When you just want to snuggle up on your couch, switch on the TV and enjoy a tasty, comfort meal’¦

There are days when you just want to reach home quickly after work and prepare a nice, comforting pot meal, snuggle up on your couch or bed, switch on the television and just relax. Often the simplest pleasures of life such as this become just too difficult to experience in the daily grind of juggling between office and home. We forget to relax and when it really gets on to us, food is the first thing where we seek solace.

I have started developing an aversion towards the pastas served at restaurants. Somehow they are either way too overloaded or just lack the basic flavour. So, I have started trying out much healthier, easier, and low calorie recipes at home, rather than splurging on a plate of palatable pasta outside. They make for a light dinner option and offer the perfect company to my favourite television shows or movies.

Lemon spaghetti is easy on the stomach and palate, and has a flavourful undertone of lemons, shallots, olives and broccoli. For the preparation, boil 100 grams spaghetti in salted water until it turns tender. Always check it regularly to avoid over boiling the pasta. While it’s still boiling, add some chopped pieces of broccoli and turn off the heat once both are tender. Meanwhile, chop a few shallots and a handful of green olives, and add transfer these in a mixing bowl. Squeeze juice from one lemon and mix well. Drain out the pasta and pour, along with broccoli over the veggies in the mixing bowl. Toss well with olive oil, a pinch of salt, pepper and basil, and enjoy hot.