Is pasta one of your comfort foods? For a lot of people, few things satisfy quite like a bowl of noodles, whether they’re dressed in a rich marinara or tossed in a spicy Asian sauce. But if you are trying to cut down on carbs and calories, or follow a gluten-free diet, it may seem like this beloved comfort food is off-limits.
There are creative ways to enjoy your favorite noodle dishes without the carbs or gluten, though. A popular trend has been to use a simple kitchen tool called a spiralizer to create “noodles” from vegetables, like squash or root vegetables. Spiralizers can be found at different price points but there are many inexpensive options (around $10-$15) on the market.
Watch this video to see how to use one (and to get a demonstration of this tasty recipe for pad Thai using spiralized zucchini instead of traditional noodles):
Pad Thai With Zucchini Noodles
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients:
2 medium zucchini (makes 4 cups noodles)
3 Tablespoons sesame oil
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup PB2 (powdered peanut butter)
1/4 cup low-sodium Kroger soy sauce
2 Tablespoons Kroger dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon chili pepper flakes
2 cloves of garlic, minced
3 green onions, sliced
2 limes, quartered
1 cup fresh cilantro
1 cup bean sprouts
3/4 cup finely chopped peanuts
Directions:
Wash and trim ends of zucchini. Create zucchini noodles using a spiralizer or vegetable peeler; set aside. Heat sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. In a small bowl, whisk together water, PB2, soy sauce, brown sugar and chili pepper flakes for peanut sauce. Set aside. To hot oil, add minced garlic, green onions and zucchini noodles. Stir to coat and cook for 3 minutes. Add peanut butter sauce mixture to skillet, stir, and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and divide noodles between 4 plates. Garnish each plate with 2 lime wedges, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, 1/4 cup bean sprouts and 3 tablespoons of chopped peanuts.
Chef’s Notes: Choose a zucchini with a straight, rather than curved, shape for longer noodles. To make sure this recipe is gluten-free, be sure to purchase and use gluten-free soy sauce.
NUTRITION INFORMATION PER SERVING: 279 Calories; 19 grams Fat; 3 grams Saturated Fat; 0 mg Cholesterol; 484 mg Sodium; 20 grams Carbohydrates; 9 grams Sugar; 5 grams Fiber; 11 grams Protein
Looking for more info and want to make an appointment with a registered dietitian? Call 1-855-434-5483 or visit Nutrition Services on henryford.com.
For more healthy recipes and nutrition advice.
