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You have often heard that when you’re practicing conscious eating, you cannot indulge in pasta dishes. Pasta is often deemed as a guilty pleasure, need not be so. Pasta is not an unhealthy ingredient when it comes to reaching your fitness goals.
Apart from rigorous exercise, you need to follow a diet plan for your fitness regime. However, if you’re bored of the bland and spice-less food of your diet, you can make it interesting by including healthy pasta recipes. There is hardly anyone who doesn’t like the flavour and texture of pasta. With the right ingredients and cooking techniques, you can make your pasta dishes nutritious and satisfying.
Here are some wholesome pasta recipes that will tantalise your tastebuds without making you feel guilty.
- Whole Wheat Pasta Primavera
Opt for whole wheat pasta that is rich in fibre and nutrients. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions till al dente. During this time, saute the colourful vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli in olive oil until crispy yet tender. Add the cooked pasta and toss with the sauteed vegetables. Add a squeeze of lemon juice and sprinkle Parmesan cheese for added flavour. This dish is rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
- Spinach And Ricotta Stuffed Shells
You can choose large pasta shells and cook them until firm yet tender. Take a bowl and add ricotta cheese, chopped spinach, garlic, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stuff the pasta shells with this creamy spinach and cheese mixture. Place the stuffed shells in the baking dish top it with marinara sauce and bake until it is gooey and golden brown. This dish provides a dose of calcium, protein, and iron from spinach and ricotta
- Avocado Pesto Pasta
To make this healthy pasta recipe, all you need to do is blend ripe avocado, fresh basil leaves, garlic, lemon juice, pine nuts, and olive oil until it becomes creamy and vibrant pesto sauce. Cook your pasta until firm yet tender and toss it in the avocado pesto sauce. For an extra source of protein, add cherry tomatoes and grilled chicken. Avocado is considered a nutrient powder house, rich in healthy fats and vitamins.
- Spaghetti With Turkey Meatballs
Instead of the regular beef meatballs, you can opt for lean turkey meatballs to reduce the saturated fat content in the dish. You prepare this, mix ground turkey with breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, garlic, eggs, salt and pepper. Now you can roll the mixture into meatballs and bake them. Cook the spaghetti until al dente and toss with marinara sauce. Top the dish with turkey meatballs for a protein-packed meal.
- Lentil Bolognese Pasta
To make a Bolognese sauce all you need is lentils instead of ground meat. Saute onions, carrots, and celery in olive oil until soft and caramelised. Add the cooked lentils, crushed tomatoes, garlic, dried herbs, and vegetable broth. Simmer the sauce until it reaches a thick and flavourful consistency. Cook your favourite pasta and add the Bolognese sauce. This is also a protein-based meal.
- Quinoa Pasta With Pesto And Roasted Vegetables
You all know that quinoa is healthy and so is its pasta, which is gluten-free and rich in protein and fibre compared to traditional pasta. First and foremost, cook the quinoa pasta till it reaches al dente. Meanwhile, roast a wide array of vegetables like eggplant, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes until caramelised and tender. Toss the quinoa pasta into it and mix homemade basil pesto. The dish is a mix of carbohydrates, protein, and vitamins.
