Sweet & Spicy Spaghetti

A sweet & spicy take on a classic, inspired by Fillipino ingredients. 

Ingredients

• 227g whole wheat spaghetti noodles
• 3 medium (300g) bananas, peeled
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 (150g) onion, roughly chopped
• 4 (15g) garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
• ½ tbsp (5g) fresh ginger root, cleaned and chopped
• 1 (16g) chilli, stemmed and chopped
• 80g tomato paste
• 180ml water, from cooking pasta
• 30ml distilled white vinegar
• 30ml low sodium soy sauce
• ½ tsp ground cayenne pepper
• 5 (40g) medjool dates, pitted

Directions

1. Boil spaghetti noodles according to package instructions. Strain noodles, saving 3/4 cup of pasta water for blending sauce.
2. Place bananas into the Vitamix container and secure the lid.
3. Start the blender on its lowest speed, then quickly increase to its highest speed. Blend for 20 seconds, using the tamper to push ingredients towards the blades. 
4. Heat a medium pan over medium heat and add the vegetable oil. Saute onion, garlic, ginger and chilli until soft and translucent. Add the blended bananas and tomato paste to the pan, stirring and cooking until slightly thickened and the tomato paste has caramelised. Take the pan off the heat. 
5. Transfer sauteed mixture to the blending container along with the reserved pasta water, vinegar, soy sauce, cayenne pepper and dates. Secure the lid.
6. Run the Dips & Spreads program or start the blender on its lowest speed, then quickly increase to its highest speed. Blend for 60 seconds, using the tamper to push ingredients towards the blades.
7. Toss cooked spaghetti noodles with the blended sauce and serve hot. (Reheat after tossing if necessary). 

Chef's Note

For a traditional Filipino-style spaghetti, saute 500g ground beef and 2 hot dogs (sliced thin diagonally) and toss with noodles and sauce. This fun sweet and spicy twist on a classic tomato spaghetti with bananas and dates offers a unique twist, combing natural sweetness with nutritional benefits. Bananas are rich in potassium, Vitamin C and fibre, while dates provide essential minerals like magnesium and iron, along with natural sugars for energy. Pairing this sauce with whole wheat noodles enhances the dish's nutritional profile, adding fibre and B Vitamins that support gut and overall health. 

Nutrients: 1 serving (272g), Calories: 140kcal, Protein: 3g, Carbohydrates 34g, Dietary Fibre: 4g, Sodium: 270mg, Sugar: 20g.