Zucchini Carpaccio Salad
As tasty and refreshing as it is fun and unique, this Zucchini Carpaccio Salad is filled with wholesome and nutritious ingredients that’ll do your mind and body good!
This is a recipe that I’d originally created over 6 years ago and just decided to revamp a little bit…
The original recipe was pretty much perfect as it was, so I didn’t change anything to the list of ingredients. The only thing that I did differently is that I chose to draw the water out of the zucchini before adding the rest of the ingredients to it. Not only does this extra precaution give the zucchini a much crunchier texture, but it also ensures that you don’t end up with a puddle of water at the bottom of your plate before you’re even done eating!
This is great served as a light lunch or dinner, or even as a side dish. It’s best eaten fresh, but since the zucchini won’t be releasing any water this time, you could very well afford to prepare it a few hours, or even up to a day in advance…
To start, turn the zucchinis into noodles with the help of a spiralizer. Note that if you didn’t own one of those cool gadgets, you could use a mandolin instead, to slice the zukes into long thin strings.
But you should definitely consider investing in a spiralizer. While it’s not a tool you’ll be using every day, it’s fairly inexpensive and so cool and unique, you’ll be happy to have it handy… plus, you’ll see: turning all kinds of stuff into noodles is pretty cool… and addictive, too!
Once your zucchini has been dealth with, sprinkle the strings generously with salt and place the whole lot in a fine meshed sieve fitted over a bowl. Now place a fairly heavy weight over the zucchini to facilitate and speed up the draining process. You’ll want to let that water drain for about 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, prep the olives, sun dried tomatoes, walnuts, garlic and parsley. Then, place all the ingredients — except for goat cheese — in a large mixing bowl and toss delicately until well combined.
Transfer your salad to a serving plate and crumble goat cheese over top.
This salad should be served and enjoyed right away, but you could also place it in the fridge for a couple of hours, or up to overnight, to allow for flavors to meld. Since we’ve already taken the precaution of drawing the water out of the zucchini, there’s no need to fear that you’ll end up with a big bowl of soupy salad!
If eating it as a main course, you’re looking at 2 light servings. As a side dish, you’ll probably have enough to satisfy 4 people.
Zucchini Carpaccio Salad
Ingredients
- 2-3 medium to large zucchinis
- 15 large pitted kalamata olives, sliced
- 1.75 oz sun dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1.5 oz walnuts, chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2-3 tbsp chopped parsley
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 oz soft goat cheese, crumbled
Instructions
- Turn the zucchinis into noodles with the help of a spiralizer; alternately, you could use a mandolin to slice them into long thin strings.
- Once that's done, sprinkle the zucchini strings generously with salt and place the whole lot in a fine meshed sieve fitted over a bowl. Now place a fairly heavy weight over the zucchini to facilitate and speed up the draining process. You’ll want to let that water drain for about 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prep the olives, sundried tomatoes, walnuts, garlic and parsley.
- Place all the ingredients - except for goat cheese - in a large mixing bowl and toss delicately until well combined.
- Transfer to a serving plate and crumble goat cheese over top.
- Serve immediately or place in fridge for a couple of hours or up to overnight, to allow for flavors to meld.
Nutrition
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*Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in November of 2011 and has since been completely revamped and updated with better pictures. A few minor modifications to the original recipe may also have been made.
17 Comments on “Zucchini Carpaccio Salad”
This does look very delicious and delectable as well!
This looks so beautiful, fresh, and easy! This one is going on my list of things to make soon.
I love the idea of using zucchini as spaghetti noodles.
Sonia, you come up with the most interesting combinations. After Thanksgiving feasting for several days, this looks so light and healthy.
Now I know what to do with the zucchini that’s in my fridge.
This looks absolutely beautiful and a great meal to cleanse up the last few days!
Mmmm.. delicious!
I have to say WOW. This meallooks great, and I am sure it tastes the same. Have to prepare it soon. Maybe I will just add another type of cheese, because I am not a big fan of goat cheese. Any ideas which one I could use to replace it? J.
Hmmm, I dunno! Goat cheese does a lot for that meal. Maybe a mild blue? If you are a fan, of course. Or, just don’t use any cheese and add Brazil nuts, maybe, or raw cashews… or chickpeas, perhaps? Just let your imagination guide you!
i think this looks wonderful. i’ve made a variation before, but i love your additions of olives, sundried tomatoes and goat cheese…maybe because i’m greek?;)
Mmm this recipe looks so delicious and healthy! I have a great caponata app recipe that I think you’ll enjoy. Check it out here: http://bit.ly/tgo2sB
Thanks!
I’m not a “raw foodie” either but I do really love raw zucchini noodles – and I love how you’ve prepared them!
This looks great! I am very intrigued by the raw food movement, but have no intention of eating that way full time by any other means….hah, ‘eating full time’, like it’s a job. Well, it’s everyone’s job! It’s interesting, because it brings up a big debate of when is your food most nutrient dense, and it really depends on how you cook it.
I find that the prep time for raw stuff sometimes looks long. I’m hoping to check out a raw food fest this weekend, so hopefully that’s inspiring!
You make me want goat cheese! Mmm.
Totally agree. This is really what is discouraging me from eating raw more often. All the recipes require prep time, as in soaking, dehydrating, fermenting and what not. One would think that raw equals easier and quicker, but it seems like it’s quite the opposite. And is raw really better than slightly cooked? Not sure… and really not sure it’s worth all the extra effort.
Goat cheese is yum! Now you make me want goat cheese again! 🙂
I was mere smittened by this recipe the second I stumble upon it via good ol’ Tastespotting, but I was just curious, if I don’t have a mandolin could I just substitute a potato peeler for the spaghetti?
Hey Courtney! I guess you could do that, but the end result wouldn’t be the same. You’d end up with ribbons or very fat fettucine, more than spaghetti, but it would be very interesting and of course, the taste would still be the same. I’d definitely give it a try. Although I think you should seriously consider investing in a mandolin. There are some very inexpensive ones out there and they are a VERY handy tool to have in a kitchen. I know I could never be without mine! 😉