Zoodles with Classic Tomato Sauce

This one hits the spot. Pasta with tomatoes are what I grew up on, so this extra healthy variation is a sneaky way to feel the joy of comfort foods while still filling yourself up with tons of nutrients. It’s best when you can pick the ingredients fresh from the garden, but this quick recipe can be enjoyed year round with the same level of delight, and the whole thing is done in about 15 mins so it’s a good one on busy days too.

Ingredients

1 – 2 Zucchinis (made into noodles with a spiralizer)

1 Clove Garlic Chopped (and or onion)

1 Bunch of Swiss Chard Chopped

1 Can of Tomatoes (You can get whole crushed, tomato paste, or chop a few fresh ones)

Dash of Chia Seeds

TBLSP Olive Oil

Salt & Pepper

Cheese & Basil for the top

In a sauce pan add some olive oil and your chopped garlic and/or onion. Let the oil heat up, just warming the garlic enough to release it’s flavor and then add the swiss chard giving it a stir, then add your tomatoes and a little salt and pepper. It’s up to you if you’d like some fresh tomatoes or if you like that strong tomato paste flavor. If you use a can of paste, balance it out with about the same amount of water and stir it up until the liquids evaporate and the ingredients blend together. The sauce should be very hot by this point. You can go ahead and add the zucchini noodles and a good amount of chia seeds and stir it all together. Then turn the heat off and just let the noodles cook lightly. Zucchini can become very soft if it is cooked too long, so stir it occasionally and test how soft it is. I leave the cover off and let the juice evaporate as much as possible so the noodles don’t get mushy. After about 10 mins or so, it should be all set.

Plate it up and add a sprinkle of basil and any cheese you’d like right on top. It should taste like a trip to Italy. Enjoy! 🙂