Weekend Menu Planning: Rethinking Spaghetti with New Options for Noodles
by Kalyn DennyMention spaghetti and most people probably think of red sauce, meatballs, and maybe some Parmesan cheese on top. Of course there's nothing wrong with that combination, but lately I've been seeing so many interesting ways to cook noodles that I thought I'd see if I could entice BlogHer readers to branch out in their spaghetti options.
What seems newer than new these days is combining spaghetti with vegetables for pasta dishes that are ultra nutritious. If there's been a bit too much Halloween candy on the menu at your house, how about cooking one of these combinations over the weekend?
Photo of Spaghetti with Braised Kale
from Dinner With Julie
Spaghetti and kale is a classic Italian combination and the Spaghetti with Braised Kale at Dinner With Julie looks like a nice savory and healthful dinner. Julie was inspired by a recipe from fellow food blogger Molly that appeared in Bon Appetit Magazine, so this recipe has the double food blogger stamp of approval.
Photo of 16-Minute Kale and Mushroom Spaghetti
from Foodie Reflections
Jackie at Foodie Reflections has lived in Italy, so that might be where she has learned to love the combination of kale and spaghetti, and her 16-Minute Kale and Mushroom Spaghetti sounds wonderful. Jackie made this for lunch (in 16 minutes!) but it could be a quick dinner option as well.
Photo of Spicy Soba Noodles with Chicken and Cabbage
from Half Assed Kitchen
Another quick dinner option involving noodles and veggies is the Spicy Soba Noodles with Chicken and Cabbage at Half Assed Kitchen. Soba noodles are made from Buckwheat, and although they look like spaghetti, the flavor is a bit different, but very tasty!
Photo of Creamy Spaghetti with Buttrenut Squash, Leek, and Oregano
from Lucullian Delights
As I said last week, I love all things butternut squash, so this Creamy Spaghetti with Buttrenut Squash, Leek, and Oregano from Lucullian Delights looks wonderful to me. Ilva had me at butternut squash, but then she goes on to say it's topped with walnuts and parmesan. Also, Ilva is living in Tuscany, so I think she knows a thing or two about spaghetti.
Photo of Collard Greens with Spaghetti
from Modern Beet
And one more fantastic spaghetti and greens combination is the Collard Greens with Spaghetti at Modern Beet. If you haven't tried many greens, collards are a good one to start with because they're milder and a bit sweeter in flavor than kale or chard.
More Ideas for Rethinking Pasta:
At Two Peas and Their Pod ~ Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Vegetables and Chickpeas
At Owlhaven ~ Spaghetti Frittata
At Sunday Nite Dinner ~ Chinese Spaghetti
At Mostly Eating ~ Spaghetti with Courgette (zucchini), Lemon and Goats Cheese
At A Mingling of Tastes ~ Slow Simmering Calamari with Spaghetti and Spinach
How do you like to eat spaghetti or noodles? Are you a red-sauce-and-nothing-else-will-do kind of household, or do you like more unusual spaghetti combinations? If you have your own take on spaghetti, please share your recipe or a link in the comments.
(Every Thursday night on BlogHer, we spotlight five recipes with a common theme for a feature called Weekend Menu Planning, hoping one of them might make it onto the menu at your house. You can find previous recipes shared by clicking the tag Weekend Menu Planning.)
Kalyn Denny also blogs at Kalyn's Kitchen, where she's focused on creating low-glycemic recipes using fresh ingredients. Kalyn has been excited about spaghetti ever since she made Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Garlic, Chard, and Pecorino-Romano Cheese.
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Comments
Ricotta Herb Pasta So Easy
I make this all the time and find it hearty and warm in winter, yet cool and light in summer. It's that versatile. Plus, it's ultra filling and super easy to make.
http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/pasta-ricotta-herbs-lemon-10000001074438/
http://www.thecluelesscrafter.com/
Just saved the recipe!
It definitely sounds good to me!
Kalyn Denny Kalyn's Kitchen
Spaghetti!
I'm a spaghetti and red sauce kind of gal -- but also enjoy using spaghetti in other ways. Two of my favorites:
Spaghetti tossed with some kind of greens and bacon or panetta to flavor it with a sprinkling of parmesan.
Broken spaghetti added to a vegetable and bean soup. I particularly like the greens/beans/spaghetti combination.
Thanks!
Both your ideas are two of my favorite ways to eat it too!
Kalyn Denny Kalyn's Kitchen
Love this post!
These are great ways to bring vegetables into our lives too -- combining the familiar comfort of spaghetti with nutrient-rich veggies! Great post, Kalyn!
Alanna Kellogg Kitchen Parade & A Veggie Venture
Thank you!
I'm always in favor of more vegetables, and I know you are too!
Kalyn Denny Kalyn's Kitchen
Much appreciated!
I have one daughter who is a pasta fanatic and trying to get her to switch up is always a chore. These recipes will come in handy. Thanks!
Renee Hendricks http://www.socialurl.com/reneehendricks
Oh good!
Always glad when the recipes turn out to be useful to people!
Kalyn Denny Kalyn's Kitchen
Mmm spaghetti!
My favorite way to make spaghetti is to use thin spaghetti/linguine and top it with diced plum/roma tomatoes, diced kalamata olives, fresh spinach, fresh garlic, and crumbled feta cheese. Yum! Sometimes I toss some sauteed mushrooms on there just b/c I love mushrooms so much, but it's delicious without them, too.
Sounds awesome!
I have a great recipe for a no-cook spaghetti sauce with roma tomatoes, basil, spinach, and olive oil, sounds like you could use these ingredients in a recipe similar to that too! (LOVE feta, so I'm sure I'd love it!)
Kalyn Denny Kalyn's Kitchen
Spaghetti with Sausage and Peppers
Two of my favorite pasta dishes incorporate a brothy sauce instead of marinara. These recipes use different pastas, but spaghetti can also be used:
Pasta with sausage and peppers
Pasta with savory mussels
-Dawn
Sounds good!
Your pasta with sausage and peppers reminds me of something I used to make, and now I'm trying to remember where I found the recipe! Your version is so colorful with the peppers!
Kalyn Denny Kalyn's Kitchen
greens and pasta
I do love garlicy greens with pasta, and there are several great ideas here! The kale and mushroom dish looks fantastic.
lisa from lisa is cooking
http://lisaiscooking.blogspot.com/
Glad you like them
I love the combination of greens or veggies with pasta, can you tell?
Kalyn Denny Kalyn's Kitchen
@Lisalawless - ditto! I love
@Lisalawless - ditto! I love greens with pasta. @Kalyn, these recipes are very inspiring! :-)
My aim is to inspire . . .
Every week I'm trying to think of something I can inspire people to actually cook, so good to hear!
Kalyn Denny Kalyn's Kitchen
Great post!
Grat post kayln! I always complain about being tired of red sauce. It's all my husband was raised on, so it's been quite the battle getting him to go outside the box. He won't eat cream sauce, so I make pesto and a wonderful garlic and olive oil mixture that he loves. Here's my recipe for Spicy Chicken and Bowties, which is a FAVORITE in this house :) I built it based off a Pasta & Peas recipe that was on the menu in a restaurant we used to eat at. The photo isn't the greatest as it's an older post, but the flavor is amazing :)
Spicy Chicken & Bowties
Crafts by Amanda www.craftsbyamanda.com Amanda's Cookin' www.amandascookin.com
Like it!
I love bowtie pasta, but now that I'm sticking to whole wheat or low-carb pasta, I never buy it any more. I bet that would be good with penne though, looks great to me!
Kalyn Denny Kalyn's Kitchen
Thanks!
Yes, it would definitely work with penne, or any other whole wheat pasta. Linguini, rotini, mostaccoli, mini penne, anything like that :)
Crafts by Amanda www.craftsbyamanda.com Amanda's Cookin' www.amandascookin.com
pasta!
Thanks for the link, Kalyn! Some of these other ideas look wonderful too!
Mary, mom to many
Everyone loves it!
I should say everyone but my dad, who hates all kinds of pasta. I don't get it. Love your new photo Mary!
Kalyn Denny Kalyn's Kitchen
Not a big pasta lover, but...
My family all adores pasta, but I could live happily without it. That being said, the one pasta dish that I truly adore is authentic spaghetti carbonara with eggs and pancetta. I don't care for eggs but something about that dish is fabulous. Maybe the protein makes me feel better about the pasta?
~Andrea Meyers
www.andreasrecipes.com
I love that too!
I've been thinking I might try making it with ww spaghetti. (It still won't be SB diet friendly, but closer!)
Kalyn Denny Kalyn's Kitchen
Had some tonight!
Tonight I made soba noodles with shredded chicken, cabbage, carrots and scallions and it was great. My son actually loves soba noodles, so I'm always happy to make them.