Garlic Spaghetti
Chinese Chinese - Chicken

Garlic Spaghetti

Est. Time: 35-45 min  •  8 Preparation Steps

Chef's Menu Description

Fragrant grains expertly cooked with seasonal aromatics, fresh herbs, and rich stock for a satisfying, flavourful centerpiece.

Ingredients

  • • 300 g dried spaghetti
  • • 2 bulbs garlic ((whole heads))
  • • 2 courgettes
  • • 45 g fresh Parmesan, (finely grated)
  • • 2 large handfuls spinach ((80g, roughly torn))
  • • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • • 2 tbsp low-fat cream cheese ( (like Philadelphia lightest))
  • • low-calorie cooking spray
  • • salt and pepper, (to taste)

Preparation Steps

1
Phase 1

Preheat the oven to 200°C.

2
Phase 2

Slice any long stems from your garlic bulbs, then cut them, so that the top of the garlic cloves are exposed. Spray the tops with low-calorie cooking spray and wrap each bulb tightly with foil. Place into the oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the garlic is soft and cooked throughout. Once it's ready, let it cool a little before squeezing the garlic out of the cloves. You should have a paste, but if some bits are still a little chunky, you can finely chop it or smoosh it in a pestle and mortar.

3
Phase 3

When your garlic is nearly ready, cook your spaghetti in a saucepan according to packet instructions. This usually takes around 10 minutes.

4
Phase 4

As the spaghetti is cooking, peel your courgettes. Discard the skin, then use your peeler to peel long ribbons of courgette. When you get to the seeds at the centre, stop.

5
Phase 5

Spray your frying pan with low-calorie cooking spray and set on a medium heat. Add the courgette ribbons, then cook for 1-2 minutes — until they soften a little. This won't take long as the strips are thin — don't overcook them, or you'll end up with mush!

6
Phase 6

Use some tongs to transfer the cooked spaghetti into the frying pan with the courgette ribbons.

7
Phase 7

Remove the frying pan from the heat. Add the roasted garlic paste, lemon juice, and cream cheese to the pan, then stir well — until the pasta is coated. Add a few tablespoons of the pasta water to the frying pan to loosen the mixture and help coat the pasta.

8
Phase 8

Add the spinach and stir it through. Then add the Parmesan. Season well with salt and pepper to taste, then serve.