Our zucchini patch is doing what zucchini patches do… we have lots of zucchini. And our summer squash patch is producing even more. I’ve been offering squash to friends lately, and coming up with all sorts of ways to use squash in our meals. We also have lots of wonderful cucumbers this year, which I’m very excited about. Last year, I accidentally planted pickling cucumbers, so this year I remembered to get seeds for slicers, and they’re awesome!
In my quest for ways to use squash and zucchini, I remembered that I’ve been wanting a spiralizer for a few years now, but I kept putting it off. So last month, I finally ordered one, and I’m so glad I did! It might not get used as much as my VitaMix, but it sure is fun to use. It makes noodles out of whatever veggie I put in it, and I can also make little swirly chips out of things like cukes and zucchini, or curly fries from potatoes and sweet potatoes (just toss them in the oven for a while for awesome baked curly fries).
Here’s a cucumber being made into little chips:
And a zucchini turning into long spaghetti style noodles:
Yesterday I used the spiralizer to make our lunch: zucchini, carrots and cucumbers, and then I chopped a red bell pepper and added it to the mix. From there, I made an Asian sauce that was inspired by this recipe but modified to include ingredients I had on hand.
Our son loves watching noodles come out of the spiralizer, and while we were eating our spiralized lunch yesterday, my husband commented that I had a winner with that little gadget. Now I just wonder why I waited so long to get one.
Amazonite says
Would you mind saying what brand you bought, and where you purchased it? Inquiring minds want to know…
Frugal Babe says
Amazonite – Sure. I got a World Cuisine spiralizer. I bought it on Amazon. It had good reviews, and I’ve been very happy with it so far.
Kay says
It cuts sweet potatoes??? Wow!! I love love sweet potatoes but cutting it requires major arm power. I’ve been thinking of spiralizer for sometime now.. but was wondering if it will gather dust if I use it only for zucchini.. didn’t know it can make slices…and also work on sweet potatoes.
It goes on my tobuy list. :) Thanks!
Nathalie says
Funny…I was just thinking about buying a spiralizer yesterday (after the first zucchini harvest…many more to come, I am sure ;-) ) – I think I’ll get one now!
Frugal Babe says
Kay – it does an amazing job with sweet potatoes! It has an attachment that is basically the same as the one to make zucchini noodles, but the holes are bigger, so the “noodles” come out thicker. It’s perfect for curly fries. I’ve used it for both regular potatoes and sweet potatoes, and it works perfectly. It’s fast and easy and makes perfect curly fries. I’ve also used it to make carrot “noodles” and it worked well there too. It takes out a thin chunk from the middle of whatever vegetable you put in it, so on thinner carrots, that amounts to a good bit of the veggie (I just put the middle part into our smoothies, so there’s no waste). I haven’t tried it on fruit yet, but I’m sure it would make great apple chips and noodles.
Kay says
Fantastic, thank you, FB!! I will happily plonk the money on it now. Much appreciate the reply. :)