want zucchini pasta but cant afford a spiralizer? cheap handy tool:

[kaybee]

hey-- my spiral slicer was a piece of junk (like i think most of them are) and only lasted a couple months even though i paid 25 bucks for it. i guess they dont intend for you to use them for hard stuff like squash. the thing that holds my pasta-izing blade snapped off...so ive been wanting a better quality one for a while, but dont have the 50 bucks.....

IN ENTERS THE "JULIENNE PEELER". ive been eyeing this thing a whole foods for a month. finally bought it the other day. its designed like a peeler but it juliennes. it only cost 6 bucks. i thought maybe i could work it around a beet or squash like a peeler and make nice long spaghetti strand pasta... i only succeeded in giving myself a double puncture wound in the thumb (yeah, caution, the blades are SHARP) when i tried to make beet pasta. it didnt work great for the parsnip either. i guess its not designed for really hard things. i was gonna just return it to whole foods since they said everythigns a satisfaction or money back guarantee when i bought it.

HOWEVER, this afternoon i tried it on zucchini. its quick and fABULOUS. makes long strands--if you have a long zucchini :) it doesnt make "spiral" noodles, but it makes long, thin, strands. SO HERES MY POINT: IF YOU JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE ZUCCHINI PASTA, HERES A $6 TOOL INSTEAD OF A $25.00 ONE!!!! works great for zucchini. also works well for julienning other harder veggies like beets and apples and carrots--just dont try to make long strands off your beet by peeling around it like you would an apple or you'll be joining me in the "puncture wound from a kitchen appliance" club...;)

just thought this might help alot of people out becuase i know im always looking for options that seem like a real "meal" and the zucch pasta with pesto really feels like one.

One other note about zucchini--when ive made the zucc hummus, which is really good, ive noticed a really awful bitter aftertaste in the zucc whenever i eat it raw. i just came across a raw foods book that suggests slicing the zucc and then soaking it in salt and lemon water for 4-10 hrs. its supposed to take out the bitterness. so im giving it a try.

kb

[raweater]

I thought I'd add something: I use the 2x2mm julienne disc for my Cuisinart food processor, it cuts zucchini (or anything else) just like spaghetti in a fraction of a second.

[nmb]

LOL, I've just been using my cheese grater. Worked on everything so far, except eggplant w/ the skin on.:D

[lanettasmouse]

raweater- what model of the cuisinart do you have and does it come with the julienne disc or was that a separate accessory? thanks

[raweater]

I have the Cuisinart Limited Edition MP-14 (http://www.cuisinart.com/catalog/product.php?product_id=301&item_id=406&cat_id=7) 14 cup processor:
http://www.cuisinart.com/share/img/full/406_full.jpg

As you can see it even comes with a whisk attachment (rarely used), I really love it. The 2x2mm julienne is sold seperately, but I believe they have a version of it for almost all their models, look for the 2x2mm julienne disc that fits your model. They also have a 6x6mm julienne disc for french fries, it can be used for making raw jicama fries.

[RawSweetie]

kaybee, thanks! I'm going to get one. and i appreciate the tip about soaxking the zucchini. last time i made the hummus i threw it out b/c it tasted so bitter. i will try again.

[QTLayla]

Hi RawEater
I have a Cuisinart food processor and the tube is not very big to make long strips of anything. It will only fit a 5-inch long piece of veggie lying on its side to make the julienne strips.
Or do you have a trick I have not learned about yet?? :)

Always Willing to Learn New Tricks!
QT

[raweater]

The MP-14 processor I have has a very very wide chute, 250% wider than any other model I believe, so some zucchninis will fit on their side if they are small enough, otherwise I cut them in half, I don't mind, and in fact prefer, shorter pasta. I never liked long pasta, on SAD I always got the short bite sized pastas.

[MOTH]

Thanks for the tip, Kaybee! I have limited appliance room in my apartment so the julienme peeler is suitable for me. :)

[violetsareblack]

We just use a peeler or cheese grater.

[tvillemom]

I THINK that the larger zukes become bitter. I always try to buy the rather small ones. How big was your "bitter" zuke? Just wondering if my theory is right.;)