The Recipe

This is my first blog post, so here it goes…..

Here is one of my latest kitchen creations inspired by travels around the Mediterranean. It combines all of my favorite flavors in a hearty dish that almost tricks my palate into believing I’m diving into a plate of pasta. Zucchini noodles are readily available in most supermarkets or are easy to make at home. I tried using a couple of spiralizers, but my favorite is by OXO, and in less than 10 minutes, I can crank out four zucchinis worth of “noodles” (which is enough for 2-3 people). One of the great things about this recipe is that you can easily customize it to the flavor profiles and ingredients that suit you and your family. It can also be prepared in less than 30 minutes, which makes it an easy and nutritious weeknight meal!

Ingredients

• 1- 16 oz. package of fresh zucchini noodles (or 4 zucchinis spiralized)
• 28 oz. can San Marzano peeled tomatoes, sauce reserved (or any canned diced brand)
• 3 Tablespoons olive oil
• 3-4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 8 oz package of fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 6 oz fresh spinach, roughly chopped
• 12-16 oz frozen shrimp scampi (or make your own)
• Crushed red pepper flakes (optional- I use about 1-2 teaspoons)
• 1 tablespoon capers (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Freshly grated Parmesan for topping

Preparation

Gather all of the ingredients as this recipe will come together quickly. In a 12 inch skillet, add olive oil, garlic, and tomatoes over medium high heat, breaking up tomatoes with a wooden spoon. Cook for about 2 minutes. Add zucchini noodles and cook for another 5 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables reach your desired level of softness and the shrimp are cooked through (around 5-7 minutes. Top with grated Parmesan and enjoy!

Notes

You can also cook the scampi according to package directions (or your favorite scampi recipe) in another pan and just add to the cooked vegetables. I prefer this method. It dirties two pans, but then I don’t risk overcooking the shrimp.