Whole Wheat Pasta: How to Make Better Variant Recipes

Introduction of whole wheat pasta

More attention is also being given to whole wheat pasta in recent days due to its increased global acceptance in the health-based diets. This guide shall look at what whole wheat pasta are, its nutritional advantages, preparation methods, recipes, and its place within a healthy diet.

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What is whole wheat pasta?

Whole wheat pasta is a type of pasta that is also made from whole grain wheat flour which has all the three parts of the wheat kernel, the bran, germ and endosperm. As opposed to conventional pasta made of refined flour pasta where the bran and germ have been removed, whole wheat pasta contains more of the whole grain hence high in nutrients and fiber. It also adds to the health aspect of the pasta but also gives other certain flavor and texture.

Types of whole wheat pasta

Whole wheat pasta also comes in a variety of sizes and shapes as with the ordinary pasta. Common examples include the following:

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Spaghetti

Long and fine strands of pasta that are quite flexible in their usage with many sauces.

Fusilli

Twisted straw like pasta that is good for coiling sauce within and is often used in salads and baked casseroles.

Penne

Pasta is a type of pasta often used with thick-and-chunky sauces and in baked dishes.

Fettuccine

Long flat ribbons of pasta often used with white sauce.

Macaroni

These are small, C shaped noodles, commonly used in the famous macaroni and cheese dish.

Nutritional benefits of whole wheat pasta

Compared to white pasta, whole wheat pasta provides health advantages in a number of ways:

Increased amount of fiber

The whole wheat flour pasta has quite high amounts of soluble and insoluble fiber. Each fiber has its own distinct advantages, such as improving bowel elimination, controlling the spike of sugar levels, and providing satiety. The last aspect of it could help people who are having difficulty maintaining a healthy body weight.

Nutrient composition

Medicines containing whole wheat pasta include necessary vitamins and minerals such as B1 B3 and B5, iron, and magnesium, as well as zinc. These nutrients, among others, are required for the synthesis of energy, resistance, immune response, and general health.

Low glycemic index

Whole grain products have a lower GI than those made from refined flour. This means that foods such as whole grain bread will raise glucose levels slowly compared to consumptions such as refined wheat bread. This will help those with diabetes or seeking stable energy production.

Heart health

The fiber and nutrient profile of whole wheat pasta can also be good for the heart, as it may be able to reduce cholesterol and chances of heart disease.

Weight management

The fiber and protein of whole wheat pasta coupled with its high calorific value increases fullness and therefore assists in the ease of overcoming hunger and controlling weight.

How to make variant recipes

Whole wheat pasta can be used in different recipes to add new tastes and textures while keeping the meals healthy. Compared to conventional pasta, whole wheat pasta has a richer flavor, more fibers, and has good compatibility with many ingredients. Here are some inventive ways to prepare unique dishes with whole wheat pasta:

Whole wheat pasta with pesto (classical or variants)

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Ingredients

  • Whole wheat pasta
  • Basil or spinach
  • Garlic
  • Pine nuts or walnuts (to make it cheaper)
  • Parmesan or nutritional yeast (if vegan)
  • Olive oil
  • Lemon juice

Instruction

  • Prepare whole wheat pasta as per the package directions.
  • As for the pesto, blend together basil (or spinach), garlic, nuts, olive oil and lemon juice in a food processor until you have a sauce consistency. Season with salt and pepper.
  • After cooking the pasta, mix it with the pesto and serve with grated parmesan cheese.

Variants

Sun drive tomato pesto

Pesto is a sauce made by thoroughly blending sun-dried tomatoes with basil, garlic, and nuts to give a new rich delicious low and savory flavor.

Avocado pesto

Pesto with an avocado gives you a new dimension of flavor, a much creamier and a little tangy based pesto.

Whole wheat pasta with roasted vegetables

Ingredients

  • Whole wheat pasta
  • Different vegetables like carrots, eggplant, zucchini, bell pepper, etc.
  • Olive oil, garlic, thyme, rosemary, oregano
  • Parmesan/Feta cheese (optional)

Instructions

  • Vegetables should be cut up into quarters, tossed with olive oil, and seasoned before roasting in an oven at 400°F (200°C) for the next 20-30 minutes or until tender and lightly caramelized.
  • Pasta should be boiled and after straining, add the roasted vegetables and the freshly grated cheese on top.

Variants

Mediterranean

Roast eggplants, black olives, and cherry tomatoes.

Autumn harvest

Sweet potatoes, Brussels sprout and carrots should be roast, and drizzled with balsamic glaze.

Whole wheat pasta with creamy avocado sauce

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Ingredients

  • Whole wheat pasta
  • 1 ripe avocado
  • Greek or any dairy-free yogurt (vegan option)
  • Garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil
  • Pepper and salt, chili flakes

Instructions

  • First, cook the entire wheat pasta.
  • Blend avocado together with Greek yogurt, add garlic, oil and lemon juice and place in a blender. Add seasoning to your taste and blend until completely smooth.
  • Gently mix the cooked pasta with the sauce made of avocado, blending that develops a creamy texture.

Variants

Spicy avocado sauce

Mix in a pinch of fresh chili or cayenne for a spicy kick.

Lemon-dill avocado sauce

Propose to add fresh dill and a little more lemon and salt.

Pasta primavera whole wheat

Ingredients

  • Whole wheat pasta
  • A combination of fresh vegetables (peas, bell peppers, zucchini, asparagus, cherry tomatoes)
  • Zest of lemon, minced garlic, fresh basil and olive oils
  • Grated parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

  • In olive oil, sauté garlic then sprinkle the veggies. Cook for around five to seven minutes until soft.
  • Boil the pasta, then combine with sautéed vegetables and add fresh basil.
  • Serve with lemon and cheese sauce at the top.

Variants

Spring primavera

Substitute the vegetables with peas, spinach and artichokes and replace with tender ones for a lighter dish.

Autumn veggie primavera

For a more robust flavor, use cold weather squash, sweet potatoes and mushroom.

Lentils and tomato sauce with whole wheat macaroni

Ingredients

  • Whole wheat macaroni
  • Canned tomatoes, crushed
  • Cooked lentils (or canned lentils)
  • Onion, garlic and herbs (oregano, basil, bay laurel)
  • Olive oil and red pepper flakes
  • Nutritional yeast or parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

  • Boil the whole wheat macaroni.
  • In a saucepan, pour a little oil, add garlic and onion and cook for about a minute. Afterwards add the tomatoes, seasonings and lentils and mix well. Let it cook for around 10 or 15 minutes.’
  • Add sauce to the pasta and sprinkle some cheese on top.

Variants

Spicy tomato-lentil sauce

For a spicy kick, add chili flakes or a drizzle of hot sauce.

Herbed lentil sauce

For a stronger flavor, use rosemary and thymine.

Whole wheat pasta with tofu and peanut sauce (Asian inspired)

Ingredients:

  • Whole wheat pasta
  • Firm Tofu (cubed)
  • Smooth peanut butter
  • Soy or tamari for gluten free
  • Garlic ginger and lime juice
  • Optional: chili flakes or sriracha
  • Garnish with green onions and fresh cilantro

Instructions

  • Boil a pot of water and cook the pasta. Once boiled take it off the heat.
  • Add oil to the pan and heat it. Then add the cubed tofu till brown and crispy.
  • In a large bowl whisk peanut butter, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, lime juice, and water to loosen the consistency of the sauce.
  • Add the cooked pasta to the tofu and peanut sauce, garnish with green onions and cilantro.

Variants:

Sesame peanut sauce

For a richer taste, sweeten it up with sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds.

Coconut peanut sauce

Replace the water with coconut milk for a creamier version.

Whole wheat pasta with garlic, spinach, and ricotta

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Ingredients

  • Whole wheat pasta
  • Fresh spinach
  • Ricotta cheese (or vegan ricotta)
  • Garlic, olive oil and red pepper flakes
  • Parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

  • In a pan heat olive oil and add garlic, when it becomes fragrant add spinach and let it cook until it wilts.
  • Then cook the pasta and mix together with the spinach and ricotta. Add some salt, some black pepper and red pepper flakes to taste.
  • Sprinkle parmesan on top.

Variants

Creamy spinach ricotta

If you want to make the sauce a bit more creamy, add a bit of cream or a cream such as a plant based cream.

Herbed ricotta

Use fresh herbs such as oregano or thyme and add what is in the ricotta for a better taste.

 Whole wheat pasta salad

Ingredients

  • Whole wheat pasta
  • Cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, olives
  • Red onion, feta cheese (optional)
  • Olive oil, vinegar and fresh herbs basial and parsly
  • Salt, pepper and garlic powder

Instructions

  • Boil pasta strain when done and put under cold running water.
  • Put basil, garlic powder, olives and feta around the pasta that has been chopped with vegetables.
  • Then drizzle it with olive oil and vinegar before sprinkling salt, black pepper and garlic powder.
  • To make it more colorful, add freshly chopped herbs.

Variants

Mediterranean

Use kalamata olives with cuke, red onion, and feta cheese.

Caprese

Add fresh mozzarella, basil and cherry tomatoes smeared with balsamic vinegar.

Suggestions for improving whole wheat pasta dishes

Enhancers of flavor

Lively the taste by adding a squeeze of lemon/wedge, sprinkle some chili flakes or dash of balsamic vinegar.

Vegetarian proteins

Soya beans, tempeh, beans or lentils are the best additions that can help to achieve high protein pasta.

Nut butters and sauces

Nut butter sauces such as peanut butter or almond provide creaminess with mouth-watering flavors.

Nutritional yeast

A wonderful soloist and a cheese replacement producing cheesy nutty aroma, usually for vegan recipes.

You can combine several vegetables, sauces and protein to have various forms of whole wheat noodles. You can also try other flavors depending on the season or your mood.

Cooking process of whole wheat pasta

Cooking of whole wheat pasta is nearly the same with that of regular Pasta however some differences should be observed:

Water to pasta ratio

A lot of water should be added to the saucepan containing pasta, (4-6 quarts per pound of pasta) to avoid the pasta sticking to itself.

Cooking time

Whole wheat pasta takes longer to prepare than that which is made with the refined flour. Package directions should be observed but note that the boiling time is normally extended by about 1-2 minutes.

Al dente texture

Preferably the al dente texture where the pasta is slightly hard to chew, still further enhances the pleasure of eating this kind of food while at the same time helping to preserve its health value.

Rinsing

There is no need to rinse whole wheat pasta unlike its refined counterpart, as some of the nutrients and taste will usually be lost in the polymer. Instead, transfer the cooked pasta directly into the sauce.

Harmonizing whole wheat pasta with saucy allies

Considering whole wheat pasta’s nutty flavor, a wide range of sauces can be used. Here are a few suggestions.

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Tomato sauces

Whole grain pasta goes well with sauces like marinara that are pretty healthy as they have all the earthiness of wheat pasta. To make it healthier, you can also add some zucchini, bell peppers and/or mushrooms.

Rich sauces

Though some heavy sauces are likely to be creamy, such as those stuffed with cream, a light sauce of pureed cauliflower or shredded cashew nuts would add a wonderful dimension.

Pesto

Basil with olive oil, garlic, and nuts crushed together makes for a wonderful sauce providing healthy fats and additive tastes.

Olive oil and garlic

Olive Oil, garlic, and herbs constituents marry well with the whole wheat pasta and do not tend to overwhelm it.

Incorporating whole wheat pasta into your diet

In fact, incorporating whole wheat pasta into your meals does not have to be boring. Here are some tips to make it more interesting:

Substitution

Instead of regular pasta use whole wheat pasta in a spanakopita, for instance.

Balanced meals

Whole wheat pasta when consumed should normally be taken with protein such as chicken, fish or legumes and lots of vegetables as a normal meal.

Meal prep

Whole wheat pasta can be prepared in the early days of the week and kept in the refrigerator or freezer. This can be used later on in salads or even in stir-fries and used as the base of sauces.

Experiment

To develop your taste, make use of a range of shapes and sauces and evaluate their variations. Whole wheat pasta can be made very versatile and utilized in a variety of cuisines.

Whole wheat pasta benefits

Whole wheat pasta has several benefits, the most important being its nutritional advantages:

Fiber

Whole wheat pasta is made out of the entire whole grain wheat with bran and germ intact. As a result, it contains more fiber which improves digestion, plays a role in weight management and helps in feeling fuller.

Fulfilling nutritional needs

B vitamins (foliate), iron, magnesium, some antioxidants are indispensable pertain to nutrition. These nutrients help to produce energy and help maintain general well-being.

Improved blood sugar levels

The complex carbohydrates found in whole wheat pasta take longer to digest than those found in refined pasta, resulting in lower blood sugar spikes. This can be especially helpful for diabetics.

Heart

People who eat whole grains have lower risk of heart disease. There are fiber and antioxidants found in whole wheat pasta which help boost cardiovascular health.

Endurance

Supply energy as long lasting quick releasing carbohydrates are found in whole wheat pasta. Thus benefiting athletes and active persons.

For better health, dietitians recommend using whole wheat pasta as it is nutritious and will help develop better health.

Is whole wheat pasta healthy?

Whole wheat pasta whether is relatively more beneficial than its counterpart as it is made with the entire grain containing bran and germ. Such a whole grain is rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Thanks to its higher content of fiber, whole wheat pasta also aids in digestion while helping to control blood sugar levels and satiety. Whole wheat pasta also has a lower glycemic index as compared to refined pasta which makes it easier to provide sustained energy without causing blood sugar spikes. But, it is imperative to integrate it with other nutrient dense sources such as veggies and lean meats for a balanced nutritious dish.

Is whole wheat pasta lower in carbs?

Whole wheat pasta appears to have an edge over white pasta and to the advantage of many being that it contains a lot of fiber. People’s notion about pasta now is that it comes with a lot of carbohydrates but in this case, whole wheat pasta does not offer protein in substantially lower quantities than its white alternative.

Pasta is wheat-based products, but the methods they used in processing wheat grains are what set them apart. The bran, germ, and endosperm are all parts of the durum wheat that make up the whole grain flour which is used in the production of whole wheat pasta. The starch-rich endosperm is all that remains after the bran and germ are removed, which is what white pasta flour is composed of.

Both types of pasta do not differ that much in their carbohydrate content. With approximately 37-40 grams of carbohydrates per serving, a cup of cooked whole wheat pasta weighing 140 grams is said to have a moderate amount of carbs. Per serving of white pasta almost the same amount of carbohydrates is contained, that is, around 43 grams. This small variation of a few grams is however not appreciable enough to label whole wheat pasta as a lower carb option.

While this may be rehashed information, the most notable benefit of whole wheat or pasta lies in the fact that it has higher fiber content. Healthier blood sugar levels can be assured as carbs will be absorbed slowly. Whole wheat pasta typically has a fiber content of about 6 grams per serving whereas white pasta only has about 2-3 grams. This extra fiber may assist to boost satiety (sense of fullness) thus, for those on low carb diets or who wish to improve their gut health, whole wheat pasta is more suitable – it is balanced.

To conclude, fibrous content is significantly higher in whole wheat pasta which has additional health benefits although the carb rebounds are not significantly lower however, for active individuals, circulatory health and management of carbohydrate consumption are more effectively leveraged.

Health benefits of whole wheat pasta

Whole grain pasta is obviously much healthier than refined pasta. To begin with, it has a higher level of dietary fiber which contributes towards better digestion and weight management since it promotes satiety. This content of fiber is also beneficial for heart health as it helps reduce cholesterol.

Furthermore, whole grain pasta has more…. Whichever may dwarf its benefits, it also has B vitamins, iron, magnesium, and zinc. All these are important constituents agnostic towards energy metabolism. Apart from that, whole grain pasta contains complex carbs which ensure a gradual release of energy and thus help in normalizing blood sugar levels while also controlling the urge to binge eat.

Furthermore, whole grains contain antioxidants which may also stave off inflammatory processes and prevent the incidence of chronic disorders such as type diabetes and heart disease. Whole grain pasta is excellent in enhancing health pursuit when taken regularly with balanced diet.

Optimal in terms of taste as well, it can be easily combined with many healthy constituents. In summary, the benefit of whole grain pasta is that it is tasty, healthy and does not, unlike other nutrient rich foods, contain excessive calories Whole Wheat Pasta good for you?

Is whole wheat pasta good for you?

Of course, whole wheat pasta can be considered as a healthy option! It contains more vitamins and minerals along with fiber than the normal pasta and may help with digestion as well as make you feel full for a longer period of time. Whole grains also deliver vitamins and minerals. It is necessary to watch out for portion sizes and greens and lean proteins as neatly compose the meal.

100% whole wheat pasta

Pasta made out of 100% whole wheat consists of 100% whole wheat flour which contains all parts of the wheat, which are the bran, the germ and endosperm. This means it has higher fiber content and more nutrients relative to the white flour pasta which is made from refined flour.

What’s the difference between pasta and whole wheat pasta?

The key distinction between normal pasta and whole wheat pasta rests in the variety of flour utilized in their production.

Ingredients

Regular pasta

This is produced from white refined flour which undergoes the refining process where the bran and the germ gets removed.

Whole wheat pasta

This is produced using whole wheat flour, which has the complete grain portion, that is: bran, germ and endosperm.

Nutritional content

Whole wheat pasta

Whole wheat pastas are usually rich in fiber content, vitamins and minerals when compared to regular pastas. It offers more nutrients as it has the bran and germ.

Regular pasta

Usually contains fewer nutrients as well as less fiber due to the refining process.

Flavor and texture

Whole wheat pasta

The pastas have nutty taste and thicker texture which some people find nice while others are not used to such differences as they are used to white pasta.

Regular pasta

It Has a rather bland flavor and smooth texture.

Is whole wheat pasta lower in carbs?

Whole wheat pasta appears to have an edge over white pasta and to the advantage of many being that it contains a lot of fiber. People’s notion about pasta now is that it comes with a lot of carbohydrates but in this case, whole wheat pasta does not offer protein in substantially lower quantities than its white alternative.

Pasta is wheat-based products, but the methods they used in processing wheat grains are what set them apart. The bran, germ, and endosperm are all parts of the durum wheat that make up the whole grain flour which is used in the production of whole wheat pasta. The starch-rich endosperm is all that remains after the bran and germ are removed, which is what white pasta flour is composed of.

Both types of pasta do not differ that much in their carbohydrate content. With approximately 37-40 grams of carbohydrates per serving, a cup of cooked whole wheat pasta weighing 140 grams is said to have a moderate amount of carbs. Per serving of white pasta almost the same amount of carbohydrates is contained, that is, around 43 grams. This small variation of a few grams is however not appreciable enough to label whole wheat pasta as a lower carb option.

While this may be rehashed information, the most notable benefit of whole wheat or pasta lies in the fact that it has higher fiber content. Healthier blood sugar levels can be assured as carbs will be absorbed slowly. Whole wheat pasta typically has a fiber content of about 6 grams per serving whereas white pasta only has about 2-3 grams. This extra fiber may assist to boost satiety (sense of fullness) thus, for those on low carb diets or who wish to improve their gut health, whole wheat pasta is more suitable – it is balanced.

To conclude, fibrous content is significantly higher in whole wheat pasta which has additional health benefits although the carb rebounds are not significantly lower however, for active individuals, circulatory health and management of carbohydrate consumption are more effectively leveraged.

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