Zucchini Noodle Salad with Herbed Vinaigrette

Zucchini Noodle Salad with Herbed Vinaigrette

Spiralized zucchini with cherry tomatoes tossed in an herby vinaigrette is simple and uniquely flavorful. A side dish that can be enjoyed year round!

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I love spiralized veggies and now more than ever there are so many ways to use them in your favorite dishes. Zucchini noodles (zoodles as they call them) are mild in flavor, and unlike some spiralized veggies can be enjoyed without cooking; like this Zucchini Noodle & Tomato Salad with Herbed Vinaigrette. It’s a quick side dish that can be thrown together last minute with just a few ingredients you might even have on hand. I’ve made this with basil and mint separately but I love the combo of both! We NEVER have leftovers, it’s that good!


How Do You Make Zucchini Noodles?

The easiest way to make zucchini noodles is with a spiralizer. This tool can turn almost any vegetable into long strands that look most like noodles. I love my spiralizer because it has more than one feature so I can use it for many different purposes besides noodles. It’s easy to clean and it’s actually fun to use! You can check it out here! You can also find spiralized noodles in the produce section of your grocery store if you need to be more efficient. But if you have a few extra minutes, doing it yourself results in the best texture and flavor.

Can I Make Zucchini Noodle Salad Ahead Of Time?

The best time to serve this salad is within 30 minutes after making it. Zucchini is already a tender vegetable and the vinaigrette tenderizes it even more. If sat too long it can become flimsy and lose it’s texture. Unfortunately, it’s not a salad you’ll want to assemble ahead of time. However, you can spiralize extra noodles and make a batch of dressing to pack individually for the next days lunch. You’ll want to make sure and drain the noodles on paper towels before you store them in the refrigerator.

Give Zucchini Noodle Salad A Mediterranean Twist!

While this salad is absolutely delicious on it’s own, adding in a few simple ingredients can practically turn this into a meal! This salad already has the base for a great Mediterranean dish, so why not add in some feta cheese, Kalamata olives, and pine nuts for crunch. It not only adds extra flavor and texture, but it gives the salad a bit of protein as well. I like to mix the olives with the noodles and tomatoes, and then garnish the top with the feta cheese and pine nuts. It’s AMAZing!

Let’s eat!šŸ¤

Zucchini Noodle Salad with Herbed Vinaigrette

Inspired by eating well
Spiralized zucchini with cherry tomatoes tossed in an herby vinaigrette is simple and uniquely flavorful. A side dish that can be enjoyed year round!
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 146 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp shallot, minced
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 4 cups spiralized zucchini and/or summer squash
  • 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh mint, chopped

Instructions
 

  • In a small bowl whisk olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, shallot, salt and pepper.
  • In a medium bowl add zucchini, tomatoes, and herbs and toss gently.
  • Pour vinaigrette over veggies and herbs and toss to coat. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 30 minutes before serving. Toss once again just before serving.

Notes

Store-Bought Zucchini Noodles-Ā Most grocery stores now have pre-packaged spiralized noodles. This is a great option if you don’t have a spiralizer or you don’t have the extra time. These work well, however, the flavor and texture of fresh is always better.Ā 
Give This Salad A Mediterranean Twist-Ā Add Kalamata olives in with the noodles and tomatoes and top the salad off with feta cheese and pine nuts. This is so delicious!
This Salad Is Best Consumed Within 30-Minutes Of Preparing-Ā Zucchini is already a tender veggie and when dressed with vinegar, sugar and salt, it becomes even more tender. The longer it sets the softer the noodles become. You want the noodles to still have a little bite in the center.Ā 
Make Extra Noodles And Dressing To Assemble The Next Day-Ā If you want to enjoy this salad the next day, spiralize extra noodles and drain on paper towels for 10 minutes before storing in the refrigerator. Make a batch of herbed vinaigrette and package ingredients individually. Assemble the salad right before eating.Ā 
Ā 
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be understood as an estimate rather than a guarantee. The Menu Maid makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Keyword Dijon mustard, Herbs, lemon, Shallots, tomatoes, Vinegar, Zucchini

Check out my spiralizer!




2 thoughts on “Zucchini Noodle Salad with Herbed Vinaigrette”

  • 5 stars
    Wow what a salad! So easy to put together. The mint and basil were perfect! I added avocado. So good. I was able to make this while my grilled chicken rested. Perfect quick summer salad to go alongside grilled meat. I would recommend investing in a good spiralizer.

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