Healthy pasta dish ideas

[Fedup369]

Hello all, I'm looking for simple suggestions for pasta dishes, when I've tried to google it comes up with things like 5 spice, triple seafood medley pasta on a bed of Cajun pistachios (not really but it's too wordy)

Im quite a simple eater and I'm trying to lose weight, I have a pasta dish that I make a lot and I really enjoy it but I'm looking to branch out slightly and try something else

mine is just wholewheat fusilli
chicken breast
broccoli
and mild cheese sauce

it's really nice but I'm wanting to try other things, I don't do fish but other than that I'm up to try anything

Does it have to be pasta? I think if you're trying to lose weight, pasta is very easy to over-eat calories-wise unless you're very strict about measuring out the portion size.

Anyway if you are wanting to keep eating pasta I'd say doubling the amount of veg and halving the pasta in your portion is also a possibility.

One good trick is instead of making a separate cheese sauce, dip a mug of pasta water out of the pot just before you drain the pasta. Then when you drain the pasta, put it back in the empty pan with a bit of the pasta water and a handful of parmesan cheese and stir like mad to make a lovely glossy sauce.

Combinations we like that are simple:

• Boil pasta, add broccoli to the pasta water halfway through, scoop out a mug of pasta water, drain, put back in the pan, add olive oil, cheese and the pasta water and stir madly so the broccoli starts to break up into a sauce
• Boil pasta, add frozen peas a few mins before the end, put back in pan and add some strips of parma ham or fried up cubes of bacon
• For a no-cook version, cut up fresh tomatoes and put in a bowl with some minced garlic and salt and olive oil while you boil your pasta. Toss the hot pasta with the fresh tomatoes and fresh basil

I think you might like the Jamie Oliver book Ministry of Food? It's an oldie but a goodie and has lots of the kinds of simple family dinners people like that aren't too cheffy. You can see the recipes for the tomato spaghetti and the pea and bacon pasta I mentioned above here: https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/category/books/jamies-ministry-of-food/

Agree pasta is not the greatest for dieting, but I do love this recipe. Really fresh and zingy and I always feel I’ve ate well afterwards: https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/pasta-recipes/gennaro-s-parma-ham-red-pepper-with-taglierini/

i usually just make it with spaghetti as it’s easier to get.

A basic tomato sauce:

Gently fry some crushed garlic in olive oil (don’t let it brown)
Add tinned chopped tomatoes (worth paying a little extra for good quality eg Cirio or Mutti)
Add salt and pepper
Add dried herbs (I use basil or Italian herb mix) - or fresh herbs near the end of cooking
May wish to add a little sugar if the tomatoes are a bit sharp
Simmer to reduce down until the sauce tastes cooked and sweet rather than raw tomato taste

When you cook the pasta, add a little pasta water to the sauce

This sauce can be dressed up in lots of different ways

• add cubes of mozzarella for “pizza pasta”
• add roast or griddled veg
• add fried lardons
• add pine nuts
• add cream or creme fraiche for a creamy tomato sauce
• add seafood (if you like it)

And always serve with parmesan!

I don't only eat pasta, I just fancy it today 😄 I do weigh all my food out and upload it on my nutra check app so I know I'm under my calories

Pasta Primavera is quick and easy, a selection of cooked green vegetables stirred into cooked pasta, Google a recipe for timings if needed.

Other ideas are....
chopped tomatoes and mozzarella stirred into cooked pasta
spaghetti with sardines
spaghetti with lemon

As a healthier alternative but still as satisfying, I thoroughly recommend Tescos Red lentil fusilli, it's packed with protein and low carb, yet feels like eating normal pasta.

Perfect Thankyou!

Miso butter greens pasta is my go to pasta dish.

I use a remoska to make this but a slow cooker or saucepan would do.

Bung in diced chicken with flavourings - I use pesto, bouillon powder and harissa - cook for while till chicken changes colour. Then add in tins of tomatoes and tomato paste. Cook a bit longer. Then add some boiling water and handfulls of pasta. Cook till pasta is how you want it, then serve with veg.

A simple meal in one pot with little washing up.

I make fajita pasta.
Basically chicken, onions, pepper with paprika, cumin, chilli, garlic, ground coriander (add slightly more than you usually use) Add a tin of chopped tomatoes. Mix through pasta. (I increase the spices slightly because the tomatoes dilute the flavour slightly.) Finish with a squeeze of lime juice and fresh coriander.