Nightshade Free Basil-Pesto Zucchini Noodle Salad
This vibrant, herb-forward salad is everything you want in a warm-weather dish — fresh, bright, and satisfying without feeling heavy. Spiralized zucchini stands in beautifully for pasta, soaking up a silky homemade pesto made entirely from basil, parsley, lemon, and good olive oil. For anyone avoiding nightshades, pesto can be a minefield since many versions sneak in sun-dried tomatoes or are served alongside tomato-heavy dishes — but this one is completely built around clean, nightshade-free ingredients from start to finish. The salting-and-squeezing step for the zucchini is a small but crucial move that keeps the noodles from turning watery and diluting all that gorgeous green sauce. Kalamata olives and crisp English cucumber add briny, cool contrast that makes every bite interesting. A final drizzle of olive oil and torn fresh basil over the top takes it from weeknight easy to genuinely impressive on the table.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the zucchini noodles
- 4 medium zucchini (about 2 lb total)
- ¾ tsp fine sea salt, divided
For the pesto
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
- ¼ cup fresh parsley leaves
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- 3 tbsp lemon juice (from about 1 large lemon)
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
For the salad
- ½ cup pitted kalamata olives, halved
- 1 cup thinly sliced english cucumber
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh basil leaves, torn, for serving (optional)
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Spiralize the zucchini into long noodles using a spiralizer, or cut into thin ribbons with a julienne peeler. Place the noodles in a colander set over the sink, toss with 1/2 tsp of the sea salt, and let stand for 10 minutes until the zucchini releases some of its moisture.
- 2
While the zucchini drains, combine the basil leaves, parsley, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, and 1/4 tsp sea salt in a food processor or blender. Pulse 6–8 times until the herbs are roughly chopped.
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