Zucchini Pasta with Heirloom Tomato and Lemon-Basil

Oh Summer how I love thee! We have just started receiving our produce from our CSA and not only are we thrilled to be supporting a local, organic farm we are just tickled pink to have such beautiful, chemical free produce that was picked the day before. Dark leafy greens, fragrant herbs, summer squash and my personal favorite zucchini. Zucchini has become a new staple in our home and this particular dish I make about once a week.

Using an inexpensive spiral slicer I turn a plain 'ol zucchini into pasta like curls and lightly drizzle the slightly sweet tomato basil sauce on top and voila! A lovely and light summer dish straight from the farm to our table.

If you are not involved with a local farm, CSA, or other share program I highly encourage you to look into it. Not only are you supporting your community, you are providing healthy foods for your family that didnt travel thousands of miles to get to your home. Local, organic agriculture is not just a trend it is a movement, one that is spreading like wild fire out here on the west coast. If you arent sure how to get involved check out Local Harvest to find farms and CSA's near you!

PS. Fellow bloggers, don't forget about my giveaway for a FREE CUSTOM BLOG BANNER ends Sunday at 11pm!!!

Zucchini Pasta with Heirloom Tomato and Lemon Basil

(tweaked from Living Raw Food)

For The Sauce

• 4 cups chopped heirloom tomatoes (or you could use cherry or grape tomatoes. For an extra kick you can add some sun-dried tomatoes as well...YUMMY! I added about 8 or 10.)


• 1 small shallot, coarsly chopped


• 1-2 cloves garlic, depending on how garlicky you like it


• 3 TBSP freshly squeezed lemon juice


• 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh lemon-basil or regular fresh basil


• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil


• 5-6 medium zucchini


• salt and pepper


• pinenuts (optional)

Put the first five ingredients into a highspeed blender and blend until smooth. With the blender running, slowly pour in the olive oil and continue blending until fully emulsified. Transfer to a bowl.

Trim the ends of the zucchini. Using a spiral slicer or vegetable peeler, slice the zucchini into ribbons or curly noodles. Toss with sauce, sprinkle with salt and pepper. I like to top with pinenuts and some extra basil. Enjoy!

Serves 4-6

Comments

[Sherri B.]

I love the beautiful shots of the zucchini. It is one of my favorite veggies and so adaptable...I almost forgot about your giveaway,yikes!

[Nicole]

Looks wonderfully fresh and perfect for summer! Love your blog re-design, too.

[Egle]

Oh my! Oh my! I totally fell in love with the recipe, wooden box (where did you get that beauty???) and photographs. Simply amazing. I just can imagine how well zucchini and pinenuts work togehter. Yummyness.

[ilovepom-poms]

C! You surprise me every time you change the look of your blog! Can it get any better? Beautiful and so simple.

[sheena]

I am in love with these photos!! And the new blog looks super!!!

[Sara]

your photos continue to get better and better! I always think of the zucchini pasta idea until it comes to cooking time, then I get lazy. Leave it to your pretty pictures to motivate me to give it a try. Your sauce sounds excellent too!

[Rachel]

I made this tonight for dinner and my family was in love! So refreshing and delightful!

[Coco]

Thanks everyone! Rachel, Im so glad this was a hit! We make it at least once a week at our house :)

[Heather]

I got my spiral slicer this weekend and I am in love! The kids loved the "zoodles," they will definitely become a regular in our house now! We also get our first CSA share this week and we are so excited, thanks for that idea too!

[lucia b]

Love this! I'm starting back painting and needed a bit of inspiration for my practice canvases. WOW and now i'm hungry too.

[Julie the Alkaline Sister]

I have been eating these raw noodles for 2 weeks steady now since I got my first spiral slicer- soooo yummy! I put a fresh basil pesto on my "zoodles" and could eat them all day-have you tried pesto yet? Your recipe looks like a nice change from mine! I was thinking it was time to try tomatoes! Thanx for the inspiration.

[Sarah]

What type of spiral slicer do you use?

[Renske]

This was delicious! Thank you.
I am thinking of buying a spiral slicer. It was quite a bit of work with only a vegetable peeler at hand.

[Leigh]

Made this dish tonight...so yummy!! Thanks for the recipe Caitlin! I also have peach lavender fruit leather in the dehydrator, can't wait till it is dry!

[Nadia]

Hi Coco, love this recipe just by reading it! zucchini is also a fav of mine.
Would like to ask you a question, do you actually cook the zucchini?