Lifestyle
Bulk Barn's Pulse-Based Pastas, Ranked by Protein Content
Bulk Barn's buckets have recently become filled with a variety of new pulse-based pasta in all shapes and colours. According to Pulse Canada, pulses are a part of the legume family, and the most common types are beans, chickpeas, and lentils.
They are nutrient dense, sustainable, and delicious. Bulk Barn's delivery of a variety of pulse-based pastas opens the door to a more nutrient-dense option for the gluten-sensitive and carb-lovers alike.
Below, you will find a list of protein-rich pulse-based pastas. As a quick reference, one 100-gram serving of white flour pasta has 12 grams of protein.
Chickpea Rotini
This powerhouse noodle is known for having the best texture of non-wheat pastas. With loads of protein and fibre, this complex carbohydrate can help control your blood sugar and curb hunger longer.
Instagram-famous Registered Dietitian/Certified Personal Trainer Rachael Devaux highly recommends chickpea pasta and uses it in her tasty veggie and chicken sausage pasta.
Green Lentil & Kale Penne
Lentils are among the most common pulses and are used in numerous vegan/vegetarian recipes as a substitute for ground beef. The kale in this pasta adds a number of key vitamins and minerals, including vitamins K, A, C and calcium.
Lentils are also one of the most sustainable foods — emitting only 0.9 of CO2e (Greenhouse Gas) per 1 kg of lentils consumed. This amounts to 2900% less green house gas than beef, according to The Global Pulse Confederation.
Pea Penne
This pasta is a simple yet high-protein option for people with celiac disease and for those who want gains without giving up mac and cheese. The only ingredient in this pasta is non-GMO organic yellow peas, meaning 1 serving will meet 20% of your daily fibre needs and 60% of your daily iron needs.
It is recommended to cook these guys in a sauce or broth instead of boiling water in order to maintain maximum flavour. Try them with this zucchini cream sauce for a gluten-free and vegan comfort food feast.
Red Lentil Penne
Coming in second place in the protein race is red lentil penne pasta. Similar in colour to traditional sun-dried tomato pasta, it is recommended to rinse these noodles after cooking them and treat them like beans.
High in iron, calcium, and zinc, this pulse-based pasta also has zero saturated and trans fats. It adds a certain flavour to Half Baked Harvest's caramelized balsamic goat cheese pasta that wheat noodles just can't offer.
Black Bean Rotini
Not only does the dark black colour of black bean rotini add a certain aesthetic, but it also boasts a whopping 26 grams of protein per 100 gram serving — more protein than 100 grams of Atlantic salmon.
Since it's a bit softer in texture than regular noodles, I would suggest getting just 1 serving and testing a small portion before you go all in. If you're not afraid to try new textures, Bulk Barn's black bean rotini is the way to go for a pulse-based and protein-packed pasta.
Next time you're filling your jars at Bulk Barn with candy and fresh peanut butter, wander down the pasta aisle to check out the pulse-based goodness in some of your favourite pasta shapes.