Pasta may just be one of the greatest culinary creations of all time. It’s made with warm and hearty grains, it comes in all sorts of fun shapes, and you can dress it up with all sorts of sauces and toppings! Usually, when you’re working with traditional pasta, you have to add some vegetables to make the overall dish healthy. While it’s pretty easy to do this, what if we told you that there were products in existence today that had the same feel as traditional pasta but were grain-free and packed with nutrition?
This is not a joke! Nowadays, there are pastas made from all sorts of ingredients, including beans, vegetables, legumes, soy, and of course, grain-free flours. Since these alternatives are not made from just regular wheat flour and water, they’re a much more nutritious choice, whether you’re actively trying to avoid grains, or you simply want to cut down on carbs. Need to see it to believe it? No problem! Here are 15 grain-free, nutrient-dense pastas that are currently available online!
Miracle Noodle Angel Hair
Miracle Noodle Angel Hair is a type of noodle pasta made from the popular Asian root vegetable konnyaku. This type of pasta is called shirataki and it is free of wheat, gluten, soy, cholesterol, and even calories! These noodles don’t have a strong taste of their own, but according to Miracle Noodle, they readily absorb the flavors of any soup, dish, or sauce. Reviewers report that when cooked correctly these noodles have a soft, tender texture, similar to an al dente pasta noodle. You can get six seven-ounce packages for $15.
Tolerant Red Lentil Penne
Bring the nutritional power of pulses to your dinner with lentil-based pasta! Tolerant Red Lentil Penne is a single-ingredient, gluten-free pasta that delivers 21 grams of protein and 11 grams of fiber per serving. Since it has such a high protein content, this pasta is even recommended by Tolerant as a meat replacement! This pasta is also soy-free, egg-free, and non-GMO. You can get six eight-ounce boxes for a little under $26.
Explore Asian Edamame Spaghetti
Do you only eat edamame when you’re out for sushi at a Japanese restaurant? If this sounds like you, consider expanding your edamame horizons with Explore Asian Edamame Spaghetti. This pasta is made from just edamame and water, is gluten-free and kosher, and can be cooked just like regular pasta. It has 24 grams of protein and 11 grams of fiber per serving. Reviewers point out that this product doesn’t taste exactly like pasta, but are a delicious, thick, and chewy noodle option similar to “al dente” Italian spaghetti. Some reviewers have added sauce and seasonings like garlic to this product, while others have claimed that it tastes just fine by itself with a dash of oil. To try it out for yourself, you can get a two-pound bag for $19.
King Soba Buckwheat Soba Noodles
King Soba Buckwheat Soba Noodles is a low-fat and sodium-free product made from 100 percent buckwheat. While buckwheat may seem like it’s a grain because of the inclusion of wheat in the name, it is actually a seed. King Soba suggests using these noodles for soups, stir-fries, or for a cold noodle salad. Reviewers have reported that these noodles are satisfying, have a nice texture, and are a more enjoyable way to eat buckwheat than groats. Since these noodles are gluten-free and organic, they’re a bit pricey at $13 but if you have a dietary preference or restriction, they may be worth a try.
Trader Joes Black Bean Rotini
Not a huge fan of black beans, but wish there was some way you could still get the ample nutrition they offer? Consider trying Trader Joe’s Black Bean Rotini. This spiral-shaped pasta is gluten-free and made 100 percent from organic black bean flour. Each serving (3/4 cup) has 14 grams of protein. Reviewers are a bit mixed on this item, with one reviewer saying that they did not like the strong bean flavor of the pasta, while another said that it simply needs a heavier-flavored sauce than what would be used with traditional wheat pasta. To try it out for yourself, you can get two 12-ounce bags for a little over $13.
Banza Chickpea Pasta
Banza Chickpea Penne aims to re-transform the pasta experience into something that is not only tasty and indulgent but nutritious! According to Banza, their pasta has two times the protein, four times the fiber, and nearly half the net carbs of the traditional variety. Their penne is made with chickpeas and pea protein and can be cooked just like regular penne. Reviewers describe this pasta as slightly nutty-tasting, filling, and a great protein-packed alternative. However, it is worth noting that some people have said that this pasta doesn’t taste exactly like white pasta but more like whole wheat. If you want to try it out yourself, you can get six boxes for a little under $18.
Sea Tangle Kelp Noodles
Land vegetables aren’t the only ones that can be made into pasta. As Sea Tangle Kelp Noodles proves, sea vegetables are also nutritious options when it comes to replacing traditional noodles! This mineral and iodine rich product doesn’t require any cooking, you simply have to rinse them and then they are ready to add to any existing dish. While some reviewers have enjoyed these noodles on their own, others combine it with regular pasta to lower the overall caloric content of their dishes.
Rustichella d’Abruzzo Corn Spaghetti
Take corn from the side of the plate to the center with Rustichella d’Abruzzo Corn Spaghetti. These noodles are organic and made from 100 percent corn. They are also gluten-free. As for taste, the reviewers about this product are somewhat mixed. While some reviewers were underwhelmed and claimed they have tried better pasta alternatives, others found these noodles “remarkably satisfying.” To try them out for yourself, you can get one 8.8-ounce package for $9.
Explore Asian Soybean Spaghetti
Think soybeans are only good for making milk and tofu? Think again. Explore Asian Soybean Spaghetti is composed of organic golden soybean and water and reviewers are reporting that these noodles are hearty, “phenomenally high-protein,” and a “solid alternative for spaghetti.” One reviewer even said that these are better than traditional spaghetti noodles! You can get six seven-ounce packages for $25 if you want to try them out yourself.
House Foods Tofu Shirataki Angel Hair Pasta
If you didn’t think tofu was versatile before, you will now. House Foods Tofu Shirataki Angel Hair Pasta is exactly what it sounds like – pasta made from tofu. These particular noodles are gluten-free, low-carb, low-calorie, and are infused with yam for some added nutrition. As with all tofu, it’s all about what flavoring methods and seasonings you use, so House Foods suggests being very liberal sauce-wise. While some reviewers were completely satisfied with this product, others felt that the noodles were chewier than expected. You can get 10 bags of this pasta for $16, that’s just $1.60 a package!
Jayone Paleo Sweet Potato Starch Noodles
Looking for a grain-free pasta option that is also paleo-friendly? Check out Jayone Paleo Sweet Potato Starch Noodles. This gluten-free product is made from simply sweet potato starch and purified water and does not contain any artificial colors. Amazon reviewers report that this product is tasty, has a chewy texture similar to rice noodles, and lends wonderfully to stir-fries. It is worth noting, however, that some reviewers found that these noodles had a peculiar smell and taste that required a lot of sauce to mask. To see if you feel the same, you can get one one-pound bag for $10.
Miracle Noodle Spinach Angel Hair
Miracle Noodle Spinach Angel Hair Pasta is just like their original pasta (made from the root vegetable konnyaku) but it is also infused with spinach powder! The result? A pasta free from wheat, gluten, soy, and cholesterol, that has the added nutrition of spinach, like vitamin A and iron. While reviewers say that the cooking process for these noodles is somewhat different than what they follow for regular pasta, the finished product is more or less the feel of a very al-dente Italian noodle. You can get six seven-ounce packages for a little over $15.
Tolerant Green Lentil Penne
Don’t feel like cooking a bunch of vegetables to supplement your pasta dish? Well, then consider buying Tolerant Green Lentil Penne. One serving of this single-ingredient pasta contains one full serving of vegetables, 21 grams of protein, and is also high in fiber and iron. And reviewers seem to love it! Several reviewers have claimed that this is their new favorite pasta, a pantry must-have, and that they “could not tell the difference” between the product and regular pasta. To see if this product lives up to the hype, you can get three 12-ounce packs for $16.
BGreen Buckwheat Angel Hair Pasta
Buckwheat flour is a popular flour alternative in the grain-free community, so it’s not too surprising that there is also pasta made from this flour. BGreen Buckwheat Angel Hair Pasta is made 100 percent from buckwheat flour and is also non-GMO and gluten-free. Since this pasta is made from a flour it can be cooked just like traditional pasta, and reviewers are saying that it has a great flavor and consistency. You can get two 8.8-ounce packs for $28.
Explore Asian Adzuki Bean Pasta
Explore Asian Adzuki Bean Spaghetti is a low-fat, iron-rich, sodium-free, and gluten-free pasta alternative. This organic pasta is made from three ingredients: Adzuki beans, soybeans, and water. Reviewers are saying that these spaghetti noodles are soft and tender, cook quickly, and are actually more filling than pasta. You can get two 7.5-ounce packages for a little over $9.
Make Your Own Delicious Grain-Free Pasta!
And of course, if you simply can’t wait to dig into a heaping bowl of grain-free pasta, you can always make your own! Vegetables like zucchini, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, and carrots, are all capable of being transformed into deliciously tender pasta noodles! Try out this Creamy Ginger-Coconut Kale Zucchini Spaghetti, this Buffalo Cauliflower With Sweet Potato Noodles, or this Mediterranean Pesto Carrot Pasta.
Alternatively, you can opt for pasta noodles made from grain-free flours. Try this Soba Noodle Salad With Avocado and Mango, these Green Tea Soba Noodles With Roasted Vegetables and Herbs, or this Cold Soba Bowl With Lemon Miso Sauce.
You can also try your hand at this Smoked Tofu and Mushroom Carbonara With Mung Bean Pasta or these Kelp Noodles in Peanut-Miso Sauce.
And there you have it – healthy pasta is a thing now! Which one are you most excited to try? Tell us in the comments!
Lead image source: Anna Shepulova/Shutterstock
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corn is a grain.
Lentil pasta is awesome