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Hungry Girl Today: 01.04.07
WEEKLY WEIGH-IN
It's National Spaghetti Day! But before you start boiling up that starchy stuff,
check out these insanely low-cal spaghetti swaps!
Sure pasta tastes good. But spaghetti has 200 calories and 40 carbs in every
cup! So if you have trouble keeping portion sizes down or want to avoid
super-starchy stuff, you may be in the market for some swaps. If that's the
case, check out HG's picks...
Spaghetti Squash
(1 cup: 40 calories, <0.5g fat, 30mg sodium, 10g carbs, 2g fiber, 4g sugars,
1g protein = 0 Points!)
How it Stacks Up to the Real Thing: Spaghetti squash is a decent swap for
spaghetti. It's got the same stringy texture, it's got some fiber, and it works
pretty well in most recipes! It's got a nutty taste to it, which can be good or
bad, depending on your taste buds. But you should know that squash is a
vegetable (technically it may be a fruit, but it is considered a vegetable in the
cooking world), not a noodle. So don't expect this stuff to taste exactly like a
bowl of pasta. It won't.
Prep Tips: Baking these in the oven can take FOREVER, but they microwave
in minutes! Cut your squash into quarters and remove the seeds. (HG Tip:
If you can't cut into the squash easily, microwave it for 45 seconds to soften
the skin.) Pour a 1/4-cup of water into a large microwavable dish, place the
squash cut-side down, and cover with plastic wrap. Then just microwave for
7 - 10 minutes, allow to cool for a few minutes, and scrape out all that
spaghetti-ish fun!
Works Best in: Soooo many things! Add fat-free tomato sauce and cooked
mushrooms and peppers, and then top with a little reduced fat grated
parmesan for a perfect pasta-y dish! Or, refrigerate cooked spaghetti
squash until cool; then add fresh peppers, corn niblets and peas and drizzle it
with some fat-free Italian dressing for a zesty cold "pasta" salad!
Tofu Shirataki Noodles
(4 oz.: 20 calories, 0.5g fat, 15mg sodium, 3g carbs, 2g fiber, 0g sugars, 1g
protein = 0 Points!)
How They Stack Up to the Real Thing: Did you think we would have a
spaghetti swap email and NOT talk about Tofu Shirataki noodles? Sure they
come floating in weird lime water and some people think they smell funny,
but once you learn how to work with 'em, the possibilities are endless. These
low-calorie, low-fat, low-everything noodles are really versatile -- they pretty
much take on the taste of whatever you mix 'em with. They're very noodle-
y but are a bit slimier than the real thing. But we say these noodles are
definitely the best pasta swap out there. Remember, you can have 20 times
as much Tofu Shirataki for the same number of calories as spaghetti (see the
Extra segment as a reminder!).
Prep Tips: Rinse these noodles well and pat them VERY dry. Use a hairdryer
if you have to -- just get these noodles dry (and they'll be pretty, too!).
Tossing them in a pan stovetop for just long enough to dry 'em is a good
trick; just don't leave 'em on too long, or they'll become rubbery. Cutting
them up a bit will also help to make them more manageable (unless you
want to have a Lady and the Tramp moment, in which case, no cutting
necessary). Also, no need for parboiling like the package says -- just
nuke 'em. If you can get these simple tips down, these noodles may very
well change your life.
Work Best in: There's really not much you can't do with these noodles.
We've made spaghetti pies, soups, creamy alfredo dishes, fruity kugelsÂ…
even pancakes out of 'em! These are probably the most multitalented
spaghetti swap on the list, so use 'em anywhere you'd use real pasta!
Kelp Noodles
(4 oz.: 6 calories, 0g fat, 35mg sodium, 1g carbs, 1g fiber, 0g sugars, 0g
protein = 0 Points!)
How They Stack Up to the Real Thing: The obvious pro here is that these are
absurdly low in calories. That being said, kelp noodles are a bitÂ…odd. This
sea-spawn spaghetti swap is a little salty and bitter -- think clear, noodle-
shaped seaweed. And they've got a definite crunch to them. If you can get
past their seaweed-y-ness (or if you like that sort of thing), these are a
fantastic low-cal noodle sub. If not, skip 'em. Trust us.
Prep Tips: They come ready-to-serve, which is a definite plus. But a rinse
and a quick trip to the microwave will rid them a bit of their salty crunch (that
sounds worse than it actually is).
Work Best in: These are good in cold Japanese-style dishes. Slice up some
cucumber and drizzle the dish with rice vinegar. These are also good in
soups like miso and hot 'n sour. If heating these, soy sauce, light teriyaki
and garlic sauces make great marinades. Basically, anything that works with
the salty flavor of these noodles instead of against it.
Bean Sprouts
(1 cup: 25 calories, 0g fat, 10mg sodium, 5g carbs, 1g fiber, 3.5g sugars,
2.5g protein = 0 Points!)
How They Stack Up to the Real Thing: Believe it or not, bean sprouts are an
awesome substitute for spaghetti. They're easy to find, simple to prepare,
and always in season. They don't have a lot of flavor, so be sure to season
and spice 'em up. They can be a bit too crunchy if you don't cook 'em long
enough. And the insides are more watery than starchy. But all in all, they
ROCK!
Prep Tips: Just stir-fry, steam, or boil them until limp. If stir-frying, be sure
to add a little water to the pan and cook over low heat. That'll prevent 'em
from burning.
Work Best in: Asian-inspired entrees. These are a great stand-in for lo mein
noodles. Stir-fry them with your favorite veggies -- green onions,
mushrooms, and broccoli work great -- and finish off with some light teriyaki
sauce. But truthfully, we like 'em best with tomato sauce, mushrooms and a
little reduced fat parmesan. Mmmmmmmm!
*All nutritional info. is for a serving of cooked/ prepared food.
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--
CHEW ON THIS:
Today, January 4th, is National Spaghetti Day. Want more noodle-y fun?
Check out our pasta shockers (if you dare!).
https://www.hungry-girl.com/girls/biteoutdetails.php?isid=930
What's your favorite way to use these spaghetti swaps? Send us your
recipes and we may use them in an upcoming email. If we pick yours, you'll
get an HG surprise! Send emails to recipes@hungry-girl.com
Share these freakishly low-cal swaps with everyone you know. Click "send to
a friend" NOW!
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