Sweet Potato Noodles With Pesto Using A Spiralizer

Sweet Potato Noodles With Pesto Using A Spiralizer

Sweet potato noodles with pesto is gluten free, dairy free, vegan, and paleo. It tastes absolutely delicious! You may even find yourself licking every last drop of this pesto. We will be using a spiralizer to create the noodles and a nutribullet to create the pesto. 

Going gluten and dairy free was very difficult in the beginning stages of this dietary lifestyle because I missed my favorite comfort foods. This sweet potato noodles with pesto dish quickly became one of my favorite foods. I still eat it now on the plant paradox diet after substuting out the cashews for walnuts and adjusting the recipe to suite my taste buds. 

Don’t have a spiralizer and you want to make this now? No problem, I will share a recipe at the end of this post on how to make it without a spiralizer.

 

Do Sweet Potato noodles Really Taste Like Regular Noodles?

If you have never tried sweet potatoes in noodle form, then you are probably curious like I was, as to what they taste like. Wondering, do they really taste like a noodle? 

Sweet potato noodles that are spiralized taste nothing like a noodle, but they are still yummy if you like sweet potatoes. They pretty much taste like a sweet potato hash. The flavor and texture will vary depending on how long you cook the noodles and how much oil you use. The texture can range between mushy, crunchy, or simply soft but firm. This is YOUR meal so you get to choose how you like it. I like it on the softer side, not mushy. 

If you do not like sweet potatoes you can try: regular potatoes, zucchini, carrots, beets, summer yellow squash, pumpkin, or a variation of the like. Can’t decide? Go ahead and mix and match. Get creative and try all kinds of combos and toppings.

 

Quality Produce

I like to buy organic produce when possible. I am completely aware of how expensive organic produce is over non-organic, but your body does feel the difference. Your body has no idea what to do with the chemical film that resides on non-organic produce, so your body has to decide whether to use it, dispose of it, or store it as fat. Yikes! I choose to make that decision for my body by ellimating those options. Consider googling the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen, so you don’t have to buy all organic, if you are on a budget.

 

Shopping Tips, Substitutions, And Allergens 

Nutritional Yeast

You Don’t Have Basil? No Problem! 

Basil is one of the best parts of this dish, however you can easily use other greens in this recipes instead. I’ve tried half spinach, half kale. I’ve tried all spinach and I’ve tried regular salad mixed greens. They all taste great, though I recommend Basil as the best for flavor!

If You Don’t or Can’t have Cashews? I’ve Got You!

I make this dish using walnuts. You may also try pinenuts as well. 

If you use walnuts, wait to add the garlic. I found that I needed to add a full lemon (total), LESS garlic (1-2 small cloves), extra salt and nutritional yeast (to taste) because the walnuts and garlic can be overpowering. Be sure to taste the pesto as you go before adding any of my extra suggestions. The flavors can really get out of hand if you overpower the pesto with any particular ingredient. Especially the garlic. Taste your end product and adjust the pesto ingredients according to your liking. Then proceed to top your noodles with the pesto, garnish, and enjoy!

Nut-free: Consider using seeds. I have not tried this, but I believe I’ve seen a recipe using pumpkin seeds instead of nuts. Check it out on pinterest or do a quick google search for nut-replacements.

 

Where Can You Buy A Spiralizer?

You can purchase a spiralizer from nearly anywhere. Consider target, walmart, bed bath and beyond, Amazon, or anywhere with kitchen supplies. From manual spiralizers to automatic spiralizers Amazon supplies the majority. Find one that sounds nice to you! I would think they are all pretty great. This is the one I use: My Spiralizer.

While shopping for a spiralizer, I recommend purchasing these super thin flexible cutting boards as well, since the spiralizer can get pretty messy. Place the cutting board at the end of the spiralizer to catch the noodles as they fall. If you decide not to buy them, paper towels or a plate will work just fine. If you have light or white countertops, I recommend bordering your spiralizer with paper towels because the noodles may stain the counter. (Refer to the youtube video below for a visual).

Things To Consider Before Purchasing An Automatic Or Manual (Hand Crank) Spiralizer 

An automatic spiralizer is loud compared to the manual one and it costs a bit more. However, it is quick, easy, and requires no manual strength. If you have children, this is something to consider. However, A hand crank requires a lot of strength and endurance, but it’s quiet, it’s cheap, and it works. So, consider what you want.

• Do you want to apply the work and the muscle while cranking the potato?
• Do you want the noise?
• Are there any sleeping children during meal prep?
• Do you want a spiralizer that will last?
• Consider the amount of time it takes to use either product.
• Is one easier to clean over the other?
• What is you budget?

No Spiralizer, No Problem!

You do not need a spiralizer if you do not want one. You can buy already spiralized noodles in most local grocery stores in your produce section, however, you have to pay more to get less. Spiralizing allows you to save money and your find yourself with more noodles. A second option for Sweet Potato Noodles With Pesto without using A spiralizer is availabe below the recipe. 

 

 

No Spiralizer, No Problem: Option 2!

When my spiralizer broke on me, I improvised. Take your sweet potato and pierce horizontal lines all around the potato with a knife or poke holes. Then wrap the potato in a paper towel. Microwave the sweet potato for 5-7 minutes, flipping the potato halfway through.

I eat it this way often with just a sweet potato, which I cut in half (save remaining half), and then I generously plop the pesto on top. Either way both ways taste so so delicious. You can find the pesto recipe above. 

 

Let me know how YOU enjoy Sweet Potato Noodles With Pesto in the comments below!

Find other great recipes from Nurturing Her Roots on the Recipe Index.