Healthy Vegetable Recipes Healthy Squash Recipes Healthy Zucchini Recipes Healthy Zucchini Noodle Recipes Spaghetti & Zucchini Noodles with Basil-Walnut Pesto Basil is the backbone of this vibrant no-cook basil-walnut pesto sauce. Toss in some leftover roast chicken or pork with these zucchini noodles for a heartier meal. By Hilary Meyer Hilary Meyer Instagram Hilary Meyer is a freelance recipe developer, tester and content creator. She has a bachelor's degree in anthropology from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Culinary Arts degree from the New England Culinary Institute. Hilary started working in the EatingWell test kitchen in 2006 before becoming an editor. She left for New York City in 2014, but eventually returned home to Vermont where she belongs. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 11, 2020 Print Share Share Tweet Pin Email Prep Time: 45 mins Total Time: 45 mins Servings: 6 Yield: 6 cups Nutrition Profile: Heart Healthy Diabetes Appropriate Egg Free Vegetarian Low Sodium Soy-Free Healthy Aging Jump to Nutrition Facts Ingredients 4 medium zucchini or summer squash (2 1/4-2 1/2 lbs. total; see Tip) 1 teaspoon salt, divided 8 ounces whole-wheat spaghetti 2 cups packed basil leaves, coarsely chopped, plus more for garnish ½ cup walnut pieces, toasted 2 cloves garlic, halved 6 tablespoons olive oil, divided ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese 3 tablespoons lemon juice ½ teaspoon ground pepper Directions Using a spiral vegetable slicer or peeler, cut zucchini (or summer squash) lengthwise into long, thin strands (stop when you reach the seeds). Place the strands in a colander and toss with 1/4 tsp. salt. Let drain for at least 15 minutes, then gently squeeze them to remove any excess moisture. Pile the strands on a cutting board and chop them once or twice to break them up. Meanwhile bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water, then drain. Combine basil, walnuts, garlic, 5 Tbsp. oil, Parmesan, lemon juice, pepper, and the remaining 3/4 tsp. salt in a mini food processor. Process until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl. Heat the remaining 1 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the squash strands and cook, stirring, until warmed and slightly tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer to the bowl with the pesto. Add the spaghetti and toss to combine. If the mixture seems dry, add the reserved cooking water a little at a time. Garnish with additional basil, if desired. Tips Equipment: Spiral vegetable slicer, mini food processor Tip: You can skip Step 1 and use 2 lbs. of premade zucchini noodles. Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 369 Calories 23g Fat 36g Carbs 11g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 6 Calories 369 % Daily Value * Total Carbohydrate 36g 13% Dietary Fiber 6g 21% Total Sugars 5g Protein 11g 22% Total Fat 23g 29% Saturated Fat 3g 15% Cholesterol 2mg 1% Sodium 461mg 20% Potassium 665mg 14% Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate. * Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.) (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs. Powered by the ESHA Research Database © 2018, ESHA Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved