Pantry Archives – Choosing Nutrition

Pasta, a popular dinner dish including a staple Italian Cuisine and is accompanied by some type of sauce. Originally pasta eaten plain with no sauce and it wasn’t until the1700s that tomato sauce was added to make this classic dish. A lot of articles recommend cooking pasta to an Al dente texture as it will take longer to digest making you feel fuller longer compared to overcooked pasta. Pasta gets is yellow color from Durum Wheat and provides a nutty flavor and the ability to retain the pasta’s shape and durability when cooked. These top 4 vegan pasta brands include traditional pasta, as well as healthier and lower in carbohydrates alternatives. Barilla Gluten Free Penne De Cecco Spaghetti Colavita Elbow Pasta (Macaroni) Garofalo Fettucce As you read on, you will learn about the history of plant-based pasta, the top vegan traditional pasta brands, as well as healthier alternatives. Let's dig in! Is Pasta Vegan? Most pasta brands including spaghetti is 100 percent vegan. Sometimes, eggs are listed on the ingredient list, so avoid those brands. There are two types of pasta: Fresh Pasta referred to as Pasta Fresca has a delicate texture Dried Pasta referred to as Pasta Secca has a firm texture Most dried pastas brands have two ingredients, semolina flour and water, and this keeps the pasta vegan. Most fresh pastas are made with eggs and are not vegan. The standard dried pasta is literally a paste of flour and water. Which is why the word pasta comes from the Italian word for "paste." History of plant-based pasta Many Asian cultures have been known for its history of pasta and they mostly have plant-based noodles: popular vegan options are udon noodles and soba noodles. Asian noodles are made from a far wider variety of plant sources but some are not vegan such as ramen noodles and egg noodles. Rice noodles are another great vegan option that is also gluten free and rice noodles are the main ingredient noodle in Pad Thai. Asian noodles can offer additional vegan pasta options and are great in Asian broths and soups, as well as stir-fry dishes. Variety of Pasta Types There are approximately 600 varieties of pasta, 350 shapes of pasta and it's estimated that there are about four times as many names as there are shapes. Italian pasta provides specific names based on the shapes of the pasta such as Farfalle Meaning “Butterfly” Vermicelli Meaning “Little Worms” Linguini Meaning “Little Tongues” Orecchiette Meaning “Little Ears” The pasta shape determines the pairing sauce. For example, simple shapes are paired with thin sauces and complex shapes are paired with thick sauces. The three most popular shapes of pasta are spaghetti, macaroni and penne. Spaghetti gets its name from the Italian word spaghi, and means "lengths of cord." Spaghetti originated from the south of Italy and is often topped with tomato sauces, fresh vegetables, or fish. What are the top Vegan Pasta brands? This article reviews the ingredients and nutrition of several different Vegan Pasta brands. And we also review several of the best Vegan Pasta Brand alternatives. 1. Barilla Gluten Free Penne Image Credit: Walmart Barilla is the world’s biggest pasta brand and you can find it easily in grocery stores around the world from Italy to the United States. According to the brand itself, it’s the biggest seller of pasta and baked goods in Italy. Just be careful because not all Barilla pasta is vegan, and you should stay clear of their lasagna, most fresh pasta, and certain types of fettuccines. Ingredients: Corn Flour Rice Flour Mono And Diglycerides No Wheat Ingredients Produced On A Dedicated Gluten Free Line. Nutrition Facts (Per 2 oz): 190 Calories 1g Total Fat 0g Saturated Fat 0mg Cholesterol 44g Total Carbohydrates 2g Dietary Fiber 1g Soluble Fiber 0g Sugar 0g Added Sugars 4g Protein 0mg Sodium Allergen Info: Free From: Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Eggs, Milk, Fish, Mollusks, Crustacean, Soy, Wheat, and Gluten 2. De Cecco Spaghetti Image Credit: Walmart De Cecco credits their amazing products to the combination of high-quality semolina flour and fresh spring water available in the region, Fara San Martino Italy. De Cecco also claims the quality of their pasta is produced by slow drying in low temperatures. In fact, De Cecco only carries two kinds of pasta that contain egg, the Egg Fettuccine (no. 103) and Egg Pappardelle (no. 101). The rest of De Cecco’s pastas are vegan. Ingredients: Durum Wheat Semolina Vitamins (Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid) Iron (Ferrous Lactate) Nutrition Facts (Per 2 oz): 200 Calories 1g Total Fat 0g Saturated Fat 0mg Cholesterol 40g Total Carbohydrates 2g Dietary Fiber 0g Sugar 0g Added Sugars 8g Protein 0mg Sodium Allergen Info: Contains Wheat 3. Colavita Elbow Pasta (Macaroni) Image Credit: Colavita USA Colavita is an all-vegan pasta brand that’s sold across the globe. According to Colavita’s website, all of their pasta is made only using durum wheat and spring water, meaning their entire selection is completely vegan. Certified Kosher. Produced using 100% durum wheat and fresh mountain spring water. Ingredients: Semolina (Wheat) Niacin Iron Lactate Thiamin Mononitrate Riboflavin Folic Acid Nutrition Facts (Per ⅓ cup): 210 Calories 1g Total Fat 0g Saturated Fat 0mg Cholesterol 44g Total Carbohydrates 2g Dietary Fiber 7g Sugar 0g Added Sugars 7g Protein 0mg Sodium Allergen Info: Contains Wheat 4. Garofalo Fettucce Image Credit: Super Market Italy Garofalo is a vegan pasta that is an Italian-based pasta brand, and although they have a wide vegan selection, they make a few types with egg. Besides making vegan durum wheat pasta, Garofalo offers whole grain, gluten-free, and certified organic pasta, and all of them are free from eggs and dairy. The only pasta varieties that are not vegan are filled ravioli and tortellini. Ingredients: 100% Durum Wheat Semolina Nutrition Facts (Per 2 oz): 210 Calories 1g Total Fat 0g Saturated Fat 0mg Cholesterol 44g Total Carbohydrates 2g Dietary Fiber 2g Sugar 0g Added Sugars 7g Protein 0mg Sodium Allergen Info: Contains Wheat Alternative Vegan Pasta Options 1. Rummo - Varied Selection Including Gluten-Free and Whole Grain Varied Selection Including Gluten-Free and Whole Grain Organic, GMO free the second-largest selection of vegan pasta after Barilla. It ranges from 7 types of spaghetti and all-vegan potato gnocchi’s to several alternatives made from chickpeas and lentils. They have a few types of egg pasta, most of them fresh, but other than that, this is one of the most vegan-friendly pasta brands available today. Ingredients: Brown Rice Yellow Corn White Corn Rice Potato Starch Mono-and-diglycerides of vegetable origin Nutrition Facts (Per 2 oz): 200 Calories 1g Total Fat 0g Saturated Fat 0mg Cholesterol 44g Total Carbohydrates 0g Dietary Fiber 0g Sugar 0g Added Sugars 4g Protein 0mg Sodium 2. The Only Bean - Organic Edamame Fettuccine Bean Pasta The Only Bean Pasta is a one-ingredient, bean-based noodle! The edamame fettuccine provides 25g of plant protein and 11g of fiber per serving from organic edamame beans. Organic, gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan, kosher. No wheat, no flour, no eggs, no binding agents, or anything else is ever added! 3x the protein, 6x the fiber, and 6x fewer net carbs than regular pasta. Ingredients: Organic Edamame Beans Nutrition Facts (Per 2 oz): 190 Calories 5g Total Fat 5g Saturated Fat 0mg Cholesterol 20g Total Carbohydrates 11g Dietary Fiber 5g Sugar 0g Added Sugars 25g Protein 0mg Sodium 3. Tolerant Foods - Organic Red Lentil Penne Tolerant Foods lentil-based pasta are high in protein and crafted with just one ingredient—red lentils, green lentils, or chickpeas. 25g Plant-Based Protein, 44% Daily Fiber, No Major Allergens. Ingredients: Organic Red Lentil Flour Nutrition Facts (Per 3 oz): 300 Calories 2g Total Fat 0g Saturated Fat 0mg Cholesterol 50g Total Carbohydrates 9g Dietary Fiber 2g Sugar 0g Added Sugars 21g Protein 0mg Sodium 4. Natural Heaven-Angel Hair Hearts of Palm Pasta Natural Heaven pasta is available in three varieties, angel hair, spaghetti, and lasagna and is made with hearts of palm. Natural Heaven’s claims the Angel Hair pasta is made from hearts of palm which helps stabilize blood sugar, supports bone health, promotes digestive health, helps prevent Anemia, aids in weight loss, and helps boost immunity. Low Carb & Gluten Free, only 70 Calories & 2 Net Carbs, Keto & Paleo Friendly and Sugar Free. Ingredients: Heart of Palm Nutrition Facts (Per ½ cup): 25 Calories 0g Total Fat 0g Saturated Fat 0mg Cholesterol 4g Total Carbohydrates 2g Dietary Fiber 0g Sugar 0g Added Sugars 1g Protein 19mg Sodium 5. Thrive Market Wonder Noodles, Shirataki Spinach Fettuccine Image Credit: Thrive Market Used for centuries in Asian cuisine, shirataki noodles are known for soaking up rich flavors in soups and sauces. Made from glucomannan, a starch found in the konjac yam. The spinach fettuccine noodles are free from gluten, fat, grains, and soy. Each serving is only 10 calories! Simply drain, rinse, and top with your favorite sauce. Ingredients: Purified Water Konjac Flour Spinach Powder Calcium Hydroxide Nutrition Facts (Per 3.5 oz): 15 Calories 0g Total Fat 0g Saturated Fat 0mg Cholesterol 0g Total Carbohydrates 3g Dietary Fiber 0g Sugar 0g Added Sugars 0g Protein 5mg Sodium Allergen Info: Manufactured in a facility that also processes soy. 6. Tinkyada Brown Rice Vegetable Pasta Spirals Gluten Free All 18 varieties of Tinkyada products are made using brown rice and water and offered in both organic and non-GMO options. Tinkayda claims their pasta is Al Dente, Not Mushy, Wheat Free, Gluten-Free, and Extra Smooth! Ingredients: Brown Rice Spinach Powder Tomato Powder Carrot Powder (Koshered Certified) Water Nutrition Facts (Per 2 oz): 210 Calories 1g Total Fat 0g Saturated Fat 0mg Cholesterol 45g Total Carbohydrates 2g Dietary Fiber 0g Sugar 0g Added Sugars 5g Protein 10mg Sodium Allergen Info: Free of gluten and wheat. In Conclusion Most packaged pasta brand is 100 percent vegan. Be aware as some brands add eggs or milk and then the pasta is no longer vegan, always double-check the food label especially the section on allergens. Pasta is a staple meal in the United States, Italy and Asian countries. There are hundreds of varieties and names. The shape of the pasta determines the sauce to add to the dish. There is a variety of alternative pastas including gluten free, brown rice, and edamame and whole food including zucchini and sweet potatoes. Related Questions What does Al Dente mean? "To the Tooth" which means firm yet tender when eaten. Best Pasta alternatives that are vegan and paleo-friendly? If you’re trying to follow a vegan and/or paleo diet, you can use a spiralizer and create noodles out of vegetables. Commonly referred to as “zoodles,” include summer or winter squash, and carrots. You can also roast spaghetti squash and just use a fork to remove the squash’s abundant “spaghetti” strands. Related Guides Is Barilla Pasta Vegan Friendly? 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