I just got a new kitchen gadget that I’m totally crushing on…

…a julienne peeler!

It makes me want to make noodles out of every vegetable in my crisper! Yes, I have a mandolin and a food processor but this tool is efficient, compact, inexpensive, and quick to clean. You can have “noodles” on the table in no time flat!

Here’s what I gathered to make zucchini noodles for 4 people:

• 6 zucchini
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground pepper

Here’s how I made it:

I washed the zucchini…

…and cut a thin slice off the bottom of each one so they wouldn’t roll around on the cutting board.

Then, I placed the zucchini flat-side down on the cutting board and went to town with the julienne peeler. I kept the top on, so I could grasp it to keep the squash steady.

Poof! A big bowl of noodles!

You can always quickly stir-fry ‘em…

But today, I placed the noodles in a covered microwave safe dish…

…and nuked them on high for about 2 minutes.

I watched them closely so I wouldn’t overcook them. Nobody likes soggy noodles.

I drained the excess liquid and tossed the zucchini with salt and pepper…

…and topped them with Rao’s marinara sauce and meatballs (which you can easily make from sausage).

See? It IS super easy!

Broiling zucchini is my favorite (and easiest) way to prepare this humble vegetable. If you aren’t applying high heat to it (e.g. grilling or broiling), you normally end up with a soggy mess unless you salt the zucchini ahead of time. I don’t normally have the time or forethought to do that, so I just broil it in the oven for about 8-10 minutes. You can simply plate up the roasted slices and drizzle on some acid (vinegar or lemon juice) or you can use them in place of noodles.

This dish is really tasty and a breeze to make — provided you have a mandoline or food processor. Otherwise, you better have some mad knife skillz or this dish won’t be worth the effort.

Psst…you can substitute the eggplant for zucchini and the results are just as good.

Here’s what I gathered to make one tray (feeds 2 people):

• 4 medium zucchini (or a medium globe eggplant)
• Avocado oil, palm oil, coconut oil, or your favorite fat
• Kosher salt
• Pepper
• Balsamic vinegar or lemon juice
• Your favorite herbs, chopped (basil, Italian parsley, etc.)

Here’s how I made them:

I preheated the oven to broil and made sure the top rack is about 6 inches from the heating element. I thinly sliced the zucchini (1/4 “ thick) using a mandoline slicer.

No mandoline? Benriner makes a cheap one that my chef sister swears by. It’s important to have uniformly thick slices because otherwise it won’t brown evenly.

I lined a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Then, I drizzled a generous amount of oil, salt, and pepper on the foil.

I spread the zucchini slices in a single layer on the baking sheet and flipped them over to make sure both sides were greased and seasoned.

(Or, if you prefer, just use a silicone brush to apply the oil.)

I seasoned the zucchini with some more salt and pepper, and placed the tray in the oven and broiled for about 8-10 minutes, flipping the slices and rotating the tray halfway through.

Watch the slices carefully because they can go from lightly browned to charcoal in about a minute.

Depending on how I’m serving the zucchini, I’ll either just drizzle the finished slices with my favorite vinegar or lemon juice…

or top with chopped herbs…

…and whatever else I feel like.

Fast, tasty, and easy clean-up. I’m all over that!