looking for low calorie sauces for pasta. any ideas?

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Replies

  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    This thread is making me hungry...and I just finished lunch ten minutes ago.
  • amykr93
    amykr93 Posts: 65
    I tend to cook some garlic and then add chopped veg like tomatoes, red onion, pepper and mushrooms and then blend it up. I then add chopped tomatoes and tomato puree and herbs to season. Works fine for myself and the kids!
  • Izanami66
    Izanami66 Posts: 181 Member
    As others are saying, make your own with crushed tomatoes, garlic, herbs, a bit of sugar, etc. Super easy and lowcal. I also like to make pasta bakes, where I cook some whole wheat penne, and toss it with sauce and a ricotta/mozz/parm mixture and whatever veggies I have (sautéed), spread it in a casserole dish and top with mozzarella. Bake until cheese is bubbly and browned. Really good, and pretty lowcal for such a decadent tasting dish!!

    The creamy veggie pasta recipe, and the broccoli pesto sound amazing!!! Thanks for those!!
  • sgupstate
    sgupstate Posts: 15 Member
    Since the pasta is usually the worst part of a healthy pasta recipe, I have been using quinoa instead. Quinoa is healthier in general than rice or pasta I think and it goes well with a lot of toppings that are good on pasta. To me it also seems like quinoa is more filling.
    My favorite quick meal is to cook some chopped onions in healthy broth for about 5 minutes instead of sauteing in fatty oil, then add frozen veggies that you like, let them cook in the broth, I also add minced garlic, salt, and pepper, I am sure you could customize the spices a lot. Then I add a couple tablespoons of light sour cream and it makes a nice creamy sauce that is lower in calories than an alfredo. I put it over quinoa and it is really good, gives you the carb satisfaction of pasta.
  • halfpintpeggy
    halfpintpeggy Posts: 64 Member
    Bump
  • PennyVonDread
    PennyVonDread Posts: 432 Member
    Cilantro chutney on rice or noodles. It's pretty great.

    http://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/coriander-chutney/
  • RunnerStephe
    RunnerStephe Posts: 2,195
    I just use diced canned tomato with spices.
  • tracydr
    tracydr Posts: 528 Member
    Zuchinni noodles with Skinny Taste basil pesto. I think we'll have this tonight!,
    I also make a simple marinara or meat sauce. Tomatoes ( fresh or canned), garlic, basil, oregano and maybe,onions. Add browned hamburger if desired.
  • tracydr
    tracydr Posts: 528 Member
    Cilantro chutney on rice or noodles. It's pretty great.

    http://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/coriander-chutney/
    yum. I make mint-cilantro chutney a lot.
  • RaspberryKeytoneBoondoggle
    RaspberryKeytoneBoondoggle Posts: 1,349 Member
    I just made a pizza sauce from scratch. It would be lovely on pasta:

    Fry onions and garlic. Optional: green pepper,small chunks of carrot, chopped squash, mushrooms, etc. too!
    Add crushed tomatoes, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper, and simmer.
    Blend it all with an Emerson blender but you could leave it chunky too.
    If it's too spiced add a bit of sugar.
    I think this could taste good with a can if clams, diced cooked chicken broth, and / or fried ground beef added to the simmer.
    My husband always puts clams in his spaghetti sauce (with ground beef) . It is soil yummy!

    Or mix a can of cream of chicken (or any other kind) soup with a little milk and pour over pasta.
  • runningagainstmyself
    runningagainstmyself Posts: 616 Member
    I use kelp noodles for my pasta, which are seriously low-cal (think 60cal for the whole package...) then make a healthy, tomato-based sauce as normal, infused with loads of vegetables and spices.
  • Diza114
    Diza114 Posts: 6 Member
    Dump, thanks for sharing.
  • Derpes
    Derpes Posts: 2,033 Member
    Most run of the mill tomato sauces are very low in calories.
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 8,004 Member
    Puttanesca is delicious and relatively low calorie.

    I second puttanesca. It's also a great store cupboard recipe, so I would recommend everyone having the ingredients on hand to rustle up a meal when you run out of fresh food. Tinned tomatoes, anchovies, capers, olives, garlic. Google for actual recipes.
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    As someone else said, it's the pasta that's usually the high calorie element.

    I avoid creamy or cheese sauces, anything tomato based us usually fine, but it's portion control on the pasta serving that makes the most difference.
  • conniehv40
    conniehv40 Posts: 442 Member
    Olive oil with onions in a med heat pan... then add all kinds of veggies that you like--I use summer squash and peppers....

    Add balsamic vinegar and stir with a little salt.

    Then I add baby spinach and parm cheese... When it is all sauteed and ready, I spoon the pasta in and stir and serve.

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