-inch thick). Alternately, you can use a spiralizer to make the zucchini noodles. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the squash noodles and ¼ teaspoon salt; cook, tossing constantly with tongs, for about 3 minutes just until the zucchini begins to wilt. (Do not overcook the zucchini noodles.) Add enough pesto to completely coat the noodles. Toss gently. (Recipe adapted from Lisa Brisch, Chef at Sweet Basil Gourmetware & Cooking School)

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