Creamy Courgette & Thyme Tagliatelle

Carbs! Over the years, carbohydrates have gotten such bad reputation. So much so that many people like to completely remove this essential macronutrient from their diet in the hope that they will lose weight and stay slim.But this is a misconception, and losing weight should never be achieved by removing one such important food group.

Here is why

• When you limit carbohydrates, you deprive your body of a main source of fuel — and many essential nutrients that you need to stay healthy.

• Carbohydrates are foods that get converted into glucose in our bodies during digestion. Glucose is a main source of fuel for our body and provide energy for our brain and muscles to function.

• FIBRE - is important for your digestive health as well as regulating blood glucose. Refined carbohydrates, such as white rice and white pasta, have had their fiber and nutrients removed. Whole grains, such as brown rice and whole-wheat pasta, have not. Therefore, the glucose from refined carbohydrates can get into the bloodstream faster than the glucose from whole grains.

Bottom Line 

Carbohydrates are a major source of fuel and nutrients for our bodies. They should be part of a healthy diet and play a vital part when it comes to long term sustainable weight loss.

This simple and tasty pasta recipe is a great way to get more veggies into midweek family meals and the courgette goes really well together with thyme in a creamy pasta sauce.

INGREDIENTS

250g wholegrain tagliatelle 
1 courgette
1 small onion 
2 garlic cloves
10g fresh thyme
30 ml soya cream
salt & pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. Fill a large pot with water and bring to the boil. Season the water with salt and cook tagliatelle for 10-12 minutes until soft and al dente. 

2. In themeantime heat a large frying pan with some olive oil and add chopped onion, glently fry on a low heat until soft.

3. Chop the courgette into small pieces and add together with the chopped garlic to the pan and fry for another 5-7 minutes.

4. Once the courgette is cooked use some of the pasta water and add it to the pan to make the pasta sauce. Add the soya cream and fresh thyme and season to taste with salt and pepper, stir well.

5. Drain the pasta and place all the tagliatelle in to the pasta sauce and make sure that all of the pasta gets a good covering of the sauce.

Serve with a sprinkle of vegan or normal parmesan cheese and enjoy.