Zoodles with bolognese sauce is healthy, low-carb and extremely delicious. Zoodles are one of the easiest and best pasta substitutes in the world. It is perfect when you want to eat a healthy meal, or you are on a diet.
There is one funny story about zoodles and my husband. I came across them in 2016 when I was experimenting with the Keto diet. I didn’t stick for too long with the Keto diet, but zoodles are one of the delicious pasta substitutes that stick in my brain.
On the other hand, my husband Peter didn’t hear about zoodles until autumn 2021. We were talking one rainy autumn day about healthy food, and I was surprised that he didn’t know about zoodles because he was researching healthy food and healthy lifestyles for years.
Triggered by the talk, I decided to introduce him to the world of the zoodles the next day. I made one of his favorite pasta sauces with zoodles. He fell in love with zoodles, and since that day, we have been eating zoodles often.
In honor of this event, I share with you my delicious zoodles with the bolognese sauce without onion without garlic. It is the perfect diet meal, or when you want to enjoy a healthy and tasty meal.
Table of contents
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Fun facts about zucchini
Zucchini is a very versatile vegetable. Actually, by biological classification is a fruit that belongs to the watermelon family.
Zucchini can replace pasta (hello Zoodles), it can be used in baking cakes (zucchini-based sponges and bread), zucchini is one of the perfect side dishes for BBQ, besides that, it can be used in sauces, soups, smoothies, pizza… There are more than a million options for zucchini.
Furthermore, you can eat zucchini flowers. Zucchini has gorgeous yellow flowers that are edible. Flowers can be battered and deep fried, baked in the oven, steamed, stuffed and baked, or eaten raw in a salad or on its own.
What’s more, people are using zucchini in soap making too.
How to make zoodles with bolognese sauce? Watch the video below
How healthy is zucchini?
Zucchini is a very versatile vegetable, and we can use it in so many different ways in our meals. But, can this versatile vegetable be healthy too?
Zucchini is one of the healthiest vegetables in the world. Did you know that zucchini has more potassium than bananas? Potassium is responsible for giving energy to our body, and because of that so many athletes are eating bananas while they are doing sports.
In addition, zucchini is full of antioxidants that may help with preventing cancer. Besides that, those antioxidants are good for the skin, heart, and eyes.
Furthermore, zucchini is amazing for digestion. It can help fight constipation, and keep the gut flora healthy.
Zucchini has:
Vitamin A
Vitamin B1
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B9
Vitamin C
Vitamin K
Copper
Magnesium
Manganese
Phosphorus
Potassium
To sum up, zucchini is a very healthy ingredient, and it can keep our bodies healthy.
Tips and tricks
- Break the meat into smaller chunks. The smaller the chunks, the better it will be.
- Add water gradually to the meal. This way you will avoid adding too much water. Maybe you will need less water than in the recipe.
- Add salt and pepper gradually in small amounts. Add a small amount at the beginning, and then add more when the meal is close to finishing. Taste the sauce, and add more salt or/and pepper if it is needed.
- Make zoodles before you are making the sauce. Cut them into zoodles, and put them in a bowl. Place a paper towel over it to absorb the moisture.
How to know if Zoodles with Bolognese Sauce is done?
- The sauce – meat has to have a pale golden color and be in smaller chunks before you put tomato puree. The sauce in the end has to be thicker than water. If the sauce is too watery, boil it for a few more minutes so that excess water can evaporate.
- Zoodles – they are cut
Zoodles with Bolognese Sauce: what can go wrong, and how to fix it:
- If the sauce is missing taste – add salt and pepper when it is still cooking
- If the sauce is too salty – place a small piece of potato and cook it for 10-15 minutes (remove it when you feel that the sauce is salty enough). The potato will absorb the salt. Remove the potato, do not serve it with potato
- If the sauce is too thick – slowly and gradually add water while cooking the sauce. Water will water down the sauce without changing its flavor
- The sauce is too runny – cook the sauce, so that execs water can evaporate
- Zoodles are too thick – cut them thinner
How to store Zoodles with Bolognese Sauce?
- You can store the sauce in an airtight container for 3 days in the fridge.
- Also, you can freeze the sauce in an airtight container for 2 months in the freezer.
- You can mix zoodles with the sauce, and bring it to work the next day as a healthy and delicious lunch. (I’ve done it a few times, and it was tasty). I do not recommend storing zoodles mixed in a sauce for longer than a day.
- Plain zoodles can be stored in an airtight container for 2 days in the fridge. I do not recommend freezing the zoodles.
This recipe is based on the original bolognese recipe. Are you up for some alternation? Check out this bulgur with ground meat sauce recipe for further ideas.
Garnish for this meal
Garnish can elevate how the food looks, and it can make it look more appetizing. However, garnish can be a spot where alliums are hiding. In this recipe, I garnished my plate with freshly chopped parsley.
Ingredients
- 7 oz zucchini 200g
- ½ lb. ground meat 250g
- 1½ teaspoons ground rosemary
- 1½ teaspoons dry basil
- 1½ teaspoons dry oregano
- 1½ teaspoons dry thyme
- 1 teaspoon parsley flakes
- 1 cup tomato puree 250 ml
- 14 oz canned diced tomato 400g
- ½ cup water
- salt to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- cooking oil - enough to cover the bottom of your pan
Instructions
- Make zucchini noodles (zoodles) with a spiralizer, and put them in a bowl. Place a paper towel over it to absorb the moisture.
- Add the oil to a pan and heat over medium-low heat.
- When the oil gets warm (in a few moments), put ground meat to the pan.
- Saute the meat with a wooden spoon while constantly stirring, and break the big chunks of meat into smaller ones.
- Add ground rosemary, dry basil, dry oregano, dry thyme, parsley flakes, salt and freshly cracked black pepper and saute it while constantly stirring.
- Add canned tomato, tomato puree, and water. Stir it to combine.
- Let it simmer until water evaporates, and sauce become thick.
- Serve the sauce with zoodels.
Video
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I made it, and it was good
Thank you! I’m happy that you like it 😊