Listen, if you know us, you know that we love our pasta, but we have recently made the transition to plant-based pasta and couldn’t be happier with the decision.
There are many benefits to plant-based pasta and we have some tips and tricks to make the transition easy, but also recommendations for the best ways to make it yourself. Don’t worry, for those who don’t want to encounter the DIY plant-based pasta, we have some store-bought versions as well.
Not only are plant-based pastas much lower in fat and calories, but they also offer other health benefits as well. Let’s take a look at why you should try plant-based pasta.
Why plant-based pasta?
It’s no secret that pasta is one of the most popular comfort foods around. Hello? Have you read our blog post on the dupe for Midnight Pasta by the New York Times? It is creamy deliciousness with red pepper flakes to spice things up a bit. We want comfort, but we also want ease. We did that with the recipe, but it was before we made the transition to plant-based pasta.
While we know no one who doesn’t like pasta, and if it’s you, well, don’t tell us because we think it’s strange. Plant-based pasta offers a healthier alternative to traditional flour-based pasta. We even made the transition to wheat-based pasta noodles and realized quickly that the taste of our pasta dishes suffered.
Nutritional value of plant-based pasta
The nutritional value of plant-based pasta varies depending on the type you choose. Most are made from vegetables like zucchini, edamame, or sweet potatoes, which means they contain vitamins and minerals. Us? We love using our spiralizer on zucchini. It is a staple in our kitchen. It’s easy, and just a reliable dinner. Throw some spiralized zucchini noodles in the pan with some olive oil, and some spices (take your pick), and your cook time is reduced.
Another fave? Sweet potato noodles! Sweet potato noodles contain high levels of vitamin A and iron while edamame noodles are an excellent source of protein and fiber.
In addition to being packed with essential vitamins and minerals, plant-based pasta is also low in fat and calories. This makes them a great option for those looking to watch their intake without sacrificing taste or texture. You rarely have to throw DIY vegan plant-based noodles into water because the veggies already hold so much water, so you can treat them like a stir-fry. So delicious!
The many flavors of plant-based pasta
Another great thing about plant-based pasta is that if you don’t want to make them yourself, there are plenty of options you can buy. Yes! Plant-based pastas are available in box form, just like traditional pasta.
Here are some of our favorites:
Miracle Noodle Ready to Eat Fettuccine this pasta is a great way to make your own vegan fettuccine alfredo. You can use this as the base, then add LA Dunn’s Butternut Squash Creamy Sauce. In fact, make this creamy pasta sauce and use it on anything. You will thank us.
Daiya Deluxe Mac & Cheeze Ok, hear us out. This is a great plant-based pasta to use as a base, too, and add some broccoli, and some Gardein Crispy Tenders. Oh, wow. So yum, and convenient when you only have a few minutes to cook dinner. It really is an amazing creamy vegan pasta, especially for a boxed item.
Barilla Chickpea Rotini we use this for pasta salads, and our favorite penne pesto pasta. You can boil it in some water, al dente, and then top it off with our homemade marinara sauce, add a salad on the side for a well-balanced meal. You can use this for the main dish of almost any easy vegan pasta recipe.
Barilla Red Lentil Spaghetti For all you spaghetti fans, this should be your go-to. We use this with our homemade marinara sauce, and sometimes add some Morningstar Crumbles for a “meaty” taste. These three ingredients make one amazing vegan meal.
Plant-based pasta is easier on the gut
If you’re a foodie who loves to try out new recipes and flavors, then plant-based pasta is the perfect way to add some variety to your meals. We recommend LA Dunn of Black Girls Eat as a great resource for amazing vegan pasta recipes. She shares many plant-based recipes that will leave you wondering why you haven’t been eating plant-based all along. Her backstory of transitioning to a plant-based lifestyle due to her health is one you should know about. Listen to our podcast with her for the whole story.
Finally, since plant-based and vegan pasta dishes don’t contain any animal products, they’re much easier for your body to digest than regular pasta dishes. Since Shannon has some gut health issues she is working on, making the transition to plant-based pasta was a better decision. This means that if you too have trouble digesting some foods, you can enjoy all the flavors without any stomach upset or discomfort afterward. Also, a plant-based lifestyle is gluten-free.
Looking to make the switch? Give it a try and let us know how it goes! Pretty soon, you will have your own favorite vegan pasta you will be telling everyone about.
Before we part, if you are interested in our homemade ride-or-die vegan pasta sauce, be sure to sign up for our newsletter. We will be sharing it with our garden updates. It’s super easy, and fresh, and by making it in large batches, you will have it for your fave plant-based pasta recipe.
Frequently asked questions | FAQs
With any water, you can use it for plants or your garden. You can also use water from cookies food for broths, or even to soak beans and lentils.
Flour-based pasta (regular pasta) is made from dough consisting of ground durum wheat, water, and eggs, so not usually.
As we mentioned, Black Girls Eat is a great resource. We also find a number of really great recipes from Rainbow Plant Life.
