5 Vegetables to Spiralize (Besides Zucchini) (2024)

Kelli Foster

Kelli FosterSenior Contributing Food Editor

Kelli is a Senior Contributing Food Editor for Kitchn. She's a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and author of the cookbooks, Plant-Based Buddha Bowls, The Probiotic Kitchen, Buddha Bowls, and Everyday Freekeh Meals. She lives in New Jersey.

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updated May 1, 2019

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5 Vegetables to Spiralize (Besides Zucchini) (1)

Spiralizing is a fun way to get your fill (and then some) of fresh produce. Certain vegetables — like zucchini and squash — get all the glory, but there are so many other veggies that are ideal for spiralizing. Some of them might even surprise you.

A Guideline for Choosing Vegetables to Spiralize

When it comes to spiralizing, certain vegetables work a lot better than others. The best vegetables for spiralizing have a hard to semi-firm texture — everything from tough winter squash and carrots to potatoes and cucumbers.

Soft veggies — like eggplant, or anything with a core or hollow center — don’t quite work.

Try Spiralizing These 5 Vegetables

Spiralized vegetable noodles can hold their ground as an appetizer, salad, side, or main course.

1. Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi may look funny, but when eaten raw it has a refreshing flavor with a mild, peppery bite. Cut away the skin and start spiralizing this vegetable immediately. It’s perfect for summer salads.

2. Beets

I’ll happily eat beets every which way, although I especially love them as noodles. Combine beet noodles with kohlrabi or carrot noodles to make a salad, or let them stand on their own as a “pasta” dinner.

3. Broccoli

Once you’ve used the florets for something delicious, like pasta salad, put those stems to work. Let’s face it: On their own, broccoli stems aren’t the most exciting things to eat, but when turned into curly noodles, it’s a totally different story.

4. Carrots

Spiralized carrot noodles can be eaten raw or cooked. Try them in salads or as a topping for sandwiches and tacos.

→ Recipe: Carrot Tahini Salad

5. Sweet Potato

Sweet potatoes are great for spiralizing. Once the skin is peeled and the noodles are made, consider incorporating them into a stir-fry, curry, or tacos.

What are your favorite vegetables to spiralize?

5 Vegetables to Spiralize (Besides Zucchini) (2024)

FAQs

5 Vegetables to Spiralize (Besides Zucchini)? ›

Apples and Pears Make a Sweet, Fiber-Filled Dessert or Salad Topping. Veggies aren't the only produce that can be spiralized. Certain fruits, like apples and pears, can also be easily transformed into noodles, says Maffucci. Apples and pears are great sources of fiber.

What to spiralize besides zucchini? ›

The Best Vegetables for Spiralizing
  • Zucchini. We'll start with the classic spiralizing vegetable, which spawned the widely-beloved "zoodle": the zucchini. ...
  • English Cucumbers. Spiralized vegetables sometimes work well in cooked recipes, but they're also popularly used in raw dishes. ...
  • Carrots. ...
  • Summer Squash. ...
  • Kohlrabi. ...
  • Beets.
Aug 13, 2021

What fruit is best to spiralize? ›

Apples and Pears Make a Sweet, Fiber-Filled Dessert or Salad Topping. Veggies aren't the only produce that can be spiralized. Certain fruits, like apples and pears, can also be easily transformed into noodles, says Maffucci. Apples and pears are great sources of fiber.

Can you spiralize an onion? ›

Spiralizing onions is great for a few reasons: It's easy and quick, Onions don't leave much residue on the spiralizer, so it's a breezy cleanup, It uses more of the onion, so there's less waste, and.

What are the top 5 vegetables that people spiralize? ›

Try Spiralizing These 5 Vegetables
  1. Kohlrabi. Kohlrabi may look funny, but when eaten raw it has a refreshing flavor with a mild, peppery bite. ...
  2. Beets. I'll happily eat beets every which way, although I especially love them as noodles. ...
  3. Broccoli. ...
  4. Carrots. ...
  5. Sweet Potato.
May 1, 2019

What is the best substitute for zucchini? ›

Yellow Squash: Similar in texture and taste, yellow squash is a versatile alternative to zucchini, especially in various frying dishes. Celery: Crisp and mild, celery can be a refreshing addition to salads or soups, replacing zucchini's texture.

Can you spiralise carrots? ›

If you find a carrot large enough to spiralize, that's a victory in itself! Then, once you have a bowl of spiralized carrots, what do you do with them? The easy answer would be to toss with a vinaigrette and whip up a carrot salad or raw pasta.

Can you spiralize a lemon? ›

You can spiralize a lemon or lime using Blade A to create fruit ribbons that are perfect for garnishing co*cktails (or mocktails, if that's your thing!) You can also simply use these ribbons to garnish a dish, to bake alongside fish (it looks prettier than a thick slice of lemon), or of course, to toss into spa water.

Which vegetables are best for noodles? ›

Veggies like carrots, cabbage, bell peppers, green beans & zucchini go well here. To make the dish wholesome, you can use wholegrain noodles and avoid the refined flour stuff.

What vegetables replace pasta? ›

8 Low-Carb & Grain-Free Substitutes for Pasta
  • Zucchini. Zucchini is a popular noodle substitute because its texture makes it easy to spiral out into spaghetti-like shapes. ...
  • Cauliflower. ...
  • Spaghetti Squash. ...
  • Egg Noodles. ...
  • Cucumber. ...
  • Broccoli. ...
  • Eggplant. ...
  • Cabbage.

Can you Spiralize a bell pepper? ›

Spiralizing bell peppers is easy to do and yields long “pepper noodles.” Yes, the pepper strands actually stay intact and create long, crunchy noodles! Next time, before you grab that knife to slice up that bell pepper for a stir fry or a salad, grab your spiralizer instead!

Can you Spiralize cheese? ›

Spiralized cheese is basically grated cheese. Which is apropos, because the Vegetti is essentially a handheld grater—and a pretty good one. The Vegetti is faster than using a box grater and yielded a good grate for topping chili.

Are spiralizers worth buying? ›

If you just bought your first spiralizer, congratulations. You've purchased one of my absolute favorite kitchen tools. And if you're reading this post because you're wondering if a spiralizer is worth it (meaning, should you really splurge on yet another kitchen tool) – well, the quick answer is yes.

Can you spiralise a cucumber? ›

Save time and spiralize crisp cucumber instead of chopping it for this easy, healthy vegetable side inspired by Greek salad. Want to make it a meal? Just add grilled chicken, shrimp or canned chickpeas.

What vegetables are good to cut into shapes? ›

Veggies that work well include cucumbers, carrots, zucchini, radishes and mushrooms. Fruits that are easy to work with include watermelon, cantaloupe, muskmelon, pineapple, apples (brush with a little lemon juice mixed with water to avoid them browning) and strawberries. Get creative and try your kid's favorites!

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