A History of Spiralized Food

Spiralized Foods

Spiralized fruits and vegetables can be an alternative to traditional pasta in specialty noodle shops, a crispy fried snack in quick-service restaurants, or even garnishes for dishes in a fine-dining establishment. Below we'll go over some popular spiralized foods and the equipment used to create these fun fares.

Healthy Alternatives

Spiralized vegetable noodles were trending in the 2010s as the paleo and keto diets began gaining media traction. Zucchini noodles, or zoodles, are a healthy, low-carb, and gluten-free alternative to traditional pasta with a low caloric content and high fiber content. Despite the term "zoodles" only being around since the 1990s, people speculate the dish has been around much longer.1 Courgetti, known as zoodles in the United States, are noodles made from the courgette. The United Kingdom and France commonly use this term instead of zucchini.

Various other vegetables are spiralized to make noodles or toppings such as sweet potatoes, carrots, and onions. These alternatives let customers suffering from gluten allergies, adhering to a diet, or looking for healthy substitutes have something to eat on the menu without sacrificing their nutritional regimens. When eating out, 53 percent of people feel they have to sacrifice their healthy eating habits, so having healthier options on your menu such as zucchini, sweet potato, or broccoli noodles can help ease customer minds.2

Benefits of Offering Spiralized Food

  • Capturing sales from customers with restricted diets such as the vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free lifestyles
  • Decorating your dishes with spiralized toppings and garnishes encourages customers to photograph and post their food on social media
  • Spiralizing food and selling it at regular entree prices results in a high profit margin for your business
  • Depending on the foods you choose to spiralize, these foods can be sold at food trucks or upscale restaurants.

The Curly Fry

Another popular spiralized food is the curly fry. The earliest record of curly fries is from the 19th-century cook book The Virginia Housewife by Mary Randolph.3 Restaurants in the 1930s and 40s were some of the first recorded establishments to serve curly fries, but they have since become a staple at several restaurants across the country.4 One of the most popular restaurants that serve curly fries is Arby's. In 1988, Arby's introduced their curly fries as "Curly-Q Fries"5, and this side item has remained a vital part of Arby's menu since its introduction.

Spiralizing Equipment

spiralizer

The most popular way to spiralize various foods is with an industrial spiralizer, which lets operators quickly slice fruits and vegetables into spirals. These slicers come in vertical or horizontal variations. The ingredients are usually prepared by cutting off each end and are then placed in the spiralizer. The user then turns the crank to start spinning the fruit or vegetable towards the device's blades, which cut and curl the ingredients into a noodle-like consistency.

Another way to spiralize food is with a food proccesor. While some food processors have a spiralizing attachment, it is important to note not all manufacturers make these accessories. Adding one not meant for your food processor can break the appliance, so be sure to purchase from a company that produces these attachments.

References

  1. Zoodles Have Been Around Longer Than You Thought. Mashed. Accessed June 2022.
  2. Noodles & Company Expands Zucchini-based Menu Options. QSR. Accessed June 2022.
  3. 190-Year-Old Recipe for Curly Fries. Fine Dining Lovers. Accessed June 2022.
  4. In Praise of Curly Fries, the Least Hip, Most Perfect Fry Ever. Grub Street. Accessed June 2022.
  5. Arby's History. Zippia. Accessed June 2022.