Noodle Power! Three Healthy Pasta Recipes

Holy macaroni, October is National Pasta Month! That makes me want to turn cartwheels for saucy wagon wheels and do extra kettle bells for stuffed shells!  Even though statistics from the National Pasta Association show that, on average, American families eat pasta seven times a month, athletes and folks watching their weight often avoid pasta in all shapes and sizes, shamed by the bad carb rap it sometimes gets. True, pasta made with highly-processed, refined white flour isn’t the best thing for your body. The outer shell of the grain is stripped, removing important fiber minerals and vitamins. In addition, many people can’t tolerate wheat and gluten foods at all. The good news is that you can still celebrate Pasta Month thanks to a cornucopia of healthier pastas and pasta alternatives.

Turning cartwheels for healthy pasta!

Turning cartwheels for healthy pasta!

Since we don’t have any food allergies or intolerances in my family, whole grain pasta is a go-to choice for my recipes – it has lots of fiber and vitamin B. These days it seems like you can get nearly every pasta type from bow tie to ziti in a whole grain option.  Rice noodles and bean-based noodles are good substitutes for folks on a gluten-free diet as are buckwheat noodles (aka Soba noodles) which actually aren’t wheat at all – technically buckwheat is the fruit of a plant called Fagopyrum esculentum. Other ideas for alternative pasta includes spaghetti squash, zucchini ribbons, shredded cabbage and the famous yet strange shirataki pasta noodles made from a soluble fiber called “glucomannan.”  These three recipes use whole-grain pasta, but feel free to use what works best in your diet.

jennifer fisher thefitfork.com taco bake med

Lightened Beef Taco Pasta Bake

  • 1 lb. 93% lean ground beef
  • 1 ¼ oz packet reduced-sodium taco seasoning
  • 1 15-oz can tomato sauce
  • 1 cup frozen or fresh corn kernals
  • 3 cups uncooked whole grain elbow macaroni
  • 2/3 cup reduced-fat Ranch dip
  • ½ cup salsa
  • 1 cup shredded 2% cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup crushed tortilla chips
  • 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
  • Garnish: grape tomatoes

Preheat oven to 350 F degree oven.

Brown beef in skillet over medium heat; drain. Stir in taco seasoning, tomato sauce and corn. Bring mixture to a boil; remove from heat.

Meanwhile, cook pasta according to manufacturer’s directions. Drain. In large bowl, mix together cooked pasta, ranch dip, salsa, and ½ cup of cheese.

Spoon macaroni mixture into a 9”x13” baking dish. Top with beef mixture and sprinkle with remaining cheese.  Sprinkle on tortilla ships and cilantro.

Bake at 350 F degrees uncovered for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbling. Garnish with grape tomatoes.

Serves 6.

 

Lemon Citrus Shrimp & Spaghetti Recipe

Lemon Citrus Shrimp & Spaghetti was a huge hit with my husband. Tart but not too sour, this healthy pasta recipe is the perfect way add some light, fresh flavors to your fall menu. If you don’t want to go outside to grill the shrimp, they are easy to roast in the oven. Or, why complicate things? Just buy them pre-cooked at the chef-prepared fresh-food counter at your market.

jennifer fisher - thefitfork.com - lemon citrus spaghetti shrimp

 

Thai Chicken Peanut Pasta Recipe

This Thai Chicken Peanut Pasta Recipe is a go-to recipe when I’m in a hurry to make a weeknight dinner. Ground chicken breast cooks up in a snap and for convenience I use packaged matchstick carrots unless I already have a stash prepped earlier in the week for salads. The sauce is simple to make and includes peanut butter and Sriracha. We never have leftovers!

jennifer fisher thefitfork thai chicken peanut pasta

 

 

Saturated with Flavor | Lime, Cilantro & Feta Compound Butter {Healthy Surprise}

Eating healthy is a priority to me, but give up butter? No way! Actually, a bit of butter in the diet isn’t bad at all in my book. Traditional saturated fats, such as those coming straight from animals and plants that are not “processed,” are essential for many functions of the body. These fats help cell membrane structure and integrity while preventing oxitave damage; are a vital source of fat-soluble vitamins such as A,D, and K; aid in strong bone development; and help the brain and nervous system. Research has also shown that saturated fats are actually good for hearth health because they lower a substance called Lp(a), while increasing good cholesterol (HDL).

jennifer fisher litehouse cilantro lime feta butter toasts

So, one way I like to maximize the flavor power of butter is by mixing it up with delicious ingredients. These compound butters are so quick and easy to make, there is absolutely no cooking involved. Just mash together room temperature butter with any number of herbs, spices or aromatic liquids – you can even get creative with cheeses or finely chopped nuts. Store compound butters in the freezer and pull out a bit to when needed to add flavor to sauces, meats, toasted bread or pastas. Is your mind churning with all the possibility? The uses are virtually unlimited.

Try out my recipe for Cilantro, Lime & Feta Compound Butter that is featured today at the Litehouse Living Blog.  This compound butter adds a tangy touch to everything from grilled corn and sourdough toasts. I also added a few tablespoons for a quick and simple sauce for a shrimp pasta sauté I made with fresh-frozen corn, tomatoes and zucchini I had stashed in the freezer.

jennifer fisher litehouse cilantro lime feta butter on shrimp

Don’t forget to visit the Litehouse Living Blog for the full recipe and lots of fresh, healthy ideas

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So Zesty! Lemon Citrus Spaghetti and Shrimp Recipe

jennifer fisher - thefitfork.com - lemon citrus spaghetti shrimpLemons make me happy. First, they are yellow, which just happens to be my favorite color. They add a little pleasing pucker to drinks and desserts. Lemons are loaded with vitamin C and potassium, and the scent of lemon really lifts my mood.  So, when life hands me lemons, I feel utterly elated. Tonight I used a windfall of this wonderful fruit to create a Lemon Citrus Spaghetti and Shrimp!

Lemon Citrus Spaghetti with Shrimp Recipe

  • 3/4 lb large shrimp, peeled but with tails intact
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 4 ounces whole wheat spaghetti
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1/2 cup white wine
  • 4 clementines, peeled and sectioned
  • 1 lemon, sliced thinly
  • 1 lemon (zested and juiced)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
  • Sea salt, to taste

 

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Place the shrimp on a sheet pan with olive oil, salt, and pepper.  Toss well, spread them in 1 layer, and roast for 6 to 8 minutes, just until pink and cooked through.


Meanwhile, drizzle some olive oil in a large pot of boiling salted water, add the pasta, and cook al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Slice one lemon very thinly. Zest the other lemon, gathering about 1 tablespoon. Squeeze the juice from the zested lemon. Peel and section clementines.

citrus lemons clementines

Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, stirring for 1 minute or until fragrant. Add wine, clementine sections, zest from 1 lemon (about 1 tablespoon), juice from 1 lemon, and lemon slices. Bring to a light boil and cook for several minutes until ingredients are heated through and alcohol in wine is cooked off.

While still hot, add shrimp and pasta to the skillet and toss.  Season with sea salt to taste and garnish with chopped fresh parsley.

Serves 2.

lemon citrus spaghetti with shrimp nutrition