Cheesy Lentil Pasta Recipe (+ Video) - Don't Waste the Crumbs (2024)

FAQs

Is lentil pasta actually healthier? ›

First, it shouldn't be surprising that chickpea and lentil pastas are commonly more nutrient-dense than regular pasta. “They have twice as much protein, they have four times more fiber,” Bulsiewicz shared.

Fiber also helps keep you regular, prevent constipation and maintain bowel health. The daily recommendation for men is to consume 30-38g of fiber every day, while women should consume at least 20-25g of fiber. One cup of lentil pasta provides an average of 18g of fiber.

Whole-grain pasta or healthier pasta substitutes (such as chickpea, lentil, or vegetable pasta) are the best pasta dishes for those who have high cholesterol.

Lentil consumption, in particular, consistently lowers acute blood glucose and insulin response when compared to starchy control foods.

Red Lentil Pasta

Per 2-ounce serving, it contains 180 calories, 34g of carbs, 13g of protein, and 6g of fiber.

Lemon juice – a cleansing way to encourage bowel movements is to try taking a glass of water mixed with the juice of half a lemon before bed and when you wake up. You may want to drink with a straw as you could find your teeth becoming sensitive after a regular course of lemon water.

It is good for your bowel – Consuming pasta is also good for the bowel, but watch out for the cooking time! The pasta should always be cooked “al dente”, because the starch is retained in the protein network of gluten and then it is assimilated more slowly, avoiding abdominal bloating.

The starchy water can be used to thin out thicker sauces or to create an emulsion between the sauce and the pasta, giving the dish better flavor and consistency. Always rinse the pasta under cold water to stop the cooking process and to remove excess starch which tend to make the pasta sticky.

And because most lentil varieties don't require soaking, you can make pasta e lenticchie for a wholesome weeknight dinner in less than three-quarters of an hour.

Why does lentil pasta foam? ›

It's the saponins that make legumes foamy. Second, because lentils cook quickly, there's no benefit to cooking them in your electric pressure cooker.

Using lower-fat cheeses – such as mozzarella, feta, cottage cheese or reduced-fat cheeses – will provide less saturated fat.

Whole Wheat Noodles

Whole-wheat pasta is easy to find and bumps up your pasta-night nutrition. Compared to noodles made from white flour, it contains more fiber. Most older people don't eat enough fiber, which is good for our digestion and heart health — and it keeps us feeling full for longer.

Low-fat mozzarella cheese: A one-ounce serving of the part-skim variety has 18 mg of cholesterol and less than 3 g of saturated fat. Nonfat cheddar cheese: It contains 5mg of cholesterol and 0g of saturated fat per one-ounce serving.

At 11 or 12 grams of protein, lentil pasta has roughly double the amount of protein of traditional pasta. "Getting those extra grams of protein through pasta can be helpful for somebody who is vegan or vegetarian," McGiffin said. It's higher in fiber.

We asked the experts. To learn more about the best type of pasta for weight loss, we spoke with Lisa Richards, a nutritionist and creator of the Candida Diet. She said that red lentil pasta is by far the best because it is high in dietary fiber and plant-based protein.

Wholewheat pasta is a better option, thanks to its higher fibre content – this will help to fill you up, support digestive health and lower the risk of the aforementioned conditions.

Key Point: Red lentil pasta arguably provides a better overall nutritional profile than traditional wheat-based pasta options.