Prior to my Celiac, I would have diagnosed myself as a Pastaholic. Angel Hair, Fuscilli, and mounds of Pastina piled high on my plates and bowls. I panicked at the thought of never being able to enjoy noodles again, until I found gluten free pasta. It took some trial and error to find a type that would please my pick palate, but even still, gluten free noodles just didn't agree with my irate intestines. I have learned through trial and error that my IBS doesn't handle large amount of simple carbs very well, so to get my noodle fix, I needed to search elsewhere....
The hunt for alternative noodles began!
Whether you have Celiac, a Gluten Allergy/Intolerance, or are simply looking for a healthier pasta alternative, I've got ALL your pasta problem solved!
All you need is an open mind, or should I say palate, some veggies and a Spiralizer/Julienne Peeler!
The hunt for alternative noodles began!
Whether you have Celiac, a Gluten Allergy/Intolerance, or are simply looking for a healthier pasta alternative, I've got ALL your pasta problem solved!
All you need is an open mind, or should I say palate, some veggies and a Spiralizer/Julienne Peeler!
- Zoodles - most comprable to real pasta & for Italian dishes
- very similar to the texture of actual pasta
- absorbs whatever flavor of the dish you use it with
- pairs well with red sauce
- requires less than five minutes cook time
- cook by: skillet*, in the microwave, in a pot
- downside: can become very water if overcooked
- Zucchini "Lasasgna"
- Spaghetti Squash - one of my favorites
(how to here)
- longest option to cook - need to bake & fork it
- crunchier than actual pasta (I LOVE the crunch!)
- can be on a bit of the sweeter side to some
- pairs well with sauce, meat or veggie skillet dishes
- can be used for macaroni and cheese or mac salad
- Italian Spaghetti Squash Skillet (a personal favorite)
- Cucumber Noodle - created because zucchinis were too expensive and I wanted a long noodle
(how to the same as zoodles)
- crunchier than actual pasta
- best served cold - pasta salad anyone?
- no cooking needed
- crunchier than actual pasta (I clearly LOVE crunch!)
- downside: needs to be patted dry with a paper towel before
storing because it can become watery, tastes best cold
- Coodles Power Bowl
- Rice Noodle - can also be called Vermicelli
- soft pasta like texture, absorbs the taste of your dish
- can be long or flat like fettuccini
- check to make ensure that your product is gluten free!
- some Safe Brands: Thai Kitchen, A Taste of Thai, Peacock
- pairs well with Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese Dishes
- quick cooking time, no boiling required!
photo credit: Detoxinista - Sweet Potato Noodle
- CAN be bought in a package apparently in Asian
Supermarkets called Japchae
(again, when buying packaged product, check GF status!)
- this is something I haven't tried yet so I am unsure what it
would pair best with, I suggest: Asian dishes, a cream
sauce, ground meat for a "burger bowl", chicken, or even
tofu/beans for non meat eaters!
- cook in a skillet with a little bit of oil to your noodle
consistency liking! (al dente or mushy, the choice is yours)
photo credit: The Twisted Vegan - Carrot Noodles
- this is something I haven't tried yet but I suggest:
used for cold pasta salad or cooked with Asian dishes
- cook in a skillet with a little bit of oil to your noodle
consistency liking! (al dente or mushy, the choice is yours)
IF YOU CAN SPIRALIZE IT OR PEEL IT, IT CAN BE MADE INTO NOODLES :) GET CREATIVE!
As you can see, I like spaghetti style noodles, which are created with a spiralizer OR a Julienne peeler
BUT a regular peeler can create long ribbon like noodles, similar to fettuccini!
The Tools:
Spiralizer - I own this one, Paderno World Cuisine Tri Blade Spiral Slicer
Hand Held Spiralizer
Julienne Peeler - for spaghetti style noodles
Regular Peeler - for fettucini style noodles
No noodles, no problem, I've solved your pasta problem! :)
As you can see, I like spaghetti style noodles, which are created with a spiralizer OR a Julienne peeler
BUT a regular peeler can create long ribbon like noodles, similar to fettuccini!
The Tools:
Spiralizer - I own this one, Paderno World Cuisine Tri Blade Spiral Slicer
Hand Held Spiralizer
Julienne Peeler - for spaghetti style noodles
Regular Peeler - for fettucini style noodles
No noodles, no problem, I've solved your pasta problem! :)
- Do you have a favorite noodle alternative?
- Which noodle are you most likely to try?
- Spaghetti or Fettuccini Style ?
