A pasta bowl full of zucchini noodles topped with shrimp.

Zucchini Noodles with Spicy Shrimp

Spicy and satisfying, the Asian-style shrimp spiked with sriracha pairs well with healthy ribbons of zucchini noodles.

A pasta bowl full of zucchini noodles topped with shrimp.
Zucchini Noodles with Spicy Shrimp

Zucchini noodles are the perfect bed to these spicy shrimp – making up a fresh dish that will leave you satisfied and guilt-free! When fresh zucchini is abundant, it makes for a perfect summer meal.

A pasta bowl full of zucchini noodles topped with shrimp.

I’m obviously not a big believer in diets. My last post will attest to that. But I do firmly believe that life and the food we eat should be in balance. Yes, yes, I’m one of those everything in moderation and exercise is the key people. So last time I brought you an over-the-top ice cream pie — today, I have a dish for you that will tip the scales back to balance.

If I were to diet, this is what it would look like, and quite honestly, this doesn’t look so scary, does it?

A dish full of cooked spicy shrimp.

People who eat spicy foods tend to eat less, not so much because of the burn, but I believe because the depth of flavor brings so much to a dish that it is satiating.

First these plump shrimp sizzling in the pan have the kick of sriracha, and then I placed them on a bed of zucchini noodles (for those of you who are gluten-free, this meal is for you). But there’s a little more in the pan that gives it extra oomph.

Why butter with olive oil?

I have been playing around with a new product from Land O’Lakes – when I first saw it, it just seemed like genius. Butter with Olive Oil & Sea Salt. Right? Okay, not diet material, but what I love about it is that when you’re cooking, this combination makes complete sense. How many times have you started a dish with olive oil and finished it off with a wee bit of butter for extra silkiness and flavor? Using some to finish off my sautéed shrimp was just right in making a little spicy pan sauce to drizzle over my zucchini noodles.

And who knows pan sauces better than Ree Drummond? Yes, as in The Pioneer Woman. I was happy to participate in a webinar with Ree and Land O’Lakes recently. She has been playing around with the Butter with Olive Oil & Sea Salt too. I am excited to share a giveaway with Ree’s Cooking Essentials – which includes two Pioneer Woman cookbooks, some kitchen goodies, and a chance to play around with LAND O LAKES® Butter with Olive Oil & Sea Salt in your own kitchen.

Come join the fun and enter the giveaway (details below). A little bit of butter makes everything better.

A pasta bowl full of zucchini noodles topped with shrimp.

More ways to enjoy zucchini noodles…

Sweet and Spicy Crispy Tofu with Zucchini Noodles
Zucchini Noodles with Chicken and Tangy Peanut Sauce

More ways to enjoy shrimp…

Thai-style Shrimp Bowls
Spicy Shrimp Fried Rice
Thai Shrimp and Coconut Quinoa Bowl and More One Bowl Meals
Pancit Palabok (Filipino Rice Noodles with Pork and Shrimp Sauce)

Ree’s Cooking Essentials Giveaway

This giveaway is officially closed. Congratulations to Rachel on being the random winner!

Ready to enter? Here’s how:

  • Please leave a comment below and feel free to share: Diets – yay or nay?
  • Entries/Comments accepted until 10 pm Pacific, Monday, 25 June, 2012.
  • One winner will be randomly selected and notified by email.
  • This contest is open to US residents only, my apologies to my international friends!

Disclosure: The author received a gift package from Land O’Lakes, including two cookbooks, a whisk, a slotted spoon, tongs and a full-value coupon redeemable for LAND O LAKES® Butter with Olive Oil & Sea Salt for recipe development and review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Zucchini Noodles with Spicy Shrimp

If I were to diet, this is just the type of food I would eat. Spicy and satisfying, the Asian-style shrimp spiked with sriracha pairs great with healthy ribbons of zucchini noodles. Of course, the shrimp would be fabulous on regular rice noodles, but when zucchini are so abundant this time of year, it makes for a perfect summer meal.
Course Dinner, lunch, Main Course
Cuisine Asian
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 250kcal

Ingredients

Spicy Shrimp with Zucchini Noodles

  • 8 medium zucchinis
  • 1 lb shrimp 16 pieces, peeled and deveined, tails on
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 shallot finely sliced
  • 2 tablespoons sriracha sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon fish sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1-2 tablespoons butter with olive oil and sea salt
  • cilantro chopped
  • basil thinly sliced (chiffonnade) (optional)

Instructions

  • Bring a medium pot full of water to a boil. Salt generously.
  • Using a julienne peeler or mandoline, create ribbons of zucchini noodles. Blanch the zucchini briefly in the boiling water, for about 2 minutes, until just wilted. Drain the zucchini noodles into a separate bowl and set both the vegetables and drained water aside.
  • In a saute pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook until just translucent.
  • Add shrimp, sriracha sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and a little black pepper, to taste.
  • Stirring frequently, cook until the shrimp is just cooked through and pink, about 3 minutes.
  • At the tail end of the cooking process, stir in the butter and about 1/2 cup of the reserved water to create a sauce.
  • Serve the shrimp on a bed of zucchini noodles, and drizzle with the pan sauce. Garnish with cilantro and basil (if desired), and enjoy!

Notes

Shrimp adapted from Martha Stewart’s Stir-Fried Shrimp.

Nutrition

Calories: 250kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 176mg | Sodium: 453mg | Potassium: 1267mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 823IU | Vitamin C: 78mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 4mg
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see! Tag @kitchconfidante on Instagram and hashtag it #kitchenconfidante

Comments

Recipe Rating




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  1. Carolsue

    I love spicy food — but do I eat less than those who don’t eat spicy food. I don’t think so. But as far as diets go, some diets are better than others. Ones that require you to eat only certain foods won’t work because you aren’t going to stick to those certain foods forever. Better to to one that allows most all foods in moderation.

    Reply
  2. Holly

    I never go on diets or count calories. I just try to fill up on as many veggies as possible, drink plenty of water, exercise often, and minimize sweets. I also love green smoothies to start the day.

    Reply
  3. Donna

    Yay. I like to replace my favorite comfort foods into healthy version. For example, when baking, i like to replace oil with apple sauce. It’s healthier and SO moist!

    Reply
  4. Christine

    I’m a big proponent of lifestyle changes, so no dieting for me. I’m really excited about trying this dish, it’s perfect for the upcoming bumper crop of summer squash.

    Reply
  5. Nelly Rodriguez

    Yay. Not in a YAY! kinda way, but yes, sometimes I need to go on them. I just gorge on avocados and hearty soups. Salads never seem to fill me up!

    Reply
  6. Vishakha

    Those zucchini strips are cool! Never had it before. Nice creation! The prawns just make it more desirable.

    Reply
  7. Kesha

    I say NAY to diets! For me, I think everything in moderation is key to being successful!

    Reply
  8. Riley

    I have more zucchini than I know what to do with. This looks delicious, so I’ll have to try it out!

    Reply
  9. Libbi

    I don’t know about the word “diet” at all. It’s supposed to describe the way that we eat, not a short term of deprivation. So I have issues with it.

    I follow a paleo diet with some treats and alterations for what makes my body feel good. But it’s my lifestyle food decision. It’s not short term. So yeah. I’m opposed to something that feels like deprivation, but love food that makes me feel great.

    Reply
  10. sue anderson

    NAY to the trauma of dieting. Everything in moderation is the way to go.

    ♥♥♥
    Sue

    Reply
  11. Patty

    Diet or no diet I would enjoy this spicy shrimp dish for dinner, looks like you’ve done some very nice experimenting here;-)

    Reply
  12. Amy in Austin

    Diets nay, changing your lifestyle, yes. (ie-making vegetables most of your diet, cutting out processed junk and making ice cream a special occasion treat.) It’s the only way for weight loss to be permanent.

    Reply
  13. Rachel @ The Henway

    Oh yum! Those noodles look great! I am all for diets, as long as its not your whole life. I diet when I need to, and just watch what I eat the rest of the time.

    Reply
  14. Melissa C.

    I don’t participate in diets, but I have seen them work for some people.

    Reply
  15. Amy L

    Diets don’t work for me, so when I want to lose weight, I increase the amount of exercise I do, which, in turn, makes me want to eat healthier. I guess it’s because I don’t want to “waste” the hard work I’m doing for my body, by eating too much.

    Reply
  16. Jen Laceda @ Tartine and Apron Strings

    I’m sad :( Not open to Canadians? :( Anyway, how do I cut the zucchini into spaghetti strands? Is there a special tool? Ugh, speaking of diets, I should be on one! I still have at least 15 to 20 pounds (ideally) to lose…Yikes!

    Reply
  17. Sandra's Easy Cooking

    Well depending what kind of diet! I like to detox every once in a while and go into raw mode for a week, but I agree with you on daily bases moderation, balance and exercise is the key to healthy lifestyle!
    Your dish today look fantastic! Very tempting as always…you are teasing my stomach!:)

    Reply
  18. Yashica

    definitely NAY to dieting! I’d rather eat what I wanted and then jjust exercise…

    Reply
  19. Steve

    Looks incredible!! Having shrimp tonight. Diet,,, yes currently going as Paleo as possible but not a 100%. Lost 70 lbs since last July but as you said, exercise the is the key. CrossFit 3 to 4 times a week!

    Great looking recipe!

    Steve

    Reply
  20. Jennifer s

    Move more, eat less when needed. Portion control as much as possible, sounds easy, but I always seem to want more than one portion!

    Reply
  21. Alessandra

    It must be a shrimp kind of day. I like your views on dieting I feel the same way, I love to enjoy my food because it’s healthier options and good fresh flavours.

    Reply
  22. Jessica N.

    Diet, no, but finding and cooking healthy meals and/or healthier versions and options super YES!!

    Reply
  23. Jo Ann H.

    This looks wonderful!!! I am always looking for ways to use those millions of zucchini in my garden. As far as diets, I think I have tried them all. Now I just eat “real” food and stay far away from fast foods. I have cut out sugar, but once in a while I will splurge and eat dessert.

    Reply
  24. Brooke D

    I prefer not to diet, but to eat healthy foods & enjoy goodies in moderation. This recipe looks yummy!!

    Reply
  25. Cindy C.

    This looks great – I love zucchini “noodles.” As for diets, I say nay! Diets imply temporary changes and temporary results. Healthy eating is a lasting lifestyle choice.

    Reply
  26. Laura (Tutti Dolci)

    I love this pairing of spicy shrimp with zucchini ribbons – delicious and healthy! I’m with you – I’m an “everything in moderation” eater and I *do* eat dessert daily so I balance that out with lean proteins and fresh produce throughout the day.

    Reply
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