Zucchini boats are the perfect low-carb option for an easy dinner. I love that you can vary the fillings with whatever you are feeling that day. And today, I was feeling pesto and caprese. (Let’s be real, when am I not feeling pesto?)

Caprese typically means a mixture of basil, mozzarella, and tomato. I upped the basil aspect even more by using pesto as the sauce base, rather than tomato sauce. Zucchini boats are the perfect little vessel to load in all the yummy toppings! And despite being meatless, these little guys are still very filling.

I have many pesto recipe variations, which are all in this blog post here. For this meal, I used my classic basil-walnut recipe (yes, I know “classic” pesto means pine nuts, but I love the chunkiness of walnuts).

let’s talk basil

Basil, like all herbs, has many health benefits. Herbs don’t tend to have many vitamins or minerals, but they do have antioxidants and polyphenols. But, basil does contain a fair amount of vitamin K, as 2 tablespoons of fresh basil has about 26% of the daily recommended intake of the vitamin.

The compounds in basil that make it smell delightful are also the same compounds that give it its health benefits. These compounds vary by species of basil, but all of them are volatile oil compounds. These oils have been studied for their health and medicinal benefits.

One of the most-studied benefits of basil is its anti-microbial effects. When the basil oils are extracted and studied in test tubes, they have been found to kill many bacteria species, as well as fungi and viruses. Similarly, these compounds in basil are forms of antioxidants, which is helpful for preventing diseases like cancer.

Basil has also been found to be very anti-inflammatory, which can be beneficial in helping to prevent or treat diseases. Another great benefit is using basil oil as aromatherapy, which can help increase mental alertness.

Most studies done with basil involve an extract of the oils, rather than using edible basil. So, it’s not known for sure how much basil you’d have to eat to get these benefits. However, there definitely isn’t a downside to consuming basil, so eat up!

now, back to the zucchini boats!

This zucchini boat recipe is so easy! All you need to do is scoop out just a little bit of the zucchini (to make room for the fillings), add in all the goods, and bake them! Drizzle some balsamic on top if you’re feelin’ fancy.