A spiralizer is a handy kitchen gadget for the health conscious. The BBC Good Food cookery team explain what it is and how to use it…
The ability to slice and shred a range of vegetables into ribbons has long been possible with a julienne peeler, but the technique has been made fuss-free and far more appealing with the arrival of the spiralizer. Originating in Japan, this handy and reasonably priced piece of kit is starting to creep into the mainstream.Advertisement
If youre looking to cut back on carbs, pack in the fruit and veg and maintain a healthy weight this gadget could transform how you cook. The difference between 100g of pasta and 100g of courgette is about 300kcal and the cooking time is considerably less. But how do you get started? We asked BBC Good Food’s senior food editor Cassie Best to give us a crash course in spiralizing…
transitive verb. : to make spiral : wind, coil, twist, or cut in a spiral.
But maybe, suggest the Hemsley sisters, thats not the point: Because they dont eat any grains, theyre not trying to replace or mimic them. “For us, noodle and pasta dishes are all about the sauces, and spiralized vegetables provide a tasty, nourishing base.”
The most spiralized vegetable at Huertas is the potato in huevos rotos, a dish thats typically prepared with hunks of potato fried in olive oil. Its delicious but, according to Miller, too greasy to be texturally great. Instead, at Huertas, long strands of potato get flash-fried for 8 to 10 seconds. They have the texture of al dente pasta with no excessive grease. Also, Miller explains, “The experience of twirling a vegetable around your fork, and taking a big bite is so much more enjoyable than a small mouthful.”
Jasmine and Melissa Hemsley, of the UK-based blog and clean-eating lifestyle brand Hemsley + Hemsley avoid all grains. Bored with the texture of peeled vegetables, they purchased a spiralizer and began experimenting. Its now a main feature of their blog and cookbook.
Spiralizing advocates argue that the technique makes it easier to get your daily fill of vegetables. But if youre going to eat a sweet potato, why spiralize it when you could just as easily chop it? In an email to BA, Melissa Hemsley explains, “Its a way to eat some vegetables…that you may not have tried beforehand.”
“I still love pasta,” says Maffucci, who doesnt keep grain-based noodles in the house. And, “No, [spiralized vegetables] dont taste the same as pasta.” But, she continues, a bowl of plain pasta is nothing spectacular on its own, either: What makes it shine are the toppings: Add meat, cheese, and a sauce to anything, and youve got a tasty dinner. Delicious as they are, vegetables are so texturally different from grains that youll never really trick yourself into thinking theyre pasta.
Which spiralizer to buy?
Before investing in a new piece of kit, be sure to read our review of the best spiralizers. Youll find budget buys and investment gadgets alike.
SPIRALIZER BEGINNER’S GUIDE | 10 vegetables to spiralize
FAQ
How do you Spiralise vegetables?
What is the purpose of Spiralizing vegetables?
What is spiralising?
What does spiralize mean?
Definition of spiralize. transitive verb. : to make spiral : wind, coil, twist, or cut in a spiral. intransitive verb. : to gather into a spiral the chromosomes of the two nuclei begin to spiralize— Esko Suomalainen.
How do you spiralize a vegetable?
Once you find your spiralizer, get to know what you can spiralize! To start spiralizing, choose your vegetable then give it a good wash. Peel the vegetable if it has a thick outer layer (e.g., winter squash and broccoli stems), then trim both ends to create a flat base.
Do you need a spiralizer to spiralize vegetables?
You can get crafty in the kitchen and use a mandoline, box grater, vegetable peeler, or julienne peeler to spiralize your veggies. But if you’re going to make this a normal part of your cooking and eating habit (which is not surprising considering how good spiralize vegetable is!) then perhaps you might want to get a spiralizer.
What is a spiralizer & how does it work?
The spiralizer has become a go-to kitchen gadget for home cooks looking for clever ways to add more veggies to their diets. Spiralized vegetables are incredibly versatile. They offer a low-carb pasta swap and are creative add-ins for salads, frittatas, soups, and more. Zucchini, carrots, and sweet potatoes are commonly spiralized.