How to Swap Spiral Cut Vegetables for Pasta

Do you miss pasta on the keto diet? Learn how to swap spiral cut vegetables for pasta. They’re so versatile!

Many people think that when switching to a low carb diet they’ll have to give up most of their absolute favorite foods. Fortunately it’s hardly the case. Typically it only means that you’ll have to be more creative when you prepare your meals.

In fact, did you know that there are so many different low carb swaps you can make traditional carb-filled recipes that will allow you to enjoy your favorite foods like pancakes, pizza, crunchy snacks like chips, French fry alternatives and even pasta! Yes, I said pasta!

For many people on a keto diet, one of the most difficult challenges in eating low carb is the absolute necessity in giving up pasta. Pasta is loaded with tons of carbs, but it’s so easy to swap the pasta you’re used to with spiralized vegetables made with a spiral cutter!

While you can’t consume pasta made from flour when you’re following a keto lifestyle, you can use a vegetable spiralizer to make veggie noodles so you can still indulge in your favorite pasta dishes – only a very low carb healthy version instead.

Many people who have tried using a vegetable spiralizer to make veggie noodles now swear by them and couldn’t live without them. They have become as vital to their kitchen as a chef’s knife or mixing bowl when preparing healthy meals.

The distinct and refreshing taste of meals that incorporate spiral cut vegetables combined with the amazing nutritional nutritional benefits has people like you getting into learning this new healthier way of preparing food.

What Is A Vegetable Spiralizer?

These devices come in a wide variety of models and price ranges. They can be found in different forms, from a hand held spiral vegetable cutter to a machine that you feed the vegetables into that does the work for you.

The name is a bit misleading since these tools are wonderful at creating spiral cut fruits too.

Here are some general tips to help you choose fruits and vegetables to spiralize:

1. Choose fruits and vegetables that are hard, two of the best choices are zucchini and cucumbers.
2. Try to avoid using highly irregular shaped vegetables and fruits. The straighter the sides the better your spiral cut vegetables will turn out.
3. Hollow core vegetables cannot be used.
4. A good general guideline is the length of the fruits and vegetables to be cut should be longer than 2 inches and the diameter larger than 1 ½ inch.

Here are some fruits and veggies that usually work well in a spiral vegetable cutter:

• Apples
• Zucchini
• Beets
• Broccoli
• Butternut Squash
• Carrots
• Chayote
• Cucumbers
• Onions
• Parsnips
• Pears
• Plantains
• Radishes
• Rutabagas
• Summer Squash

Spiral Cut Pasta – Low Carb Style!

Why are spiral cut veggies a good choice?

• For one it’s a perfect choice for a diet that needs to be very low in carbs and therefore high starch foods like pasta
• Another reason is that spiral cut veggies add some wonderful taste and texture to any recipe
• Many savory pasta dishes already feature different vegetables in their recipes to enhance the flavor, so spiral cut vegetables only compliment this trend more.
• It is also a well-known fact that it is much easier to maintain a low carb diet when you can mimic and enjoy your favorite foods.

So what is the vegetable of choice for making vegetable noodles?

Currently one of the most popular vegetables to make spiral cut noodles out of is zucchini.

Once the zucchini has been cut, simply steam the spirals or pour hot water over them to soften them just a bit before adding sauce and other ingredients.

Recipe Ideas

You can make a variety of low carb spiral veggie dishes that mimic your favorite pasta recipes. Here are some ideas to get you started.

1. Spiral zucchini with marinara
2. Spiral zucchini with spinach and cream sauce
3. Spiral zucchini with Alfredo sauce with or without chicken and shrimp
4. Spiral zucchini with butter, fresh garlic and parmesan
5. Spiral zucchini with clams
6. Spiral zucchini with sausages and marinara
7. Virtually any other Italian sauce or ingredients you can image

The above meals can be used as main dishes or even as side dishes to go with your steak, chicken or fish entrées.

There are other vegetables that can be spiral cut to replace starches in recipes including:

• Yellow Summer Squash
• Carrots
• Cucumbers

Give A Spiral Vegetable Cutter A Try

If you are on a low carb diet, then pick up a spiral vegetable cutter and try it.

You will be amazed how these great high carb swaps will taste. With a spiral cutter, a low carb diet no longer means that you have to cut out your favorite pasta dishes from your menus.

What’s your favorite vegetable to spiralize?