

It also smells different in that it actually has a smell, sort of like artichoke or vegetable essence. There are no other ingredients listed on the label, so I have to assume it’s residual from the heart of palm itself. The noodles are a bit mangy looking and come in a sealed plastic bag with some liquid in it as well. Of everything we tasted, this type of pasta alternative looks the most different from traditional pasta once out of the package. Mcgrane recommends pairing it with nutritionally-rich ingredients, ideally ones that provide protein and healthy fats. We tried this Trader Joe’s brand as well as Natural Haven Hearts of Palm Pasta, and they were identical in taste and texture with nearly identical nutritional profiles.ĭespite being a vegetable, it doesn’t provide much nutritionally speaking. With only one ingredient that’s also a vegetable, this is an attractive option for those hoping to eat fewer calories and carbohydrates. The TLDR: Very spongey texture that’s not similar to regular noodles, but can be a good option for weight loss as long as it’s paired with healthy fats and protein. Price: $$$ per serving through Amazon, $$ in store.Mcgrane also recommends eating it with an ingredient that adds fiber, since this only contains 1 gram of dietary fiber. If you’re cooking for a crowd or large family, you’d likely need to use more boxes than you would with regular spaghetti. I found that after cooking this pasta, it does cook down quite a bit - not unlike the way a massive amount of spinach looks like much less once cooked. It’s also made with organic rice and amaranth. Worth noting: it’s not made of quinoa only. If you could care less about carbs and simply need a reliable gluten-free noodle, this one should do the trick. So, if you’re avoiding carbs for a strict reason, this might not be the best option. This quinoa swap product contains 5 grams, 45 grams, and 210 respectively. Our market nutrition editor here at Healthline, Kelli Mcgrane, MS, RD, pointed out it also has a similar nutrient profile to wheat-based pasta in terms of calories, carbs, and protein.įor example, 2 oz of dry traditional spaghetti noodles by Barilla has 7 grams of protein, 42 grams of carbohydrates, and 200 calories. If someone had served it to me blind, I don’t think I would have known it wasn’t a traditional pasta noodle. Taste wise, this pasta alternative actually lives up. The TLDR: By far the closest comparison to the taste of real noodles of everything we tried, but the nutrition label reflects that in carbs and calories.

Ingredients: organic rice, quinoa, and amaranth.O Organics Black Bean Penne | Skip to review.O Organics Green Lentil Fusilli | Skip to review.Barilla’s red lentil pasta | Skip to review.O Organics Red Lentil Penne | Skip to review.Jovial Cassava Grain-Free Spaghetti | Skip to review.VeggieCraft Zuchinni Penne | Skip to review.Trader Joe’s Organic Brown Rice Quinoa and Fusilli | Skip to review.Tinyada Brown Rice Spirals | Skip to review.Jovial Organic Brown Rice Spaghetti | Skip to review.Jovial Organic Brown Rice Penne | Skip to review.Banza Chickpea Spaghetti | Skip to review.Natural Haven hearts of Palm Spaghetti Noodles | Skip to review.Trader Joe’s Hearts of Palm Pasta | Skip to review.Now Foods Organic Quinoa Spaghetti | Skip to review.And many of these products foam up quite a bit more when boiling - some leave behind a bit of a film around the edges of the pot. It’s hard to avoid altogether, but some products get close. First, most of the pasta alternatives have a more grainy taste and texture than regular pasta noodles. But most are gluten-free, some grain free, and some just plain interesting.īefore we dive in, there were a couple universal truths I discovered. And many of them don’t actually cut carbs or calories if that’s your goal. I also spoke with one of our nutrition editors and dietitians (Hi Kelli!) to determine how these might actually fit into one’s diet.īelieve it or not, you could be missing out on some nutritional value by eating some pasta alternatives if not paired with the right ingredients. Me, too.ĭo those really taste any good? Could that possibly compare to real pasta? I set out to find out, taste testing all the types of pasta alternatives I could get my hands on. Whether it’s because you’re avoiding gluten, trying to reduce your risk of developing diabetes, or just generally want to level out your carb intake, you’ve likely wondered about the packaged pasta alternatives you see cropping up in grocery stores near your go-to spaghetti grab.
