Health

7 Fast Pasta Dinners You Can Make With 5 or Fewer Ingredients

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Pasta is the king of carb comfort foods, not to mention convenient, fast and easy to prepare, and affordable. No wonder the average American consumes 20 pounds of the stuff each year, according to the National Pasta Association.

But pasta has never been considered particularly healthy, and a lot of it isn’t. This can be due to the sauce it’s served with, portion sizes, or the noodles themselves.

Traditionally, pasta noodles have been one of those refined white carbs you’re always hearing you should avoid. Most varieties are made from a flour called semolina, which has more protein than all-purpose flour, but lacks the fiber and other nutrients found in whole grains, notes Tufts Food Lab. Often, these nutrients are added back in, which is why pasta may be labeled “enriched.”

A 1 cup serving of cooked spaghetti contains 169 calories, 34 grams (g) of carbs, 1 g of dietary fiber and 6 g of protein, per the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

 Not awful, but hardly a nutritionally balanced meal.

Pasta lovers shouldn’t despair, however: One review that looked at pasta consumption and body weight concluded that the available observational and limited clinical data suggest that pasta does not contribute to weight gain within the context of a healthy diet.

And there are plenty of easy ways to make any pasta meal healthier. One option is to start with a pasta variety made from whole grains, chickpeas, lentils, or other nutrient-dense ingredients. Many of these products have the added benefit of being friendly to individuals with a gluten intolerance or other food intolerances, allowing them to enjoy a pasta meal.

Then, choose a sauce that won’t drown your noodles in saturated fat. Instead of a cream or butter base, go with olive oil, pesto, or a tomato-based sauce. These deliver heart-healthy fats or a serving of vegetables. Pasta can be a great way to add vegetables to a meal, either by pureeing them and adding them to the sauce or tossing them on top of your noodles for extra flavor and fiber. You’ll also want to include a source of lean protein, such as beans, skinless chicken, or shrimp.

It’s easy to overserve pasta, so make sure you’re sticking to about 1 cup cooked, or about the size of a fist or a baseball. Then enjoy — in moderation. Past research has found that pasta eaters have improved nutrient intakes of dietary fiber, folate, iron, magnesium, and vitamin E compared with non-pasta-eaters.

The following seven healthy pasta recipes are heavy on nutrients but light on ingredients, with just five or fewer each (not counting extra-virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper), which means a satisfying, comforting meal is that much easier and faster to make.

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