Healthy Noodles

[maymayms]

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in finding healthier alternatives to traditional pasta, such as noodles made from whole grains, legumes, or vegetables. When it comes to selecting healthy noodles, there are several key factors to consider, such as the type of ingredients used, the amount of fiber and protein they contain, and their impact on blood sugar levels. Compared to traditional pasta options, healthy noodles can provide a range of potential health benefits, including improved digestion, weight management, and reduced risk of chronic diseases. To better understand the benefits of incorporating healthy noodles into your diet, it's important to consider the nutritional value of these ingredients. For example, whole-grain noodles are a great source of fiber, which can help keep you feeling full and satisfied while also promoting healthy digestion. Similarly, noodles made from legumes, such as lentil or chickpea pasta, can provide a significant amount of plant-based protein, which is essential for building and repairing muscles and tissues in the body. Vegetable-based noodles, such as zucchini or spaghetti squash, can also be a great option for adding more vitamins and minerals to your diet. Beyond the nutritional benefits, healthy noodles can also be a versatile and delicious addition to many different meals and dishes. For example, you can use whole-grain or legume-based noodles in place of traditional pasta in dishes like spaghetti or macaroni and cheese. You can also use vegetable-based noodles to create a low-carb alternative to stir-fry or pad Thai. Additionally, healthy noodles can be used as a base for salads or soups, or even as a substitute for rice or other grains in dishes like sushi. Overall, selecting and incorporating healthy noodles into your diet can be a simple and effective way to improve your overall health and well-being. By choosing noodles made from whole grains, legumes, or vegetables, you can increase your intake of fiber, protein, and essential nutrients, while also enjoying a wide range of delicious and satisfying meal options.

[maymayms]

Just now, maymayms said:

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in finding healthier alternatives to traditional pasta, such as noodles made from whole grains, legumes, or vegetables. When it comes to selecting healthy noodles, there are several key factors to consider, such as the type of ingredients used, the amount of fiber and protein they contain, and their impact on blood sugar levels. Compared to traditional pasta options, healthy noodles can provide a range of potential health benefits, including improved digestion, weight management, and reduced risk of chronic diseases. To better understand the benefits of incorporating healthy noodles into your diet, it's important to consider the nutritional value of these ingredients. For example, whole-grain noodles are a great source of fiber, which can help keep you feeling full and satisfied while also promoting healthy digestion. Similarly, noodles made from legumes, such as lentil or chickpea pasta, can provide a significant amount of plant-based protein, which is essential for building and repairing muscles and tissues in the body. Vegetable-based noodles, such as zucchini or spaghetti squash, can also be a great option for adding more vitamins and minerals to your diet. Beyond the nutritional benefits, healthy noodles can also be a versatile and delicious addition to many different meals and dishes. For example, you can use whole-grain or legume-based noodles in place of traditional pasta in dishes like spaghetti or macaroni and cheese. You can also use vegetable-based noodles to create a low-carb alternative to stir-fry or pad Thai. Additionally, healthy noodles can be used as a base for salads or soups, or even as a substitute for rice or other grains in dishes like sushi. Overall, selecting and incorporating healthy noodles into your diet can be a simple and effective way to improve your overall health and well-being. By choosing noodles made from whole grains, legumes, or vegetables, you can increase your intake of fiber, protein, and essential nutrients, while also enjoying a wide range of delicious and satisfying meal options.

thanks for your time and reading this 

[Littlesister]

Maymayms, this is great info for anyone that does not know about healthy grains. You explained the differences very well.

[Ambergris]

I have had terrible luck reheating legume-based noodles.  Is there a trick to this?

[euphrasyne]

Soybeans make tofu.   Any bean can be made into a tofu-equivalent.   You just puree it with hot water, cook it down, and allow it to set up.  The noodles are usually made by either making it into tofu and cutting up or else making the beans into a powder and using it as the 'flour' for the noodles.   If you are using the type that starts as been flour, then it will never reheat correctly again if you boiled them in liquid.   Instead, only cook what you need and freeze or chill any noodles not needed for that meal.  

 

Red or green dahl (lentils) are one of the more common ones used, but any bean incl black, pinto, kidney, garbanzo, etc.  will work for either the noodles or the tofu.   Garbanzo works well if you do the flour method (Besan flour.)   Red dhal works better by cutting down the 'tofu' method.  

 

Typically Besan will reheat better than others, but it will still be a bit soggy.  

 

If you want carbs (beans have carbs) but not gluten, you can use rice or rice noodles wherever.   It goes just fine with marinara.  

 

I'm typing this while munching on leftover Shahi Paneer (basically a cheese/ tofu made out of goat milk) and Samosa Chaat which was made with chickpeas over a Besan flour wanton like item.   The chickpeas were just left whole and unprocessed and I'm using them as my rice/noodle substitute to carry the sauce.

Edited April 2, 2023 by euphrasyne

[Ambergris]

Yes, I subscribed to Mary's Test Kitchen yesterday after discovering her experiments in sunflower seed tofu, pumpkin seed tofu, lentil tofu, and so on.  This looks a lot better than what I used to do.

 

[euphrasyne]

 

awesome video!  I loved the perspective and background.   

[Littlesister]

I will have to give that a try. Never made it before.