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Zucchini Noodle Salad With Sunflower Shoots

By MichaelPublished March 24, 2026Updated October 13, 20261 min read

This zucchini noodle salad is light, crunchy and needs no cooking. Spiralized zucchini is tossed with sunflower shoots, cherry tomatoes, edamame and carrot in a zippy sesame-lime dressing. It's vegan, low in calories and ready in 15 minutes, perfect for warm days.

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  • 15 minPrep
  • 0 minCook
  • 15 minTotal
  • 2 main or 4 side servingsMakes
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A bowl of zucchini noodles with sunflower shoots and tomatoes

Why you'll love this zucchini noodle salad

  • No cooking at all.
  • Crunchy sunflower shoots and edamame.
  • Light and refreshing.

Zucchini noodle salad tips

  • Dry the noodles. Zucchini holds a lot of water.
  • Dress at the last minute.
  • Add shoots on top so they stay crisp.

Grow sunflower shoots

Sunflower shoots grow in 8 to 10 days in a tray. Soak in-shell black oil sunflower seed, sow it thickly on soil, weight it in the dark for 3 to 4 days, then give it light. See sunflower microgreens.

More light salads

Zucchini Noodle Salad With Sunflower Shoots

  • 15 minPrep
  • 0 minCook
  • 15 minTotal
  • 2 main or 4 side servingsMakes

Vegan · Asian-inspired

Ingredients

Salad

  • 2 medium zucchini, spiralized
  • 2 cups (about 60 g) sunflower shoots
  • 1 cup (150 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup (150 g) shelled edamame, thawed
  • 1 carrot, julienned
  • 2 scallions, sliced
  • 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

Sesame-lime dressing

  • 2 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
  • 2 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp grated ginger

Method

  1. Spiralize the zucchini. Lay the noodles on a towel for 5 minutes and pat dry.
  2. Whisk the dressing ingredients.
  3. Toss the zucchini noodles, tomatoes, edamame, carrot and scallions with the dressing.
  4. Top with sunflower shoots and sesame seeds. Serve right away.

Notes

  • Avoid soggy noodles: dry them well and dress just before serving.
  • Add protein: tofu, shrimp or chicken.
  • No spiralizer? Use a vegetable peeler to make ribbons.

Seeds in this article

Sunflower

Frequently asked questions

How do you keep zucchini noodles from getting watery?

Pat them dry on a towel for a few minutes, and dress them right before serving. Salt pulls out water, so add it at the end.

Can you eat zucchini noodles raw?

Yes. Raw zucchini noodles are crisp and mild, perfect for salads.

Can I make zucchini noodle salad ahead?

Prep the vegetables and dressing separately up to a day ahead. Toss together just before serving.

What can I use instead of sunflower shoots?

Pea shoots, radish microgreens or bean sprouts that have been briefly blanched.

Written by Michael

A passionate sprouting professional sharing practical tips for growing sprouts and microgreens at home. More about Michael

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