Unfortunately, pasta isn’t always a healthy food, especially for those who follow a gluten-free or low-carb diet. Fettuccini, spaghetti, angel hair, linguini, vermicelli…when it comes to delicious pasta, the options are endless and the toppings are delicious. We will contrast zucchini noodles with pasta today, and since we are PlantBasedFAQs, you can probably guess which one we support!
In essence, the main distinction between zucchini noodles and pasta is that the former offer a significantly lower-calorie, gluten-free substitute that is more nutrient-dense. However, they fall short of other pasta substitutes in terms of taste, texture, and consistency.
Does Zucchini Really Make Good Pasta?
The short answer is that, amazingly, our favorite carb-heavy traditional pasta can be substituted with green squash, which is prevalent in summer gardens.
Whether you call it a zucchina, zucchini, or the British English word “courgette,” the fact remains that this nutrient-dense vegetable is delicious. The word “zucchina” originates in Italy, the country where pasta was invented.
Unknown as to their origins, zucchini noodles, or “zoodles,” have seen a sharp increase in popularity over the past ten years.
Today, you can also find zucchini in the fresh-cut vegetable section of many grocery stores, in addition to buying countertop kitchen appliances that make it simple to transform them into long strands of delicious pasta-like goodness. Or, in a pinch, you can create long strips of zucchini using a mandolin slicer or potato peeler to make zucchini noodles the old-fashioned way.
Zucchini Is Both Nutritious and Delicious
For practically any dietary restriction, zucchini noodles are a great substitute. There are only 3 grams of carbohydrates in every cup of cooked zucchini, whether you follow an Atkins, Keto, or low-carb diet. If you follow a low-fat diet, zucchini has 0 grams of fat. 36 grams, to be exact) per cup.
A full cup of zucchini has only 17 calories, so maybe you’re watching your weight, cutting, or just want to save your calories for more alfredo sauce.
While regular pasta like spaghetti is low fat (1. In addition to being high in fat (3g per cup), calories (221 per cup), and carbs (43 2 grams per cup. Because of this, it’s a bad option for low-calorie and low-carb diets.
The higher protein content of regular pasta should be noted (8 Compared to zucchini noodles, which have 1 gram of protein per cup, this could be advantageous for anyone looking to increase their carbohydrate intake.
When comparing the convenience of eating pasta versus zucchini noodles while adhering to a strict diet, zucchini noodles come out on top!
Zucchini Noodles Are Naturally Gluten-Free
If you consume gluten-free foods, you are aware of how challenging it can be to find alternatives for your favorite carbohydrates that have a similar flavor and texture profile. Numerous gluten-free breads and pastas are dense, grainy, nutty, and in general unsatisfactory.
You need to give zoodles a try before you completely give up on pasta. In comparison to gluten-free pasta alternatives, zucchini noodles are a much better option.
They are naturally gluten-free and lack any peculiar or strange flavors or textures. Actually, the texture of zucchini noodles is very similar to that of “regular” pasta, which is why they have gained so much popularity recently.
No Need to Enrich These Noodles
Another difference between zucchini noodles and traditional pasta is that while traditional pasta is frequently fortified with a blend of additional vitamins and minerals, zucchini doesn’t require this because it already has a lot of vitamins and minerals “built-in” as a vegetable. ”.
Most impressively, one serving of zucchini has 40% of your daily recommended intake of vitamin A, which is necessary for healthy immunity, vision, and reproduction. Additionally, there are relatively high concentrations of vitamin K, folate, copper, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, manganese, folate, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and thiamine.
Did You Know Noodles Could Be Hydrating?
Well, zucchini noodles, that is. These noodles can be low-carb, low-fat, and still have a powerful nutritional punch because zucchini is 95% water. You can improve your daily hydration status by including foods with a high water content in your diet.
This makes zucchini noodles a fantastic option, particularly following exercise or on a hot day.
Zucchini Noodles Are Super Easy To Eat
There is no shortage of ways to eat zucchini noodles.
You can still make a tasty summer salad with zucchini noodles if you don’t have time to cook them.
Making a stir-fry? No need to prepare the noodles in advance; simply prepare the sauce, sauté any vegetables, and then add the “zoodles” just before serving, cooking them for a brief period of time until they are heated through and still have some bite.
If you’re pressed for time or don’t want to boil water, you can quickly microwave zucchini noodles. You can prepare your toppings in a microwave-safe bowl in just one minute.
If you’re trying to make lasagna but don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen, zucchini noodles will help you get your lasagna in the oven more quickly.
Zucchini Noodles VS Pasta: Who Wins?
Let’s compare the nutritional value of the two.
A single 1-cup serving of zucchini noodles contains:
By comparison, a single 1-cup serving of dry spaghetti contains:
As you can see, zucchini noodles are much lower in calories than regular pasta noodles. This is because, in contrast to regular pasta, which is made from starchy grains that are more calorically dense, zucchini noodles are made from a vegetable. As a result, zucchini noodles are a superior substitute for anyone trying to cut calories and/or adhere to a low-carb (or “ketogenic”) diet.
Though nothing could ever fully replace the delicious guilty pleasure that is “regular” pasta, I don’t think it’s too difficult to predict which competitor will prevail in this hypothetical pasta competition.
While occasionally indulging in a bowl of deliciously carb-heavy food is acceptable, zucchini noodles are a great substitute for real pasta most of the time.
Low calorie, low carb, naturally gluten-free, simple to prepare, simple to consume, similar in flavor and texture to the “real thing,” and high in nutritional value make zucchini noodles suitable for almost any restricted diet. Whatever way you cut it, zucchini noodles are a respectable substitute for pasta.
A Few Zucchini Noodle Tips
When buying zucchini to make your own noodles, make sure it is firm and has glossy skin. (Avoid purchasing zucchini that is rubbery, flexible, soft, or that is beginning to turn brown. ).
Before making your noodles, don’t bother peeling because the skin contains many nutrients and has no flavor-altering properties.
It is advised to salt your freshly made noodles after placing them in a colander to remove excess moisture, resulting in a much firmer noodle. Zucchini noodles shouldn’t be frozen because they will thaw into a mushy mess.
Your noodles will keep in the fridge for 3–4 days after you’ve made them.
FAQ
Are zucchini noodles high in carbs?
When compared to two cups of zucchini zoodles, which have 66 calories, 12 grams of carbs, and 4 grams of fiber, two cups of pasta has 480 calories, 90 grams of carbs, and 2 grams of fiber. It seems like a no-brainer, doesn’t it? Well, it is if you use the proper ingredients and sauce.
How many carbs are in Spiralized zucchini?
Zoodles (zucchini noodles) made from a small zucchini have 20 calories and 4 grams of carbohydrates per serving.
Are zucchini noodles good for weight loss?
Simply substituting zucchini noodles for pasta once a week can help you lose over 2 pounds over the course of a year, and making them frequently can result in even more weight loss. By reducing the need for insulin, this habit can be especially beneficial for people with diabetes or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Is zucchini OK for keto diet?
Zucchini is one of the top vegetables that can be consumed while on the keto diet, so yes, you can.