Zucchini Alfredo

  • ZUCCHINI ALFREDO (adapted from Allrecipes)

    SERVES: 4 as a side without spaghetti squash; 4 as a main with squash or additional veggies
    (original recipe with egg noodles serves 4)

    3 tablespoons vegetable oil
    6 cloves garlic, minced (or to taste)
    1 onion, halved and sliced thin
    4 cups shredded zucchini, length-wise into long spaghetti-like strips
    1/2 cup nonfat milk
    4 (to 8) ounces nonfat cream cheese, cubed (the 8oz might be too much dairy, I just used the full block b/c I knew the rest would go to waste)
    1/2 cup chopped fresh basil (DO NOT USE DRIED!!)
    salt and pepper to taste
    fresh nutmeg, to taste
    grated Parmesan cheese (optional)


    1- Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in garlic & onion, and cook 2 minutes. Mix in zucchini, and cook 10 minutes, until some of the moisture has evaporated.
    2- Pour the milk into the skillet, and stir in cream cheese until melted. Mix in basil. Season with salt, pepper, nutmeg, to taste, and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

    Variations:

    - For Phase 2 or 3 ~ The original recipe has the zucchini in a regular shred, served over egg noodles (I used whole wheat egg noodles for my kids and they LOVED this recipe!!)

    - Add a small amount of shredded parmesan to the actual sauce and then a small amount on top of each serving.

    - For easier prep, you could shred the zucchini regular (or keep it long) and then mix in spaghetti squash (steamed in microwave or raosted in oven) for amped up veggies.

    - Add more veggies such as mushrooms, yellow squash or baby spinach to wilt or chopped spinach.

    Have fun with it!
  • Has anyone tried this? I've always wanted to make the zucchini pasta dishes but have never attempted it as it always seemed a bit fiddly.
    Is it very hard to make the zuchinni into long strips that will hold once they are in the pan/sauce?
    Thanks...