- 7 Veggie Noodle Recipes That'll Make You Forget All About Pasta
New ways to get more veggies in your diet
Now, this is how you get oodles of (healthy) noodles. From spaghetti to lasagna, it's hard not to love traditional noodles, but for #NationalNoodleDay, we're taking a different approach to one of our favorite carbo-loading sources.
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Instead of regular pasta, we're making an unconventional swap and replacing our favorite noodles with some of the season's most in-demand vegetables. Just grab a spiralizer or slicer and get to work.
Ali Maffucci, the founder of the Inspiralizer, has made the vegetable-for-noodle swap and never looked back. "It makes me more aware of the foods that I'm putting into my body, since it involves a lot of fresh produce," Maffucci tells Rodale Wellness. "[Spiralizing] encourages me to eat locally and very seasonally. I have never had that 'go-to' [dish] before, so I would easily make the decision to order takeout or eat something that wouldn't nourish my body nearly as much as that bowl of spiralized veggies."
Now, she's all about veggie noodles. "If you aren't sure it's for you, a great way to ease into it is by replacing half of the spaghetti with a spiralized vegetable," she adds. "Squeeze in more veggies and halve the amount of processed spaghetti in the meal. I promise, you won't miss it!" (Try this fancy potto cook both to perfection)
Ready to make the swap? Follow these 7 recipes to get you started:
Carrot Noodles
It tastes like hummus, and it improves your vision—all perks of this veggie-loaded dish.
The real key to getting the "noodles" just right is to lightly boil the carrots before spiralizing, in order to get them a bit fluffier, much like a whole wheat pasta.
Check it out here: Mediterranean Chicken and Carrot Noodle Bowl With Tahini
Sweet Potato Noodles
Orange and pink combine in this potato and salmon dish, giving you beautiful color and a dish ready from 'gramming.
The sweet and savory combo of the two main ingredients is top-notch, and you can easily turn it into a gluten-free or Paleo dish by swapping the miso for tahini.
Check it out here: Ginger Roasted Salmon and Sweet Potato Noodles With Miso-Maple Dressing
Beet Noodles
They're one of the greatest superfoods, and have actually been proven to boost athletic performance, but did you know that beets are also a great noodle alternative?
Happily, the summer-to-fall transition veggie is abundant right now, and it can easily be added in place of your go-to spaghetti dish.
Check it out here: Beet Noodles With Tomatoes, Feta, and Bacon
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Butternut Squash Lasagna
It's an extra-easy swap: Instead of layering lasagna noodles in this all-time favorite dish, slice butternut squash into thin shavings and blanket over the added toppings.
Throw in additional vegetables or meat, for flavor varieties.
Check it out here: Winter Kale, Sausage and Butternut Squash Lasagna
Zucchini Noodles
Arguably the most popular noodle alternative, zucchini perfectly lends itself to being sliced into beautiful, paper-thin, pastalike ribbons.
Toss it with some simple olive oil and lemon to bring out the flavor of the veggie, and serve as a side to any other dish.
Check it out here: Zucchini Ribbon 'Pasta'
Rutabaga Noodles
A hearty winter stew is good way to stay steamy during the year's coldest months.
With other in-season veggies, the rutabaga's flavors can shine, and the vitamin C–loaded vegetable remains the star.
Check it out here: Winter Kale Vegetable Stew With Rutabaga Noodles
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Cucumber Noodles
Best served cold, cucumbers are low in calories, yet they remain one of the most filling veggies in any grocery story produce aisle.
For a lunchtime snack, ditch the usual sandwich and stock up on some waist-line-friendly cucumber noodles.
Check it out here: Avocado-Tuna Salad With Cucumber Noodles
This article originally appeared in Rodale Wellness
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