Admittedly, we first thought spiralizing was just another fad when the clean eating brigade relentlessly Instagrammed the hell out of courgetti but, with supermarkets increasingly stocking pre-made spiralized veg, we're coming round to the fact that it's definitely here to stay.
For those that don't know, the spiralizer, originally devised by the Japanese, is a kitchen device. It slices the likes of carrots, cucumbers and courgettes into long thin ribbons to be used in all sorts of salads and dishes.
The gadget has long had a large celebrity following mainly due to the fact that it's an easy way to replace carbs but in recent years it has reached the mainstream largely through the influence of bloggers.
Ali Maffucci, the author of Inspiralized, made her name through her blog dedicated to the technique. She famously lost 11 kg (24 pounds) in three months by replacing pasta, bread, potatoes and rice with spiralized vegetables. Healthy eating gurus Hemsley & Hemsley have released their own spiralizing machine and bloggers including Deliciously Ella and Madeleine Shaw use the technique in countless recipes.
But, what actually are the benefits of incorporating spiralized vegetables into your diet plan? Why not just cook a sweet potato rather than slice it? We sat down with nutritionist and Piccolo Plates co-founder, Bella Awkwright to find out. Here, she lists why we can all benefit from the technique:
Spiralized veg is naturally low in calorie, low in carbohydrate, low in sugar, high in fibre AND unprocessed. Incorporating it into your diet not only offers a wealth of health benefits but can assist you in maintaining a steady weight.
Many spiralized recipes use raw vegetables, so people are automatically encouraged to eat them in their natural state. By consuming vegetables such as carrots, courgettes, beetroot and sweet potato raw, dietary fibre and water is retained, which not only helps to keep you fuller for longer and maintain energy but also keeps your digestion regular.
Spiralizing encourages people to be more experimental and versatile with their vegetables which in turn makes eating larger amounts of vegetables more appealing. With so many recipes books dedicated purely to the spiralizing technique, it's easy to find the dishes you love to eat.
Spiralizing is incredibly quick. For those working long hours and don't feel like cooking when they get home, they can have a nutritious meal in a matter of minutes. With a good spirilizer such as the Lurch Attila Hildmann model, you can slice a whole bowl of courgetti in under 2 minutes.
Spiralizing can be very helpful for those who have food sensitivities or subscribe to a vegan, gluten free or vegetarian diet. Pasta is a wheat based food so for those with diagnosed conditions such as celiac disease spiralising vegetables offers a easy and healthy alternative.
Shop our pick of the best spiralizers below:
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