These no-cook zucchini noodles with quick Italian dressing are a veggie-centric take on classic pasta salad. This crowd-pleasing side dish comes together in hardly any time at all and is the perfect addition to any summer gathering!
Do you ever get excited about an idea and then just put off taking action? You have all the tools, you know what you want to do, and then… you don’t do anything at all. Why? Well, you’re probably afraid it won’t work out. You’re afraid of failing.
I hate to admit it, but I do it all the time.
Don't let fear of failure stop you from doing what you really want to do. #fitfluential Share on X
For example…
I gather up all of my textbooks, crack open my laptop, grab my notebook, and sit down to do my homework. I end up spending two hours scrolling through social media, chatting with my roommates, and finding random snacks. I mean, all of those things are easier and more appealing than the homework – at least until deadlines loom nearer.
I make a list of 2309821 recipes I want to make, and then I don’t develop them for way too long. You know, the ideas could be a total flop, and I don’t want that. That’s a waste of time and ingredients, and then I have to go back to the drawing board.
I want to try a new workout, and I know mixing it up is good for me, but I fall back on some “regulars” when the time comes. That new workout might be above my fitness level, and then I’ll feel weak if I can’t do it immediately, so I don’t even try.
I get the Inspiralizer I’ve been wanting and I don’t use it for 3 months because it’s obviously going to be the hardest thing in the entire world and I don’t want to feel stupid. Also, the outside world will probably judge me for making noodles out of vegetables.
Make sense? Well, I know it doesn’t actually make sense, but I’d be willing to bet you’ve done this before. No one wants to fail.
Overcoming the problem
Honestly, the only way to do this is to just do it – “it” being whatever you were putting off before.
For me, this means I recently got off the couch and spent the evening getting familiar with my Inspiralizer. You want to know something? It really is super easy. It took a little playing around to get the hang of it, but once I did, I was twirling my way through carrots and zucchini and having a blast.
Yes, I’m a little bit weird. Cutting veggies into different shapes is fun for me. It’s okay.
The reward
What happens when you get through your mental blocks? Well, you usually feel pretty great.
If you were putting off work, the work gets done and you can do what you really want to do guilt-free.
When you finally decide to make a new recipe, it either turns out to be delicious or you learn how to make it more delicious. Win-win.
Every time you choose a new workout, you get a little stronger. The next time you do it, it gets a little bit easier.
And when you start spiralizing your veggies, you (can) end up with No-Cook Zucchini Noodles with Quick Italian Dressing.
I made this incredibly simple side dish to give newly-paleo me something extra to eat at a family gathering, and it was a hit all around. Pasta salad is a staple summer gathering side, and I wanted to do a veggie-packed take on that. I mixed up a light Italian-style dressing and tossed it with some carrot and zucchini “noodles”. It turned out to be super tasty and pairs great with everything from burgers to chicken.
Bonus: you can totally make this the night before, and it stays good for about three days. So, it’s as good for gatherings as for early-week meal prep.
- 1 carrot (~110 g.)
- 2 zucchini (~600 g.)
- 2 T. extra virgin olive oil
- 4 T. apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 t. fresh ground black pepper
- 1/8 t. garlic powder
- 1/2 t. oregano
- 1/2 t. basil
- 1/4 t. dried lemon peel
- Pinch salt
- Spiralize your zucchini and carrot (I used a spaghetti blade) and combine in a medium bowl. If you don't have a spiralizer, you could use a vegetable peeler to get long, thin ribbons.
- Whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and spices.
- Toss the dressing with the zucchini and carrot noodles. Refrigerate overnight or serve immediately. Salad stays fresh for three days in the fridge.
Click here to view nutrition facts for No-Cook Zucchini Noodles with Quick Italian Dressing
Pin for later!
Your turn:
Do you put things off out of fear of failure?
Have you spiralized anything? What’s your favorite?
ahhhh so much YES until about a few years ago.
Now I’ve finally realized I can make FEAR and FAILURE my friend and bring them WITH ME through the…stuffs 🙂 instead of running the other direction.
I love that so much! There’s nothing inherently bad about fear or failure – they can be a really good things. You just have to treat them as helpers and opportunities rather than obstacles.
The “hardest” part is starting 😉 And then we just kick ourselves!
I feel like I need that reminder to follow me around everywhere: “The hardest part is starting.” SO TRUE.
Am I ever guilty of that! 😛 I put off practicing food photography for the longest time, haha. These look delicious–although I’d have to blanch them! I have this weird thing where when I touch/eat raw zucchini, I get blisters. But it doesn’t happen when it’s cooked! Regardless, these would be great either way. 🙂
LOL don’t risk blisters – definitely blanch them!
And practicing food photography is such a struggle sometimes. I get through plenty of shoots and like exactly two pictures. So frustrating. But, like with anything else, it’s so rewarding when you see a shot and LOVE it.
Yup yup! I think all of us are guilty about putting things off. It’s so much easier just to “eh” it and make up an excuse, but that can never trump the feeling of success + pride of getting through the thing you were trying to skip haha! It’s almost harder to get yourself to sit down and do something than actually do it if that makes sense ;).
This recipe looks delicious! It’s currently crazy hot in California and cold salads/noodle dishes sound SO good and refreshing right now! And Italian dressing? Yaaaaaaassss! On everything. <3
Oh, yes. Sitting down and committing to be productive is the hardest.
Thanks so much, Christine! I hope you had fun at Harry Potter world – happy belated birthday! 🙂
We LOVE zoodles. So healthy, and so delicious. BTW – I wish I’d started blogging in college. Seriously! You have such an opportunity to establish your audience while you’re in college! Gah, why wasn’t blogging a part of my life 6 years ago?!
Thanks so much, Sarah! I can’t wait to play with more zoodle recipes. And starting my blog is totally one of my best decisions – I’m glad it looks like a good one from the other side of college, too 🙂
This recipe looks amazing! I love spiralizing veggies…so quick and delicious 🙂
Thanks, Gretchen! And YES it is so quick. I never would’ve guessed!
YES! First, love that you are spiralizing (you know it’s my fave) and second, I totally understand not doing things out of fear of failure. Even simple things, like you mentioned, such a trying a new recipe. The worst thing is it doesn’t taste good, right?
Seriously so excited about spriralizing right now. 😀 And exactly! Uh, recipes are about as low-stakes as it gets, but sometimes I have to seriously psych myself up to give them a shot. But every time I do it, it gets a little easier to do the next time. 🙂
Way to go on finally getting around to spiralising! I go through phases where it’s pretty much constantly on my bench – then I put it away and forget about it before a while until I’m spiralising all the things once again 😛
Hahaha food phases are so real – especially in blog land 🙂
Words of wisdom Ellen. I feel afraid of getting my hopes up and feeling crushed by disappointment if I fail.
It’s not an easy lesson to learn at all, but it’s soooo valuable when you realize that failure isn’t the worst thing ever. Is it fun? No, not usually. But you can learn and grow so much from it!
You + Me = soul mates. Especially now that you have a spiralizer ;D
So, so, so glad to have met you <3
I definitely put things off due to fear of failure, but I’m definitely getting better at just doing things and usually it works out better than expected and what you fear never ends up being an issue anyway! I absolutely love zucchini noodles…this recipe looks like a nice, light take on pasta salad for all the summer barbeques coming up 🙂
So glad you’re getting better at overcoming those fears, Jordan 🙂 And thank you – that was the goal!
I love noodles! What a perfect way to enjoy them with this dressing!
Thank you! I’m looking forward to trying them other ways, too! 🙂
I am head over heels in love with this side dish!!! Would work wonders with salmon! 🙂
Hahaha so am I! And I absolutely LOVE the way you think – salmon would be the perfect complement!
These are so pretty looking, yum! I can totally relate to the feeling of procrastination and putting things off – partly because I’m scared of the answer or outcome, and partly because I have no motivation. I agree, we just need to “do it!!”
Thanks so much, Sarah! And hahaha yes, I should admit that sometimes my motivation is just zero 🙂
Smart to make something extra for your family meal that you know would work well with your new Paleo food plan! I think the hardest part for me when trying to eat a certain way (like when I did Whole 30) was gatherings where I didn’t have any say over the food, so it was a really good idea to think ahead so you don’t go hungry or feel deprived!
Thanks! Planning ahead is definitely the hardest part for me right now – I love all the food I eat, I just have to be sure to make food that works 🙂
YES, just getting out there and facing the fears… I have is so rewarding, and it’s always a way to grow! I loved this Ellen, because it puts it all into the right perspective, and I think you hit gold with this recipe!!! <3 I think you always make beautiful recipes.
Awww, thank you so much, Emily! You are too kind ❤️