What a long week….the first 5 day working week in a little while and it  sure felt like it! Thinking about dinner is usually the last thing on your mind? But hunger drives you to do something!

Some time ago I bought a spiraliser after a young friend of mine made the most delicious salad with raw beetroot and courgettes. I shared my very basic version of a salad using raw beetroot last month. After buying cheap one from a certain ‘red’ shop and it failing terribly so I shopped at Millie’s for a rather more solid model which I trust will last me a lifetime! (And it was my  birthday gift to myself so I figured it was okay to spend a little more? :))

Like many of you I really don’t have much space in my kitchen for more kitchen ‘gadgets’ however I have to say this is not too bulky, and is sitting happily in the pantry within easy reach. The blades are interchangeable and just slot in and out easily – so easy to clean. I just rinse it under a hot tap and let it dry on the bench.

For this recipe I used 3 courgettes as shown. I was surprised at the quantity it gave us – certainly plenty for the two of us. I made an easy bolognese sauce to go with the courgette noodles and dinner was achieved in 30 minutes! Not too mad for a week night when you have to eat but really don’t feel like cooking.

For the bolognese sauce:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 500 g ground beef
• 1 chopped onion
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 1 tsp oregano and of basil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• black pepper
• 2 bay leaves

Heat onion over a medium heat, add onion & garlic and cook until the onions soft – maybe 3-4 minutes.

Add ground beef & cook until brown – making sure it is broken up not ‘clumpy’.

Add all of the remaining ingredients and bring to the boil, reducing the heat to a simmer. Let it bubble away for about 30 minutes.

While the bolognese sauce is doing tis thing, heat some oil in a pan over a medium heat and cook the garlic until you can smell it 🙂

Add the courgette spaghetti noodles and cook for about 4 minutes or until they are as you like them. I added a bit of salt at this stage.

Top courgette spaghetti noodles with the bolognese sauce, fresh herbs or parmesan cheese as I did.

We are doing ‘no carbs’ Monday – Friday in an effort to lose a few pounds so this recipe  was within those boundaries. And you know we didn’t miss the ‘real spaghetti’ at all – I promise.

Happy cooking xx