Courgetti nest

The product

Sainsbury's has jumped on the spiralised vegetable bandwagon, but with a twist.

The UK's second-largest retailer is set to launch dried courgetti nests.

The product, from UniqueItalia, will be sold exclusively at Sainsbury's.

Spriralised courgettes have gained both cult and celebrity status recently thanks to the likes of Hemsley and Hemsley and Deliciously Ella promoting them as a carb and gluten-free alternative to spaghetti.

Sainsbury's buyer Lucy McCarthy said: “We’re delighted to have worked with UniqueItalia to develop Italian dried courgetti nests, which make a great store-cupboard substitute for spaghetti and noodles. We can’t wait to see what our customers think.'

Made with courgettes grown in Puglia in southern Italy, the courgetti is cut and dried on the same day to lock in the natural goodness, colour and flavour. The nests can be cooked in boiling water in five minutes.

UniqueItalia is a brand of fine food importer and distributor, Unique Fine Foods.

Amelia Wellings-Thomas, of Unique Fine Foods, said: “We have worked hand-in-hand with our Italian partners for many years, spending time at their farm and seeing first-hand their expertise at growing vegetables.

'Together we have developed the idea of drying courgettes using traditional preservation methods to create a product that makes a convenient store-cupboard alternative to fresh courgetti.”

The item launches Sainsbury’s Speciality Ingredients range on 19 June.

The 20g pack will be priced at £2, and contains two nests.