Zero Carbs, Zero Calories, and Zero Guilt

What on earth could be so wonderful to have no carbs and no calories? Water? Well, yeah but that’s not what we’re talking about here.

Are you one of those people who freaks out at carbs? (I won’t get into the whole “to carb or not to carb” discussion though.) Imagine this: Piles of pasta. Bowls of chow mein. Zero Carbs, zero calories, and zero guilt!

Sounds too good to be true? It’s not!

Enter shirataki noodles.  Shirataki noodles are made from the root of the konjac yam and are available in most Asian markets.  Virtually calorie-free, this noodle has zero carbs.  The nutrition label reads almost identically to water!

But come one, it’s gotta have some sort of nutritional value to it. According to an article by Men’s Health magazine, the powdered root from which this noodle is made consists of a highly soluble fiber called glucomannan. What that means is that it adds some much-needed health factor to any meal, and research has shown that it may slow the absorption of blood sugar after a meal high in carbs.

Some people suggest substituting this noodle in any pasta dish. I would caution against that however. The consistency of the shirataki noodle is best described this way: a little slippery and a little rubbery.

I know that probably doesn’t paint a good picture for your taste buds, but trust me – they’re tasty. Due to the consistency, I tend to put them in Asian dishes. The noodles themselves are tasteless, but they very nicely absorb any flavor you add to it.

Here are a couple ideas for a tasty, carb-free, noodle-fest!

Simple beef stir-fry - Stir-fry some beef strips until browned and season with soy sauce. Throw in some veggies like scallions, onions, mushrooms, spinach, and bamboo shoots. Add a splash of mirin and a package of shirataki noodles. Stir-fry until heated through! Enjoy!

Seared tuna steak on noodles - Season a tuna steak with salt and pepper. Sear on high heat on both sides to desired wellness. Meanwhile, stir-fry a packet of shirataki noodles with a splash of rice wine and soy sauce and a few drops of sesame oil. Place noodles on a plate, top with the tuna steak, and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds. Enjoy!

*Photo credit: crd