One of my very generous clients recently
gave me a huge Costco box of “Explore Asian” Edamame Spaghetti for me to try.
She and others had been telling me about it and when I looked at the nutrition
information I quickly gave my stamp of approval since the only ingredient is organic
edamame. However, I had never personally tried it up until last week.
Previously I had made the Explore Asian black bean spaghetti for my family and
friends, which I have to say did not go over too well due to the fact it seemed
dry, tasteless, and was not an adequate substitute for pasta at all. In defense
of the black bean spaghetti, the nutritionals on it are exceptional since it is
only made from black beans.
I was blown away by the quality of
the Edamame spaghetti. For being a nutrient powerhouse, it actually does make
for a good substitute for pasta in terms of texture and appearance.
Calorie-wise, it is very comparable to eating regular spaghetti, at about 210
calories for 2 oz. However, nutrient-wise regular semolina pasta doesn’t even
come close. The edamame spaghetti has a
whopping 24 grams of high-quality protein (compared to 6-8 g of low biological
value protein found in semolina/regular spaghetti) and 11 grams of fiber
(compared to the pathetic 2 grams in the white grain form). Additionally, you
get 30% of your daily value of iron, some Vitamin A, C, and Calcium with the
edamame version, not to mention the healthy isoflavones attributed with soy. These
isoflavones exhibit antioxidant properties which have shown extremely
beneficial for lowering cholesterol and have shown to help
prevent many illnesses and may help ease menopause symptoms. For more info on
soy, please refer to my previous blog on the subject.
Ever since I tried this edamame
pasta, I have been recommending it to almost all of my clients as a great way
to feel like they are eating something indulgent, while actually being very
good for you. This “pasta” is especially good for my vegetarian clients or
those that don’t eat much lean protein since the spaghetti is going to be your protein
source for the meal. Additionally, since it is made from nothing but soybeans,
it is good for those on a gluten-free diet.
Another benefit of this “pasta” is it
takes about five minutes to cook, so it can be a very quick and healthy meal.
So, I have been recommending people make a big bowl of spaghetti primavera with
tons of veggies and up to a cup of the edamame spaghetti. I have enjoyed the
edamame spaghetti this way, but I think it works well as cold or hot sesame
noodles too, below is how I have made it:
Kelly’s Sesame Edamame Noodles
Makes 1 serving*
Ingredients:
1 oz edamame spaghetti (~ ½ c cooked)
1 tsp sesame oil
2 tsp light soy sauce
½ tsp honey
2 tsp sesame seeds
Directions:
1. Bring 2 cups water to a boil- add
edamame spaghetti and simmer for 4 minutes
2. Heat oil, soy sauce, and honey in
pan, add cooked edamame spaghetti
3. Top with sesame seeds and add to big
bowl of stir-fried veggies for a very low-calorie and healthy meal!
* Note: Recipe can be increased to
make more servings. For my clients looking for a “complete” meal according to
my standards, I recommend adding your proper portion of 100% buckwheat soba
noodles.
Nutrition info w/o added veggies: 175 calories, 7 g fat (3 g MUFA, 3 g PUFA), 15 g carb, 6 g
fiber, 13 g protein (calculated using Diet Master Pro software)
DISCLAIMER: I
did not receive any form of compensation or incentive to write this post
advocating the consumption of Explore Asian products- I simply believe in and
recommend this specific product. :-)
No comments:
Post a Comment