Category Archives: Pasta

No Bake Lasagna

Even my non-lasagna-loving kid had to have seconds of this one. It is just cheesy enough without that part being overpowering. Much like the physical layers of the lasagna, there are great flavor layers here since the cheese mix, zucchini mix and tomato mix are all flavored independently. This was a really superb dish !

No Bake Lasagna
No Bake Lasagna

4 servings
376 calories per serving

½ c low fat ricotta cheese
3 T parmesan cheese
3 T plus 2 t oil
Coarse salt
Pepper
8 lasagna noodles broken in half
1 garlic clove, minced
2 pints grape tomatoes, halved
½ t red pepper flakes
2 zucchini, thinly sliced
½ t garlic powder
1 T basil leaves, torn

Mix cheeses and 2 t oil. Add salt and pepper. Cook lasagna noodles according to package instructions and then drain. Heat 2 T oil in a skillet and cook garlic and tomatoes with some salt and pepper and the crushed red pepper about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and then add 1 T oil and zucchini to the skillet, season with garlic powder, and cook about 8 minutes then remove to a bowl and add basil. Place some tomatoes on plates and top with a noodle and a small spoonful of ricotta and a spoonful of zucchini and then some more tomatoes. Repeat layers twice and then top with the rest of the noodles and tomatoes and garnish with basil.

Ravioli Stew

This was just a fabulous way to get all the flavor of ravioli without sitting down to a bowl of JUST ravioli and breaking the scales. The eggplant, zucchini and tomatoes were a great complement and this sure was one filling meal !

Ravioli Stew
Ravioli Stew

4 servings
335 calories per serving

3 T oil
2 c eggplant, cubed
14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes undrained
½ t basil flakes
1 c water
1 medium zucchini cut into half moons
9 oz. refrigerated cheese ravioli
1 c shredded parmesan cheese
Pepper to taste

Heat oil and cook eggplant 5 minutes then mix in tomatoes and basil and heat to boiling. Then lower heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes. Stir in water, zucchini and ravioli and heat to boiling. Reduce heat and cover and simmer 10 minutes stirring once or twice then sprinkle with cheese and pepper, cover and heat 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Greek Orzo Salad

This makes a great balanced and filling lunch portion for 370 calories. You can easily cut the serving in half and serve as a side in a dinner plate, too. But I like it as a lunch – you can make it a day ahead, it is portable, it takes even better the following day … and it is packed with healthy ingredients. Oh, and it has orzo (my fav!) 🙂

Greek Orzo Salad
Greek Orzo Salad

5 servings
370 calories per serving

1 ¼ c uncooked orzo (8 oz)
2 c thinly sliced English cucumber
½ c low fat zesty Italian dressing
1 medium tomato, chopped
15 oz. can chick peas, drained and rinsed
1 4 oz. can sliced black olives
½ c crumbed low fat feta cheese

Cook pasta according to package instructions and rinse in cold water. Mix pasta with the rest of the ingredients except the feta, cover and refrigerate at least one hour so flavors mix. Just before serving, sprinkle with cheese.

Tomato Fettucine with Spinach Sauce

The sauce in this recipe is much like a mild, creamy spinach pesto and that made it just wonderful in my book 🙂 This was such a rich and satisfying dinner or you could have a smaller portion and have it as a side to a chicken or fish dinner. The sauce would be just as good on unflavored fettucine but the tomato element really was a nice flavor combination.

Tomato Fettucine with Spinach Sauce
Tomato Fettucine with Spinach Sauce

8 servings
255 calories per serving

10 oz. frozen spinach, thawed and drained well (place in a colander and press down with your hand)
1 c shredded parmesan cheese
¾ c 2% cottage cheese
½ c skim milk
1 T oil
1 clove garlic, minced
¾ t oregano flakes
½ t pepper
¼ t salt
¼ t red pepper flakes
2 10 oz. packages FiberGourmet tomato flavored fettucine (without FiberGourmet pasta, you have to add another 120 calories per serving to this)

In a food processor, process spinach, parmesan, cottage cheese, milk, oil, garlic, oregano, pepper, salt and red pepper until smooth and evenly green. Pour into a pan and heat on medium. Cook pasta according to directions and serve with the sauce.
SOUTH OF THE BORDER

Beef and Tomatoes over Fettucine

This was much like eating pepper steak over pasta. The flavors mingled together well and this was a very tasty twist on a beef stir fry.

Beef and Tomatoes over Fettucine
Beef and Tomatoes over Fettucine

4 servings
270 calories per serving

2 c uncooked FiberGourmet fettucine noodles
1 T oil
1 c frozen stir fry pepper and onions
1 lb. thinly sliced beef
14.5 oz. canned diced tomatoes, undrained
1 t garlic powder
¼ t pepper
½ t salt
Fresh basil leaves, chopped

Cook pasta according to package instructions. Heat oil and meat 5 minutes then stir in peppers and onions and cook 3-6 minutes, stirring frequently. Then mix in tomatoes, garlic, salt and pepper and cook 2 minutes. Stir in pasta and cook 2 minutes to heat through. Garnish with basil.

Macaroni Salad

This recipe was given to me by a friend and it is the most awesome mac salad – I think what makes the difference is that the onion and celery are so minced (rather than the typical chopped) that you get a coating of them on each and every noodle and that means lots of extra flavor per bite !

Macaroni Salad
Macaroni Salad

6 servings
232 calories per serving (312 per serving using regular pasta)

8 oz. FiberGormet rotini pasta or elbow noodles
1 small onion, minced very fine
1 c celery, minced very fine
1 c low fat mayo
1 T wine vinegar
2 t mustard
1 ½ t salt
¼ t pepper

Cook pasta according to package instructions and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Combine with all the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Refrigerate at least 4 hours so flavors mingle. Let sit out 10 minutes before serving so the dressing warms up a bit and mix well again.

NOTE: I mince the celery and onion together in a food processor, but you can do it by hand if you wish

Pasta Dinner

Thanks to FiberGourmet pasta – I can have a whole plate of food like this – and that makes me feel satisfied. Hunger is definitely gone after a plateful like this.

The first part about ‘dieting’ that kills me is the so so small portions of pasta you get – – that is until I found FiberGourmet. You can order it off their website at www.fibergourmet.com or you can get it on Amazon.

Because of it, I can sit down to a plate like this for UNDER 425 CALORIES !! And my daughter is oh so happy to have ‘pasta night’ back again 🙂

1 serving
424 calories per serving

2 oz. pasta cooked and tossed with your favorite low cal marinara sauce
Anchovy Bibb Lettuce Salad (tastes much like Caesar Salad)
Garlic Toast

Spinach Orzo

Sometimes nothing will do but pasta ! And orzo is one of my favorites ! This recipe is great served next to a lighter fish or chicken dish and you get in lots of veggies along with the pasta. Sometimes I leave out the parmesan if it will not match well with the flavors of the other dinner components – and it tastes just as great without it.

Spinach Orzo
Spinach Orzo

8 servings
160 calories per serving

2 t margarine
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ c coarsely shredded carrot
4 c fat free chicken broth
2 c orzo
3 c thinly sliced fresh spinach
3 T grated parmesan cheese
1 T chopped basil
Salt and pepper to taste

Melt margarine and cook garlic and carrot 2 minutes then stir in broth, pasta and spinach. Heat to boiling and then reduce heat, cover and simmer 20 minutes or until broth is absorbed. Stir in the rest of the ingredients just before serving.

Fettucine Carbonara

Once again, FiberGourmet Pasta makes it possible to have a serving of this PLUS a side and that makes me a happy camper 🙂 This carbonara is very tasty and without any oil, it comes in at just 300 calories per serving. Enjoy !

Fettucine Carbonara
Fettucine Carbonara

4 servings
300 calories per serving

8 oz. FiberGourmet fettuccine noodles (without FiberGourmet pasta, you have to add another 80 calories per serving to this)
2/3 c fat free chicken broth
1 medium onion, chopped
3 oz. Canadian bacon, in thin strips
3 c sliced mushrooms
1 c frozen peas
¼ c grated parmesan cheese
2 T fat free sour cream
Salt and pepper to taste

Bring the broth to a boil then add onion and cook 3 minutes. Then add the bacon and mushrooms and cook another 5 minutes or until mushrooms are very soft. Add the peas, salt and pepper and heat through and then stir in the cheese and sour cream. Cook pasta according to directions and serve with sauce.

Pasta Salad with Tuna

Always a favorite at BBQ’s, this pasta salad with tuna adds a healthy bed of spinach to the dish and the flavors mixed extraordinarily well.

Pasta Salad with Tuna
Pasta Salad with Tuna

4 servings
260 calories per serving

2 c uncooked Fibergourmet rotini pasta (using regular pasta, you add 80 calories per serving)
2 6 oz. cans fancy white albacore tuna canned in water, drained
¼ c finely chopped green onions
2/3 c frozen peas, thawed
2/3 c low fat creamy Italian salad dressing
1/8 t pepper
4 c fresh spinach leaves
Salt and pepper to taste

Cook pasta according to package instructions then drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Add flaked tuna, onions, peas, dressing and pepper and mix well the chill for at least 2 hours. To serve, place spinach on plates and top with pasta salad. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

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