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I teach cooking classes at a culinary mecca, but for every amazing product we sell, there are 10 more useless gadgets that aren't worth their space on the shelf. And while I ignore most gimmicky tools that come across my cutting board, every now and then I give in to curiosity -- like the day I discovered my vegetable spiralizer.

I was hosting a private event at the time, and it just so happened to be a class about homemade noodles. These days, however, it's not unusual to have a gluten-free participant in a large group, so I seized the opportunity to experiment with the tool in hopes that, if it worked, zucchini noodles would be a great alternative to the many lackluster gluten-free pasta dough recipes out there.

I demoed the tool in front of the students, quickly twisting and turning a whole zucchini into a pile of wild, emerald-colored curls. Then I sauteed the surprisingly delicate strands in olive oil and tossed them in the same homemade pesto as our hand-cut fettuccine. Was it as good? Well, it's hard to beat fresh-made pasta, but I'll say this: We sold out of spiralizers that day, not pasta attachments.

Zucchini noodles might not totally replace pasta for me, but they've been in my regular rotation ever since.

Zucchini Noodles with Parsley-Pistachio Pesto

Serves 4 to 6

4 medium zucchini (about 1 1/2 pounds)

2 cups Italian parsley, roughly chopped

2 cups arugula, roughly chopped

1/3 cup shelled pistachios, plus more for garnish

1 large clove garlic, smashed

1/2 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for garnish

2 tablespoons sherry vinegar (see notes)

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice, plus more to taste

1/2 cup good-quality olive oil

Kosher salt and pepper, to taste

Spiralize the zucchini using a spiralizer, mandoline or vegetable peeler. Pat the zucchini noodles very dry with paper towels or a kitchen towel and transfer to a large bowl.

Combine the parsley, arugula, pistachios and garlic in the bowl of a food processor or blender and process until coarsely chopped. Add the Parmesan, vinegar and lemon juice, and pulse until combined. With the machine running, slowly add the olive oil until the pesto is thick and smooth. Taste; add salt, pepper and additional lemon juice as needed.

Add the pesto to the bowl with the zucchini noodles and toss until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Garnish with chopped pistachios and grated Parmesan. Serve immediately.

Recipe notes: Red wine or balsamic vinegar can be substituted for sherry vinegar. Pesto will darken and brown very quickly, but will still be tasty and fresh for several days. For best appearance, use it right away. If storing, store it in the smallest container possible and thoroughly press the pesto to eliminate air pockets. Pour a little olive oil over the surface, cover the container and refrigerate it for up to a week. Pesto can also be frozen for several months.

(Nealey Dozier is a writer for TheKitchn.com, a nationally known blog for people who love food and home cooking. Submit any comments or questions to editorial@thekitchn.com.)