Shoe String Zoodles

By deep frying zucchini cut in to thin ribbons, you can finally replace fried potatoes, noodles or french fried onions in your favorite dishes.

Shoe String Zoodles

To get the shoe string effect, you will need a special kitchen tool like the Vegetti, a julienne peeler or a spiral slicer. These are available in stores or online through Amazon. Three of the most popular spiral slicers are pictured below.

Once you turn your zucchini in to zoodles, they will look like the next picture.

Your next step is to deep fry the zoodles in lard, palm shortening or peanut oil according to your fryer manufacturer's directions. Since zucchini has a high moisture content, be extra careful that the oil doesn't foam out over the top of the fryer. (Pan frying is also possible if you have a high-sided cast iron pan.) Once the zoodles cook for a while, you will notice them float to the top of the fry basket. As the edges turn light brown, use a slotted spoon and flip over the zoodles. Allow them to continue to cook until they are a nice, golden brown on both sides, then place on a paper towel to drain. Your cooked zoodles will look similar to this.

At this point, you can lightly season with sea salt and eat as is. They are delicious and make a great substitute for french fries or potato chips as a snack or side dish.

The Modern Savage Kitchen has also included a list of ways to use your shoe string zoodles to help you cut down on carbohydrates and still maintain flavor and fun in your favorite dishes.

• Use to make a ramen-style soup
• Top a burger with shoe string zoodles
• Dust with onion powder and use in dishes requiring french fried onions
• Replace spaghetti noodles with fried zoodles
• Use as a fried noodle replacement in Chinese food
• Use in a salad in place of croutons
• Include in sandwich wrap for extra flavor
• Sprinkle with chili powder and use as a side dish for Mexican food
• Use as a topping for casseroles
• Use fried zoodles instead of noodles or dumplings in soup

As you can see, there are many possible uses for these tasty, healthy vegetables. Use your imagination and have fun!