Addictive Spicy, Nutty Chinese Zucchini Recipe
This paleo Chinese Zucchini is refreshing, nutty, spicy, and will leave you wanting more! You’ll love this as an addictive side dish, or add your favourite protein to make it a main meal. These raw, paleo, Whole30 compliant Raw Spicy Zoodles are uncooked, giving you the optimum nutrition from each ingredient.
This post was updated on Mar 8th, 2022 with new photos.
Why this Chinese Zucchini recipe is so good
- It’s good for you! It’s raw! Whole30, paleo and keto compliant.
- It’s so darn easy to make! The hardest part is making sure the zoodles and sauce are mixed evenly.
- The crunch of the courgettes is refreshing, but the spices and herbs add a complex flavour.
How to make Chinese Zucchini
First, make your zoodles. My mum recently bought my electric spiralizer from Morrisons for £2.50 (!) in a sale, regularly a fiver. Worth it.
Toss zoodles with salt and place in colander/strainer over the sink, or a pot, or a towel for 30 mins.
Next, add all other ingredients to a mixing bowl and mix.
After the zoodles have sat for 30 mins, gently squeeze out extra moisture and add them to the sauce.
Mix well to combine.
Variations
- You could cook the zoodles – right before you add them to the sauce, sauté them for 5 minutes.
- How about trying a different vegetable? Sweet potato (probably will need sautéed), yellow squash, maybe cucumber? Let me know if you try these!
- If you’re not sticking to paleo or whole30, you can use peanut butter instead of tahini for this chinese zucchini recipe. That’s what we used growing up =]
Recipe Notes & Tips
- Definitely make sure you salt and strain the zoodles before adding to the sauce, but don’t leave them too long or squeeze them too much – they’ll go mushy!
- The garlic is raw. Make sure your bae is having dinner with you ; )
- Add more chili if you like the heat.
- If you refrigerate left overs, the flavours will intensify overnight.
Is Tahini Whole30?
Yes! It is literally just ground sesame seeds, and seeds are compliant.
Is sesame oil whole30?
I would say yes but in small amounts. Some oils (soybean, peanut, corn, etc.) are completely off-limits because they break the no legumes/no grains rule. Sesame seeds are not legumes, nor grains so they should be fine. However, for your main cooking oil in other dishes, I would stick to a healthier option like coconut oil, olive oil or avocado oil.
More side dishes you will love
- AIR FRYER PUMPKIN SEEDS
- KETO RANCH RECIPE
- SESAME BROCCOLI
- GREEK STUFFED TOMATOES
- PICKLED BEET SALAD RECIPE
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Cold, Spicy Zoodles
Easy, healthy and vegan, these Cold, Spicy Zoodles are the perfect Asian Side Dish!
Ingredients
- 4 zucchinis/courgettes, cut into noodles (zoodles/courgetti spaghetti)
- 1 tbs sesame oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbs tahini (or peanut/almond butter)
- 2-3 tsp chilli powder, add to your taste
- 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- 2 tsp chilli oil
- 2 tbs coconut aminos
- 2 tsp honey or maple syrup (optional)
Instructions
- Cut courgettes into noodle shapes - a spiralizer of some description is best, most big grocery stores have them.
- Toss zoodles with 1 tsp salt and place in a strainer for 30 mins on a towel or in the sink
- Add tahini, chilli powder, garlic, chilli oil, coconut aminos and 1/2 tsp salt to a bowl and mix until well combined
- Gently squeeze excess water from zoodles
- Add zoodles to the sauce and mix well
- Serve immediately
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 106Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 569mgCarbohydrates: 8gNet Carbohydrates: 5gFiber: 3gSugar: 4gProtein: 3g
Nutrition information and calculations will vary with the use of different brands or ingredients. These figures are estimates. Please get in touch if you have questions!
