Easy Veggie "Pasta" ~ Diane's Vintage Zest!

Easy Veggie "Pasta"

Continuing with this month of healthy recipes, I have a fun way to get TONS of veggies into your diet!  It is super easy and quick, which I love on those nights that I don't want to chop a bunch of veggies and wash a boatload of knives/cutting boards/pots/pans/dishes.

There are so many ways to prepare this dish, and I will share a few of my favorite versions.  :)

Here is my "recipe" for easy Veggie "Pasta!"




Disclaimer:  This cannot completely replace or mimic pasta noodles, especially because I am a carbolic.  However, considering the amount of nutrition it packs versus the higher calorie amount in pasta, it is a good swap to make every so once in a while.


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Before I get to the magic ingredient, I should explain a couple of things.  I have a serious pasta addiction.  When I was a child, I brought spaghetti sandwiches in my bag lunch.  Yes, that's two slices of white Wonder bread wrapped around as much spaghetti as I could possibly eat, without it falling apart.  I became REALLY good at making them.  :)

Anyways, I have tried all kinds of pasta substitutes:

  • Spaghetti squash:
    • Texture: a bit crunchy
    • Taste: good, but can be a bit on the watery side
    • Prep time: lots of time needed
  • Shirataki noodles:
    • Texture: can be odd & squishy
    • Taste:  sometimes fishy, depending on the brand
    • Prep: very little!
  • Homemade zucchini noodles
    • Texture: best by far, unless you don't remove the seeds
    • Taste:  awesome!
    • Prep:  a bit of time to use the spiral veggie cutter and more time to cook;  lots of clean-up  :(

So for me, the best of the three is the zucchini noodles, which do take a bit of time.  However, it was my lucky day at the store because I found this on sale.  I fell in love.  :)


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Yes, I do realize that this says Best By: 08/13/13, but I took these pictures about 6 months ago, hence the Blogspot web address.  Yep, I'm juuuust a bit behind with this post!  :)


It's broccoli slaw!  How does this become pasta?  Here's the "recipe."


Veggie "Pasta"
A Vintage Zest original



Ingredients
Broccoli slaw
(Serving options below)


Directions

1.  Place the broccoli slaw on a microwave safe plate.

2.  If desired, you may remove the large pieces of cabbage that will not "feel" like pasta when cooked.


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3.  Steam in the microwave with a bit of water or in a microwave steamer for 4 to 5 minutes, depending on your settings.  I check on mine every 2 minutes, just to see how it is doing and to stir it around.

That's it!


So, how do I serve it?  Any way that I would normally eat pasta!  Here are my favorite topping ideas, which I always have on hand:

  • Pesto
  • Spicy tomato sauce (if I have extra from this lasagna recipe)
  • Sundried tomatoes
  • Cherry tomatoes, sliced
  • Mozzarella cheese
  • Grilled chicken breast (you can see that above)


Then, I just stick it in the microwave again, and it's perfect!  You could always cook this in a pan, but on my lazy days, I love just having one plate to clean at the end of a very healthy dinner.


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What is your favorite no-cook healthy dinner?




29 comments:

  1. Coming at you from Mandy's Tasty Tuesdays: what made you try veggie noodles? I'd love to try to zucchini ones one night...you could do a citrusy pesto...it'd be awesome!

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  2. I'm just always on the lookout for new ways of making old recipes. It's so hard for me to do the same thing over and over again, you know? Thanks so much for visiting and your suggestion. Maybe I'll break out the spiralizer and blog about that too!

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  3. this looks so tasty, I will definately be looking for broccoli slaw at the grocery store next time I am there :)

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  4. Oh...definitely have to give this a try. I need to eat more veges, but I hate all the prep. I love brocoli slaw in salads, so I'll bet I'd love this! ~Deborah

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  5. Awesome! I wasn't sure if it would look crazy in photographs, but I love it! :)

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  6. Definitely! Let me know how you like it! :)

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  7. Looks delicious!

    I would love to have you hop over and share with us at Tell Me About It Tuesday! http://www.sweetsillysara.com/2014/02/tell-me-about-it-tuesday-4.html

    Sara
    sweetsillysara@gmail.com

    http://www.sweetsillysara.com

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  8. This looks wonderful! Thanks for linking up with What's Cookin' Wednesday!

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  9. It's 11:30 at night and you have me craving chicken with veggie pasta! Thanks for sharing at Inspire Us Thursday on Organized 31.

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  10. Hello! I saw your linky on Think Pink Sundays at the Flamingo Toes blog, and thought I’d stop by to say hi! LOVE your blog! Great food photography!

    Gingi at http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com

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  11. Yum! This looks delicious! I can't wait to give it a try this week:)

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  12. I pinned this! It looks so yummy! :)

    Thanks again for linking up this week at the Link Up!

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  13. Oh great! Let me know how you like it. :)

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  14. Wow I am so trying this! I'm a carboholic as well, but I know I need to lay off the carbs every once in a while. So great that you can buy the slaw from the grocery store instead of having to slice and shred them all yourself. Thanks for sharing- following you on google+ and facebook!


    Sandra
    www.notesfromttheslife.com

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  15. I'm not a big fan of the spaghetti squash either - something about the texture. I haven't tried zucchini "noodles" yet, but I think you've talked me into it. AND I'm going to keep my eye out for the broccoli slaw. Thanks for linking up to Gingerly Made!

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  16. Great! Hopefully you'll like it better than the spaghetti squash. :)

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  17. I am pinning this. What a fantastic looking dish!

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  18. Aren't we all trying to reduce our carbohydrate. This is a fantastic idea. Thanks for sharing your veggie pasta with us on foodie friday.

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  19. I love broccoli slaw, but I have only used it raw in salads. I need to try it this way! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Best of the Weekend. Pinned to our party board. :)

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  20. Definitely! If you already love it, then liking this swap will be cake... actually, pasta!

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  21. Love Broccoli Slaw! Great idea!

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I love to hear your comments! And putting in your two cents is always free. :)

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