Carbs are necessary to your daily nutritional intake, but most people tend to overdo them – and with good reason. After all, they are delicious and can be filling in certain instances. While you might consider yourself a lover of potatoes or even pasta, it’s important to not give into this macronutrient for every single meal. However, you can still enjoy hearty, carb-rich foods – just in a different way. Those pasta lovers, for example, can make vegetable-based noodles. Made with chopped veggies of your choice, this pasta substitute is delectable and hearty. To get started, check out the following tips below.
Zucchini and cucumbers are great choices for first-timers. These veggies can be spiralized and then cooked similar to angel hair pasta. Cook until barely tender, 1 to 2 minutes, then drain. Spaghetti squash is another great vegetable noodle option. Once cooked, its flesh is easily separated into strands that look and act almost like spaghetti pasta.
Other starchy vegetables like butternut squash and sweet potatoes also make great subs for spaghetti. Spiralize them and cook them until tender. Try them another way by pulsing them into a mash similar to grits. Simmer with a cheesy sauce, toss with sautéed vegetables, or top with cooked shrimp.
Finally, eggplant makes an excellent substitute for lasagna noodles. Slice them lengthwise, so each slice resembles a thin plank. Pan sear until softened if enjoying immediately. If placed into a casserole or baking dish, like lasagna, salt the slices to eliminate any excess moisture, let dry, and layer them in as usual.
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