Kelp noodles are found in various Asian cuisine. They are a low-carb substitute for rice and pasta. And lately, there’s buzz in the health and wellness community that they are the holy grail of pasta if you’re trying to lose weight.
Gluten-free advocates and raw foodists rave about this miracle noodle, but what exactly are they?
Kelp noodles are made of seaweed extract, which is why they’re transparent like vermicelli. It’s gluten, fat, and calorie-free, making it the preferred choice as a healthy food alternative since you can eat large quantities without adding calories to your diet.
In fact, one brand, Sea Tangle, says a 100g serving contains 6 ‘kelp noodle’ calories. It also contains 15% of the (US) daily RDA for calcium and 4% of the (US) RDA for iron.
Health Benefits of Kelp Noodles
Full of Nutrients
Kelp noodles are packed with nutrients and contain high amounts of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin a, vitamin k, iron, magnesium, calcium, and iodine (iodine helps with thyroid function, a key role in metabolism and weight loss).
Good for the Heart
Kelp noodles are good for your heart since they are low in cholesterol and high in nutritional value – so you can eat a large serving without any guilt!
Helps with Weight loss
Kelp noodles are ideal for people on a weight loss journey. They are made solely of kelp (a sea vegetable), sodium alginate (a sodium salt produced from brown seaweed), and water. They are starch, flour, gluten, fat-free, very low in carbs, and high in protein.
How To Use Them
Kelp noodles are super easy to prepare if you’re not big on cooking. To get started, put them in a strainer, rinse, add 1 tbsp of baking soda, and juice from one lemon, then massage them for about 60 seconds until they are soft. Then, you rinse them again, and it’s ready to use. You don’t need to cook them.
They’re most popular in soups, stir-fried dishes, or as a replacement for pasta noodles. Here are some ideas on how to prepare them:
1) Spaghetti: Add Rao’s Arrabbiata sauce on top of the noodles with lemon, chili flakes, and basil. You’ll have yourself a super healthy, low-carb spaghetti dish.
2) Pho Takeout: Order Pho from your favorite restaurant and throw out the noodles it comes in. Then, add the kelp noodles.
3) Pesto: In a food processor, mix basil leaves, olive oil, pine nuts, Parmesan, garlic, olive oil, and salt to taste. Drizzle over kelp noodles. Such an easy dish to prepare, and it doesn’t require cooking.
4) Ramen At Home: Take the seasoning out of a package of Top Ramen and use it with the kelp noodles for an easy weekday dinner that’s so good.
5) Lemon Pasta: Melt butter in a pan, squeeze lemon juice, add lemon zest and a pinch of salt, stir in kelp noodles, then top with Parmesan. It’s so fresh and satisfying you forget how healthy it is for you.
Other ideas for using kelp noodles: stir-fried with meat and veggies, alfredo, curry, or cacio e pepe.
A Healthy Alternative
If you are looking for easy-to-make recipes and a healthy alternative to a high-carb diet – kelp noodles are your go-to. It’s the healthiest noodle compared to quinoa noodles, rice noodles, and soba noodles. It’s not surprising they are a popular choice for anyone who wants to eat cleaner without sacrificing flavor!
