Avocado Pesto Zoodles (Printable View)

Spiralized zucchini noodles with vibrant avocado pesto and cherry tomatoes. A quick, nutritious meal ready in just 20 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Zoodles

01 - 2 medium zucchini, spiralized
02 - 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
03 - Pinch of salt

→ Avocado Pesto

04 - 1 ripe avocado, pitted and peeled
05 - 1 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
06 - 2 tablespoons pine nuts (or walnuts)
07 - 1 clove garlic
08 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon)
09 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (or nutritional yeast for vegan)
10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

→ Toppings

13 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
14 - Extra basil leaves, for garnish
15 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Transform the zucchini into noodles using a spiralizer, creating uniform strands for even cooking.
02 - Warm 1/2 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the spiralized zucchini with a pinch of salt. Sauté for 2–3 minutes until just tender while maintaining a crisp texture. Remove from heat and set aside.
03 - Combine the avocado, basil, pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice, Parmesan, 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt, and black pepper in a food processor. Blend until completely smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as necessary to incorporate all ingredients.
04 - Transfer the warm zoodles to a large mixing bowl. Pour the avocado pesto over the noodles and toss thoroughly until every strand is evenly coated with the vibrant green sauce.
05 - Scatter the halved cherry tomatoes and fresh basil leaves over the dressed zoodles. Add additional Parmesan or a light drizzle of olive oil if desired. Serve immediately, finishing with freshly ground black pepper to taste.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sauce comes together in less than 5 minutes but tastes like something youd pay $18 for at that trendy place downtown.
  • You can eat a mountain of these zoodles and still feel light enough to go for an evening walk afterward.
02 -
  • Never toss the pesto with piping hot zoodles or the avocado can turn an unappetizing brown color from the heat shock.
  • If your zucchini releases excess water after cooking, give it a quick blot with paper towels before adding the pesto to prevent diluting that gorgeous sauce.
03 -
  • Salt the raw spiralized zucchini in a colander for 10 minutes then pat dry to remove excess moisture before cooking for perfectly al dente zoodles that wont water down your sauce.
  • Save the zucchini cores from spiralizing and dice them for adding to omelets or soups the next day for zero waste cooking.
Return