I immediately go to zucchini whenever I look for something healthy. Sometimes I eat it raw in salad or club it with a sandwich. But this time, I have used it as a main dish. How? By pairing it with spaghetti. Yes, try this Chef John’s fried zucchini spaghetti, which is flavorful, friendly, and crispy.
The best part is it is effortless to make and requires simple ingredients. You can taste zucchini chips and spaghetti at the same time. It is a highly delicious way to eat zucchini. This dish is very different from the regular pasta recipes. Its luxurious sauce is made with deep-fried zucchini combined with pasta water. Trust me, it turned out amazing.
You only need to remember to fry the zucchini in batches for the perfect crisp, or else your recipe will turn soggy. Plus, we suggest thoroughly reviewing this guide for the best flavors and textures, as it has highlighted significant points.
So, what are you waiting for? Try this recipe from the comfort of your home. While scrolling through the article, you will find all the necessary information about this recipe. Check out them and go ahead.
Is This The Exact Chef John’s Fried Zucchini Spaghetti Recipe?
This recipe is very close to Chef John’s fried zucchini spaghetti recipe. The only difference is that Chef John’s blended Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, while we used Parmesan cheese to make this dish creamy.
Also, we used pasta water to cook the fried zucchini while the chef added butter and parsley leaves to break the zucchini. The result we got is unbelievable and similar to the chef’s.
Last but not least, we fried the zucchini slices and prepared the dish in olive oil. At the same time, the chef used sunflower oil to deep fry the zucchini slices and olive oil to cook and prepare the spaghetti.
Is Chef John’s Fried Zucchini Spaghetti Different From Regular Zucchini Spaghetti?
Chef John’s fried zucchini spaghetti differs entirely from regular fried zucchini spaghetti. Chef John’s has prepared creamy sauce with a blend of cheese and zucchini mixture, while other recipes prefer tomato-based sauce.
Besides this, Chef John’s has yet to season zucchini before frying it, while other recipes coat zucchini with flour and salt. On top of that, other recipes immerse fried zucchini in boiling water, whereas Chef John’s directly cooks the fried zucchini to make the sauce.
Why You’ll Love This Chef John Fried Zucchini Spaghetti?
- Budget-Friendly – This recipe has affordable ingredients and many fresh vegetables, zucchini, spaghetti, and fresh herbs.
- Customizable – You can customize this recipe easily per your preferences, and it is relatively easy to make.
- Healthy – This recipe is a great way to use up fresh veggies. Add bell peppers, broccoli, mushrooms, kale, or greens in your fridge that you need to use up!
- Delicious – Zucchini spaghetti is very healthy and relatively easy to make. This pasta dish is way better than from an excellent Italian restaurant and could become one of your family’s favorite meals.
Is This Fried Zucchini Spaghetti Vegan And Gluten-Free?
No, this fried zucchini spaghetti is not vegan and gluten-free as it contains parmesan cheese, an animal-based product, and spaghetti, which contains gluten. But you can make it vegan and gluten-free by substituting parmesan cheese with non-dairy cheese and spaghetti with gluten-free spaghetti.
Equipment Required For Chef John’s Fried Zucchini Spaghetti
- Saucepan – Boil spaghetti in a pan until they are soft and tender.
- Frying Pan – Deep fry zucchini slices for five to ten minutes until lightly brown.
- Vegetable Slicers – Slice zucchini using a vegetable slicer for easy and quick processing.
- Tongs – Grab cooked spaghetti with tongs and transfer it into the sauce.
- Grater – Grate Parmesan cheese with the help of a cheese grater.
- Paper Towel – Drain the excess oil from the fried zucchini on a paper towel and let it cool down.
Chef John’s Fried Zucchini Spaghetti Ingredients
- Green Zucchini – Fry until golden brown to add a slightly sweet and mild flavor to the spaghetti.
- Spaghetti – Boil spaghetti until softer and less chewy for the recipe.
- Parmesan Cheese – Add grated Parmesan cheese to the sauce for a fruity and nutty taste.
- Butter – Use unsalted butter to break down the fried zucchini for richness.
- Sunflower Oil – Fry zucchini slices in sunflower oil until crispy and charred.
- Olive Oil – Fry and prepare fried zucchini spaghetti using olive oil.
- Salt – Add salt to enhance the flavors of the ingredients.
- Basil leaves – Top your fried zucchini spaghetti with torn basil to add sweet and savory flavor.
Chef John’s Fried Zucchini Spaghetti Ingredients Substitutions
- Zucchini – Since zucchini is the key ingredient, replacing it would change the flavor. Still, if you wish to substitute zucchini, you can use other types of summer squash, such as yellow squash or crookneck squash. You can also use zucchini noodles, pre-spiralized zucchini found in most grocery stores’ produce sections.
- Spaghetti – Substitute spaghetti pasta with fettuccine, linguine, or Capelli d’angelo.
- Oil – You can use any neutral-flavored oil for frying the zucchini, such as vegetable oil, canola oil, or peanut oil.
- Cheese – You can substitute Parmesan cheese with Pecorino romano cheese, Asiago, Piave, or Grana Padano.
- Basil leaves – You can substitute basil leaves with other herbs, such as parsley, oregano, or thyme.
Does Chef John’S Coat His Zucchini Before Frying?
No, Chef John doesn’t coat his zucchini before frying it. Instead, he explains how to fry the zucchini slices deep so that the natural sweetness of the zucchini can shine through. He also says that coating the zucchini can make it soggy.
However, if you want, you can toss slices of zucchini with flour and salt for an added flavor. But, our chef recommends keeping it simple as it imparts more flavors.
Chef John’s Fried Zucchini Spaghetti Preparation And Cooking Time
| Preparation Time | Cooking Time | Freezing Time | Total Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Minutes | 35 Minutes | 8 Hours | 8 Hours 55 Minutes |
Chef John’s Fried Zucchini Spaghetti Recipe Steps
Step 1- Heat two to three tablespoons of sunflower oil in a frying pan.
Step 2- Add zucchini slices to the hot oil and fry them until brown.
Step 3- Transfer the slices to a single layer on paper towels to drain the excess oil and pop it into the fridge overnight.
Step 4- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
Step 5- Cook fried zucchini and season it with a pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until it starts to release juices, soften, and break down.
Step 6- Add a knob of unsalted butter to the zucchini and break zucchini into small pieces.
Step 7- Reduce heat to low and toss in basil.
Step 8- Grab boiled spaghetti with tongs and transfer it into the sauce.
Step 9- Stir the spaghetti well until each strand is coated.
Step 10- Mix in parmesan cheese and stir well.
Step 11- Your Chef John’s fried zucchini spaghetti is ready.
Tips To Make This Chef John’s Fried Zucchini Spaghetti Better
- Work in batches so the zucchini don’t crowd and overlap in the pan, preventing them from frying correctly.
- Make use of a large pan. So you have enough space to mix the spaghetti with the other ingredients.
- Please turn off the heat before tossing the spaghetti with the cheese that may clump and lose its lovely creamy texture.
- Vigorously mix the sauce because you need to make that delectable cream, which can only be achieved by mixing, mixing, and mixing.
- Keep the dish cool down, or the cheese will clump.
- Our chef has suggested immersing fried zucchini slices in boiling water to reabsorb some of the liquid they lost during the frying.
Should You Soak Your Zucchini Before Cooking?
Our chef has yet to soak zucchini before cooking as it can make zucchini soggy. The reason is that zucchini releases water as it absorbs, preventing the zucchini from browning evenly when fried.
So, to avoid your fried zucchini spaghetti being soggy, try thinly slicing the zucchini and then salting it for a few minutes before cooking. When cooked, the salt will draw out moisture content, making zucchini less saturated.
How Do You Keep Your Zucchini From Getting Soggy When Frying
- The best way to prevent zucchini from being soggy while frying is to use young and tender zucchini with a bright green color. Avoid old zucchini.
- The thinner the zucchini slices, the crispier they will be.
- Season the zucchini before frying to remove moisture content, making fried zucchini less soggy.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan when frying the zucchini; it will prevent it from browning evenly.
- Fry the zucchini slices on the higher heat to avoid them from being soggy.
- Fry zucchini slices into batches to prevent them from sticking together, which can make them soggy.
- Transfer the fried zucchini to a paper towel and drain the excess oil to retain its crispiness.
- Still, if you feel your fried zucchini is soggy, you can coat it in a mixture of flour and cornstarch before frying it the next time. It will yield a crisper coating and prevent it from sticking to the pan.
- If you are not a fan of frying, you can roast zucchini slices in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until tender and lightly browned.
How Will This Fried Zucchini Spaghetti Look And Taste Like?
Recreating Chef John’s fried zucchini spaghetti was tricky yet flavorful. We were still determining its taste, but it was amazing when our chef presented the dish to us.
It was crispy, delectable, and cheesy, piled with spaghetti and fresh herbs. Zucchini slices that were fried until golden brown and crispy were tossed with a simple sauce. It is way lighter and more delicate than the regular spaghetti.
Chef John’s Fried Zucchini Spaghetti Nutritional Values
Unluckily, Chef John’s fried zucchini spaghetti is unhealthy as the recipe contains cheesy sauce, and zucchini slices are fried, making it unhealthy. However, with some moderation in the ingredients, you can make this dish healthy. Still, if you want to know about its nutritional value, take a look at the table below:
| Calories | 1016 kcal |
| Fat | 78 g |
| Cholesterol | 57 mg |
| Sodium | 479 mg |
| Carbohydrates | 63 g |
| Fiber | 8 g |
| Sugar | 12 g |
| Proteins | 23 g |
| Vitamin C | 100 mg |
| Calcium | 385 mg |
| Iron | 4 mg |
| Potassium | 1694 mg |
Can You Make This Fried Zucchini Spaghetti Ahead Of Time?
Yes, you can make fried zucchini spaghetti ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to five days. For this, prepare the fried zucchini as per the recipe. Transfer the cooled and fried zucchini to an airtight container and refrigerate for three days.
Besides this, you can also make the sauce ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to three days. When ready to eat, toss the fried zucchini with the sauce and grate cheese. Keep the fried zucchini and sauce separately, or you will get a soggy recipe.
How To Store This Chef John’s Fried Zucchini Spaghetti Properly?
Storing leftover fried zucchini spaghetti is the best you can do to retain its taste and freshness. There are various ways to keep this recipe; they are:
- Refrigeration – Transfer the fried zucchini to an airtight container once it has cooled down completely. Now, refrigerate the container in the refrigerator for three to four days.
- Freezing – If you want to store it longer, spread the fried zucchini on a baking sheet and freeze it for at least two hours or until it is frozen solid. Once solid, freeze the frozen fried zucchini for up to 3 months.
Can You Reheat This Chef John’s Fried Zucchini Spaghetti?
Yes, you can reheat Chef John’s fried zucchini spaghetti. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat and add the fried zucchini spaghetti to reheat it. Cook it until heated through, about 2-3 minutes per side.
Our chef has suggested not reheating it in the microwave or oven; otherwise, the texture won’t be as crispy as when it was first cooked. So, it is advised to consume it afresh to enjoy the lively flavors.
What To Serve With Chef John’s Fried Zucchini Spaghetti?
This fried zucchini spaghetti is very delicious, easy, and fulfilling. You can pair it with various dishes. Some of them are:
- Chef John’s Meatballs – Chef John’s meatballs will work well with creamy and crunchy fried zucchini spaghetti. These blissful balls will add a rich and smoky flavor. Their flavors and textures pair well.
- Chef John’s Perfect Prime Rib – Pair fried zucchini spaghetti with perfect prime rib for this Thanksgiving dinner. The creaminess and tenderness of the mashed potatoes offer an ideal balance to the meat’s saltiness.
- Chef John’s Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy – Dip your biscuits in this Thanksgiving recipe. Please make your turkey gravy and enjoy its deliciousness with flaky biscuits.
- Chef John’s Mashed Potato – Combine this classic mashed potato to celebrate Italian flavors. It will pair perfectly with creamy pasta.
Other Recipes To Try
So, it was all about Chef John’s mashed potatoes that you can prepare at home. This recipe is straightforward and is very creamy and buttery. Just follow this guide promptly for the best flavors.
Besides this’, if you want to try more chef’s delights recipes, have a look at Chef John’s Buttermilk Biscuits, Chef John’s mashed potatoes, Chef John’s gazpacho soup, Chef John’s chicken and rice recipe, and Chef John’s Pecan Pie.
Recipe Card
Chef John’s Fried Zucchini Spaghetti Recipe
Equipment
- Saucepan
- Frying Pan
- Vegetable Slicer
- Tongs
- Grater
- Paper Towel
Ingredients
- 6 medium Green Zucchinis
- 4 ounces Spaghetti
- 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
- 5 tablespoons Parmesan Cheese (grated)
- 3 tablespoons Sunflower Oil
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1 pinch Salt
- 2 Basil Leaves (torn into small pieces)
Instructions
- Heat two to three tablespoons of sunflower oil in a frying pan.
- Add zucchini slices to the hot oil and fry them until brown.
- Transfer the slices to a single layer on paper towels to drain the excess oil and pop it into the fridge overnight.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Cook fried zucchini and season it with a pich of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until it starts to release juices, soften, and break down.
- Add a knob of unsalted butter to the zucchini and break zucchini into small pieces.
- Reduce heat to low and toss in basil.
- Grab boiled spaghetti with tongs and transfer it into the sauce.
- Stir the spaghetti well until each strand is coated.
- Mix in parmesan cheese and stir well.
- Your Chef John's fried zucchini spaghetti is ready.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is zucchini soggy?
Zucchini holds a lot of water; you will need to draw out that moisture somehow! The easiest way to get this done is to lay out a paper towel and line them over the towel.
Should you salt zucchini before cooking?
Since zucchini contains a high-water content, treat the vegetables by salting and draining them first to avoid turning into a dirty, soggy mess.
What does zucchini spaghetti taste like?
Zucchini noodles do not have a specific taste; they’re just bland noodles, but not without health benefits.
Conclusion
Try this delicious and easy recipe at home. This dish is packed with flavor, and the zucchini provides a wonderful crispy texture. Plus, it’s a great way to use up any extra zucchini you may have on hand.
