Zoodles make the perfect pasta substitute, with gluten-free meatballs and covered in marinara sauce this dish is a very healthy twist to traditional spaghetti and meatballs.
A spiralizer has been on my wish list for several months now, and I was very excited when my kids surprised me with one as a gift for my birthday. This unique and very easy to use gadget can turn almost any vegetable or fruit into spaghetti or ribbon strands. Yes, that’s why the noodles in the pic are green. My family loves zucchini, and with this 4-blade spiralizer from Paderno World Cuisine I’ve been able to reinvent our favorite vegetable into a fun, new dish: zoodles (zucchini noodles!) and meatballs.
These zoodles make the perfect pasta substitute, and covered in marinara sauce they are a very healthy twist to traditional spaghetti and meatballs.
How To Make Gluten Free Meatballs
Before taking out my zoodle maker, I made the meatballs. In a bowl, I whisk the egg and stir in Shar’s gluten-free breadcrumbs until the breadcrumbs are soaked. Then combine the ground beef with the soaked breadcrumbs and add Parmesan cheese, garlic, parsley, roll the meat into little meatballs and fry in oil until they are browned on all sides. Then, I simmer them in a savory gluten-free Italian red sauce. For a delicious red sauce, try organic, gluten free Muir Glen. However, I think these zoodles deserve a homemade sauce.
The red sauce is inspired by Sundays from my childhood when my best friend would invite me over her Italian grandmother’s house for dinner. The house was always filled with a crowd of friends and relatives and, above all, the overpoweringly delicious smell of meats simmering in a tomato sauce on the stove. My friend’s grandmother called the sauce “red gravy,” and it accompanied everything: sausages, meatballs, pork chops, and pasta.
Today, I’m serving it over my zoodles!
How To Make Zoodles
Zoodles of Fun
While the meatballs are simmering in the red gravy, it’s time to make those zoodles. The whole family ends up crowding into the kitchen when I take out the spiralizer. It’s so fun to use that everyone wants a turn. And look how beautifully it turns a zucchini into long, noodle-like swirls. I recommend using a long and fat zucchini for the best zoodles.
After you’ve sliced up your zucchini, place the spiralized zucchini in a colander with a little salt while the moisture is released. This takes about 20 minutes.
Now it’s ready to be cooked. Heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet. Add three cloves of chopped garlic and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Then, add the zoodles, sprinkle with salt and cook about 2 minutes. Stir and cook for one more minute.
Finally, let the zoodles sit for a few minutes to allow any excess water to be released. Drain, and they’re ready to serve. You might also want to pat them off with a paper towel if they are still a bit too moist.
Cover with the red gravy and top with meatballs and dinner is ready!
Pro Tips And Recipe Notes
- If you’re going to make my homemade quick easy marinara sauce, do that an hour before and simmer it on the back burner of your stove.
- I recommend using a long and fat zucchini for the best zoodles.
- After you’ve sliced up your zucchini, place the spiralized zucchini in a colander with a little salt while the moisture is released. This takes about 20 minutes.
- You want to lightly roll your meatballs between your hands to form a small ball that feels like it will hold together, but lightly so they will absorb the sauce.
I think we’re becoming a bit addicted to zoodles in my house now. I love how they give any meal a healthy twist, and I’m coming up with all kinds of ideas for different ways to serve them.
This spiralizer has definitely been one of my favorite additions to my kitchen this year, and the model that my kids bought me is high-quality and has many other features that I have not yet tried out. It’s a snap to assemble, use, and clean. A wonderful tool for the gluten-free kitchen, and a great gift for anyone you know who loves to cook.
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Zoodles (Zucchini Noodles) And Gluten Free Meatballs
Ingredients
- 3 cups of Marinara sauce store bought or homemade
- For Meatballs
- 2 lbs. ground beef
- 1 egg
- 1 tblsp. parmesan cheese
- 3 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 tsp. parsley
- 1/4 cup gluten free Shar’s bread crumbs
- 1 tsp. salt
- oil for frying
- For Zoodles
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 6 medium zucchinis
- 2 tblsp. olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic
Instructions
- Prepare Meatballs: Whisk the egg in a bowl and stir in Shar’s gluten-free breadcrumbs until the breadcrumbs are soaked. Then combine the ground beef with the soaked breadcrumbs and add Parmesan cheese, garlic, and parsley. Roll into meatballs. Fry meatballs in oil and brown them well on all sides over medium-low heat, turning carefully about 10 minutes.Then simmer meatballs in gluten free marinara sauce.
- Prepare Zucchini (Zoodles): Cut zucchini into zoodles using a spiralizer. Place the spiralized zucchini in a colander and toss with the salt until coated. Place colander in a shallow bowl for 20 - 30 minutes while zoodles release their moisture, then pat dry with paper towels. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet. Add 3 cloves of chopped garlic and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add zoodles (zucchini), and cook about 2 minutes. Stir and cook for one more minute. Then let the zoodles sit for a few minutes to allow any excess water to be released, drain and they're ready to serve.
Notes
- If you’re going to make my homemade quick easy marinara sauce, do that an hour before and simmer it on the back burner of your stove.
- I recommend using a long and fat zucchini for the best zoodles.
- After you’ve sliced up your zucchini, place the spiralized zucchini in a colander with a little salt while the moisture is released. This takes about 20 minutes.
- You want to lightly roll your meatballs between your hands to form a small ball that feels like it will hold together, but lightly so they will absorb the sauce.
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Anmol Rawat says
December 22, 2014 at 3:38 amAppears to be yummilicious !
Barbara says
January 13, 2015 at 10:32 pmYummilicious! That says it all. Thanks.
Francene Stanley says
December 22, 2014 at 4:54 amWhat a fantastic idea. Thanks for your tip about removing excess moisture, which would be worth saving to add to sauces and gravies etc. I’ve often wondered how these fun strips could be made. I might have known a machine would be involved. Now, I want one.
Barbara says
January 19, 2015 at 12:47 pmGreat idea, Francine, to save the zucchini water for sauces. 🙂
Nancy woodcock says
December 22, 2014 at 8:58 amNice change from yellow spaghetti squash and a thicker texture too! Love you Barb. I had you down for,your Bday so a very belated Happy Birthday friend . Love you all! Merry Christmas too!
Barbara says
December 24, 2014 at 12:49 pmThank you! Merry Christmas.
Sophie Bowns says
December 22, 2014 at 9:45 amI think this is an amazing idea. I like spaghetti, but I’m not very keen on pasta. (I have no idea why.) Good alternative!
Barbara says
January 19, 2015 at 12:51 pmSounds like this is just right for you.
Alana says
December 23, 2014 at 5:53 pmI’ve been wanting to try zoodles, as they are zero points on Weight Watchers (vs “regular”, even glutenfree, grain based noodles) My stomach is grumbling with hunger!
Barbara says
January 19, 2015 at 12:56 pmGo ahead. They’re delicious.