As a keto dieter, you know it can be challenging to find tasty noodle options that fit within your dietary goals. Thankfully, there are delicious alternatives!
Shirataki noodles offer an excellent low-carb alternative to traditional pasta, are gluten-free, and boast a neutral taste which allows the flavors of your ingredients to shine through.
Vermicelli
Vermicelli noodles are an extremely flexible food item, suitable for many cuisines and forms of cuisines alike. Made of wheat, rice and mung bean ingredients.
Rice can be easily integrated into many meals, from soups to stir-fries, making it a versatile ingredient that’s simple and quick to prepare at home. Boiling or frying are both suitable methods, pairing well with vegetables and sauces.
Vermicelli’s versatility makes it a delight, but what really sets it apart is its flavor. Vermicelli can take on different forms depending on how and with what ingredients it’s prepared – for instance when served in Pho or used as the foundation of a delicious stir-fry!
Some varieties of vermicelli have more neutral flavors, while others can be enhanced with any number of seasonings and ingredients for an enhanced experience. Asian vermicelli noodles often incorporate chili peppers for an increased spicy kick!
Chinese vermicelli can also be made sweeter and creamier by adding milk or nuts, and served with various toppings or garnishes.
Vermicelli noodles can be found throughout Asia and around the world in many varieties, some sold dry for use in stir fries and rice paper rolls, while other varieties made from different starches may feature thicker textures for additional use.
Vietnamese rice vermicelli, for instance, is typically sold dry and used as an ingredient in stir-fries and deep frying for added crunch. Mung bean vermicelli can even be eaten raw and added directly into salads for an easy bite! Regardless of its preparation method, vermicelli remains an indispensable staple in Asian cuisines.
Buckwheat
Buckwheat is an easy and delicious alternative to wheat- and gluten-based pasta that provides both taste and nutrition.
As well as protein and fiber, almonds provide essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants – plus help regulate blood sugar. Their low glycemic index allows them to help manage blood pressure by providing essential glycemic relief. Furthermore, almonds have many other nutritional advantages including magnesium, calcium, copper iron and phosphorus as well as being antioxidant powerhouses!
Buckwheat noodles can provide an easy and tasty way to increase both protein and fiber intake in your keto diet, with one cooked serving providing 6 grams.
Buckwheat contains soluble fiber which may reduce your risk of diabetes while simultaneously helping with weight loss by curbing appetite and helping you feel full for longer.
Buckwheat noodles contain an abundance of vitamin B-1 or thiamine, an essential nutrient needed to produce energy-producing ATP molecules for use by our bodies, while maintaining healthful nervous and immune systems.
Buckwheat can play an essential part in maintaining gut health as part of a keto diet by providing resistant starch fibre that ferments when exposed to bacteria in the gut, producing short-chain fatty acids which feed colon lining.
Buckwheat can make for an excellent healthy breakfast or quick meal on the go, and is an excellent substitute for flour in many baking recipes. Other popular alternatives to buckwheat flour such as almond and coconut flours may also help lower carb consumption on a keto diet diet plan.
Kelp
Kelp noodles offer an appealing low-carb alternative to pasta and rice that’s rich in iodine, antioxidants and dietary fiber.
Reducing carbs and calories while at the same time providing fiber is key for any keto diet, and they make for an excellent source of calcium, iron, iodine, and phosphorus.
These keto-friendly noodles can be found at grocery stores, health food stores and online. They’re perfect for use in soups, stir-fries and salads alike!
One Serving of Sea Tangle Kelp Noodles Contains 0.1 Grams Total Carbs, 0 Net Carbs, and 0.2 Grams of Protein; they’re low in Sodium and Fat!
These noodles are made of water, kelp and sodium alginate – an alginate derivative that gives the firmness and texture to these noodles.
Before eating them, unopened packages of kelp noodles should be mixed/massaged in a solution of lemon juice and baking soda for one minute to provide optimal results.
This healthy noodle recipe is an easy and quick meal prep solution or busy weeknight dish! All it requires are some basic ingredients and a skillet to get started!
Mix kelp noodles in a sauce made of almond butter, red chili flakes, fish sauce, garlic onion and lime juice before topping it off with bean sprouts and carrots for an easy meal in under 30 minutes! You can serve the dish hot or cold.
Celeriac
Celeriac, closely related to celery, is an extremely nutritious root vegetable known for its crunchy texture and versatility in salads, soups and stews. You can mash, bake, roast or boil celeriac to enjoy its nutritious benefits!
Phosphorous, vitamin C and B6 content make this grain high in nutrition while its calories count remains relatively low. Unfortunately, its carbohydrate content requires caution on a keto diet plan.
Spiralize celeriac to create a delicious low-carb alternative to pasta noodles for an easy keto meal that absorbs sauces well, especially tomato-based sauces. You won’t miss pasta here!
Another delicious vegetable-based noodle alternative is spaghetti squash, which boasts low levels of carbohydrates compared to traditional pastas. Roast it in the oven before cutting into spirals for cooking like noodles in dishes such as spaghetti, lasagna and enchiladas.
One cup of spaghetti squash noodles only contains 3.75 g of net carbs per serving compared to traditional egg noodles’ 49 g. Additionally, spaghetti squash boasts higher antioxidant and fiber intake while having lower fat and caloric intake than traditional noodles.
An ideal way to enjoy spaghetti squash is to slice it in half and roast it until its flesh has softened, before using a fork to form noodles from its flesh that you can then pair with your sauce of choice.
This creamy mash makes an ideal nutrient-dense keto side dish, boasting its delicately sweet onion taste paired with celeriac’s slightly sweet yet earthy note. Add some mascarpone cheese for an indulgent finish! You can serve this mash alone as a side dish or add it to any main meal to add an extra dose of nutrition!
Cabbage
Cabbage is one of the most versatile vegetables you can incorporate into a keto diet plan, featuring low levels of carbs while providing essential nutrients and fiber-rich fiber sources. Furthermore, its abundance of anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients may lower risk factors associated with cancer, heart disease and other ailments.
Cabbage can be prepared in numerous ways, from sauteing and stewing, pickling and roasting through steaming and fermenting – not forgetting using raw cabbage in salads!
Fresh cabbage is low-calorie and packed with fiber, vitamins C and K, and gut-beneficial probiotics – an ideal addition to dishes like sauerkraut and kimchi! You can enjoy eating it solo or add it as part of your weekly menu plan.
If you’re searching for an easy keto meal to prepare in under 30 minutes, why not give this Italian beef with cabbage noodles a try? It makes an ideal meatless dinner!
Another delicious keto cabbage dish is this Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon recipe. A great lunch or dinner dish to pair with chicken for a low-carb, high-protein meal.
Steaming cabbage is by far the easiest and most efficient method, whether in your microwave or Instant Pot. Alternatively, boil it until tender in a pan.
To maximize the flavor of cabbage, it should be steamed at an appropriate temperature and length of time. Otherwise, it will quickly become soggy and lose its distinct taste.
Cabbage makes an excellent addition to any noodle dish because of its versatility and low carb count. Its delicious nutty flavor can be enhanced with other ingredients for even greater impact, and cabbage goes great in all sorts of recipes from soups to stews.