friends who follow!
What’s Cooking: Raw Zucchini Pasta with Marinara Sauce
OMG(oodness)…I just finished eating this thing and I going into convulsions. I absolutely loved this dish. OK before i go crazy let me explain. During my vegan transition one of the things I wanted to do was to go at least 70% raw. What does raw mean? It means that you eat nothing that has been heated above 118 degrees. Why Raw? Well it is believed that food heated higher than that loses most of its nutrients and essential renders it dead.
I had dabbled in this kind of eating on and off a few years ago, but never got really serious about it. However, I recently have taken a true interest in it and its effects on the body. Being that I am a person who does not take medicine and believes that healing comes from the Lord I also have come to realize that there is a reason He made food. Its not just to feed me, but to fuel me and take care of my body rather than harm it.
And before you ask I am not some loony tune hippie…lol. It’s just that as you get older you start to see things differently. Anyways, while deciding what raw recipe I wanted to make first I strolled through you tube for inspiration. I stumbled across Jennifer Cornbleet’s Zucchini Pasta and Marinara video. Watching it literally made me hungry. I knew that this one was it. It was simple, healthy, and of course raw.
Well, i just finished making it and am about to pass out. It was soooooooo delicious. I feel light, but satisfied…healthy, but indulged. Chris is on his way home and I hope he loves it as much as I do….I will keep you abreast as he tries to lighten up his carnivorous ways…lol.
But Seriously, this was an amazing dish. I felt so good about myself eating it. So If you are looking to add a little raw food and lighter eating into your diet this will not disappoint you.
Please note that this recipe is via Jenner Cornbleet (of course with a few tweeks from me).
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
INGREDIENTS
From The Pantry:
- Sea Salt
- Cracked Black Pepper
- 2 tsp Oregano or Italian Seasoning
- 3 tbs Olive Oil
- 1/2 tsp Cayenne or Crushed Red Pepper (optional if you like it spicy)
From The Fridge
- 2 Zucchini
- 1 sliced Red Bell Pepper
- 2 Sliced Tomatoes
- 3/4 cup Sun Dried tomatoes in Olive Oil (If packed dry you will need to soak them for 5 minutes to soften them up.)
- 2 Cloves Garlic
- 6 Basil leaves ( you can substitute with 2 tbs of dry basil)
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
METHOD
Part 1: The Pasta
- Peel the Zucchini and chop gnarly off the end
- Place in a spiral vegetable slicer (I purchased my spiral slicer from amazon.)
- Follow the directions on how to cut the vegetable with it. (If you do no have one you can create large fettuccine noodles by slicing strips of zucchini with a vegetable peeler. I haven’t tried this yet so I am not sure if the consistency will be the same.)
- Set zucchini to the side in a bowl lined with a paper towel. (The paper towel will draw out some of the moisture.
Part 2: The Sauce
- Place the garlic in a food processor and pulse a few times until it is finely minced.
- Add the tomatoes, peppers, sun dried tomatoes, herbs and salt/ pepper to taste. (The sun dried tomatoes have some salt in them so don’t put too much. You can always add more later.)
- Pulse until it is finely mashed, but still has fine chunks.
- Add the olive oil and pulse a few more times until mixed.
- Pour the sauce in a bowl. (You can drain it in a fine mesh drainer or cheese cloth if you want to get rid of some of the moister.)
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
Part 3: The Finish Line
- Mix the sauce and noodles well - make sure to coat each piece.
- Serve on a plate or bowl with sliced basil leaves on top.
TIP:
Raw garlic is very strong. To avoid the bitterness and garlic breath remove the core from the clove. That is the only part our bodies cannot digest and sits in the stomach creating garlic breath and a bitter taste when eaten.
Share this Post
Related posts:
- What’s Cooking: Filet Mignon with Gorgonzola Butter Sauce
Chris has a grocery store that he loves in NYC. It’s no secret why: they’re cheap as dirt! When he...
- What’s Cooking: Fettuccine with Parmesan Garlic Sauce and Sauteed Chicken
This meal was prepared by using items I already had in my kitchen. We bought Chicken breast from Chris’ favorite...
- What’s Cooking: Yummy Vegan Stuffed Peppers
I didn’t grow up with a love for veggies. In fact some of my food horror stories involved being forced...
- What’s Cooking: Sesame Tuna Steak with Garlic Quinoe
As I mentioned the other day I have become Veganish (Vegan but still eat fish). It hasn’t really been hard...
- What’s Cooking: Asian Salmon with Pineapple Couscous
Asian Salmon with Pineapple Couscous When I first began cooking for my husband last year, then he was my fiancé,...
- cooking
8 Responses
This is impressive!!!
Thank you! I know you are so really to start making this….lol.
Yum! I am going to try this. It looks good and I am always looking for a good pasta substitute when I am watching my carbs. I will still have to make a side of chicken for my husband though. No meal is complete without meat for him.
Yeah you can definitely add a side of meat. I have a caveman in my house too although he behaved himself and went without his usual carnage this ttime.
My sister first sent me a link to your blog because I’m getting married soon and she knew I was interested in learning to cook different things. I’ve been hooked ever since and your recipes always look so great! I just picked up some quinoa so I can try 2 of your recent recipes. A sidenote: what kind of camera/video camera do you use for all of your posts?
Yeah!!! Congrats on the marriage. I actually use several pieces of equipment. I kinda keep it under wraps becasue I do professional work as well…kinda my own trade secret..lol.
This looks yummy, I think I may give it a try
It is really awesome. My friend had some this weekend and ordered the spiral slicer afterward. She loved it!