I could eat pasta every day, easily. I don’t though, because that’s a lot of carbohydrates. Granted, I also tend to eat more than the recommended serving size. If you’ve never measured out the recommended serving size for pasta and you want to feel sad today, go do it. It’s a brutal way to get in touch with reality.
In order to not eat pasta everyday for lunch and dinner, there’s always the option of eating vegetables that look and mostly taste like pasta—like black beans or zucchini shaved into spaghetti strands, thanks to the innovation world of substitute recipes. Here are 14 of my favorite carb-less pasta-like dishes.
GIF courtesy of giphy.com
1. Zucchini Lasagna
Photo courtesy of furtherfood.com
I’m down with raw zucchini but some people might feel like they’re eating vegetables when they want pasta. If you cook them, the sauce really helps flavor the zucchini and you’ll forget you ever even wanted pasta.
2. Chicken Parmesan Spaghetti Squash
Photo by Nicole Witte
If you haven’t had spaghetti squash, you haven’t lived. Spaghetti squash is low-cal and it really absorbs the rest of the flavors in the meal. It’s actually pretty great on it’s own too.
3. Seaweed Wrap
Photo by Laura Silver
Depending on your tortilla size, you can add a lot of unwanted calories and carbs to your meal. Nori, the toasted seaweed used in sushi rolls, is only 5 calories per sheet. Now you can spend those extra calories on something much more nutrient dense, like extra avocado spread.
4. Shirataki Noodles
Photo courtesy of flickr
Similar to tofu, shirataki noodles take on the flavors of the other ingredients, sauces especially. The possibilities are endless.
5. Vegetable Zoodles
Photo by Jackie Behar
We’ve all heard about zoodles. You take a zucchini and you use a spiralizer and boom, you have zucchini noodles. You can also use carrots or yellow squash. In my humble opinion, all you really need is your veggie of choice and a good spaghetti sauce.
6. Zucchini Nachos
Photo by Dara Ades
Sometimes all you want is something to crunch on. I get that. Why not try and munch on something healthier than fried potatoes?
7. Chickpea Pasta
Photo by Morgan Goldberg
I used to think my favorite chickpea creation was hummus. Now, I’m not so sure.
8. Black Bean Pasta
Photo courtesy of veethakur via flickr
#SpoonTip: Do not overcook this pasta because it will become mushy.
#SpoonTip2: When cooked perfectly, you have no idea you’re eating beans.
9. Brown Rice Pasta
Photo by Kelly Logan
Yet another pasta alternative that tastes just like the real thing. I usually throw oil, garlic, tomatoes and mozzarella in with this pasta and you actually can’t tell the difference.
10. Brown Rice and Quinoa Pasta
Photo courtesy of Rod Rotondi via flickr
Shouts to Trader Joe’s for introducing this into my life. It’s a little more chewy than regular pasta, but when you cook it al dente that doesn’t matter.
11. Zucchini Pizza Crust
Photo courtesy of furtherfood.com
This is the definition of guilt-free pizza. You’re basically eating vegetables with cheese and more vegetables, so there’s really nothing to feel guilty about.
12. Cauliflower Pizza Crust
Photo by Laura Silver
Carb-free pizza take 2.
13. Cauliflower Fried Rice
Photo by Laura Bailey
Follow this recipe for a great fried-rice base, and then do whatever you need to make it your own. You can also experiment with the grating size when you grate your cauliflower. Take place in the little things: I find it super satisfying to watch my mountain of “rice” build up as I grate.
14. Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Photo by Parisa Soraya
Potential cheese overload but I couldn’t just exclude it. Inclusivity is important in maintaining friendships.