If you’ve never heard of shirataki noodles, I have to warn you: your mind might be blown. These noodles are thin and translucent with a gelatinous texture, but don’t let its looks throw you off. They’re made from konjac yam, but mostly comprised of just water and a water-soluble fibre called glucomannan.
You can purchase them dry or wet, but you’re most likely to find them in “wet” packages. When you open it, you will almost definitely be put off by the smell, but a quick rinse and/or par-boil can help with that. After that, you’re ready to make some delicious, low-carb dishes! Each serving is very low in both calories and carbohydrates. In fact, many labels boast “zero calorie,” which might mean each package contains up to ten or so altogether. Since they’re sourced from yam, they’re inherently gluten-free, vegan, paleo-friendly, and keto-friendly.
They make all different types of shirataki noodles, too. Fettuccine, angel hair pasta, rice… you name it. They’re most often used in Asian-inspired dishes and cold noodle meals, but they make a fabulous starter ingredient for getting creative, and easily take on the taste of the other foods and sauces you serve them with. If you’re missing noodles in your life, these recipes are the answer.
1. Noodle salad with salmon & sesame lime dressing from Happy Body Formula
This recipe is a complete meal with fresh salmon and veggies, plus a citrus-infused sesame dressing. This is a great meal prep dish to put together for a no-heat-required office lunch. And trust us – you will want to make a big batch of this dressing to use for other dishes, too!
2. Honey sesame shirataki noodles from Just One Cookbook
Who couldn’t fall in love with a bowl like this? It’s a spin on Hiyashi Chuka which is a cold Japanese ramen. The shirataki picks up on flavours well, so a healthy blend of sesame oil and honey add both sweet and savoury notes to this dish in every bite. You can top it off with chicken, egg, cilantro, julienned veggies, or whatever you have on hand. This is a quick and easy lunch to make with already-prepped ingredients!
3. Creamy avocado pasta from Happy Keto
Missing a creamy sauce like Alfredo? This avocado pasta will hit the spot, then. With all of its rich, creamy, green goodness, avocado mixed with heavy cream is a dream come true. This pasta is served with basil strewn through the mix, though you could add some fresh herbs and grated cheese or crumbled feta and have this dish turn out even better.
4. Spicy beef ramen from Jam Hands
This takeaway is fast and low-carb. How many ramen joints can say that? Skip the packet for a packet of Shirataki noodles instead, brown some ground beef, use a base of rich beef broth (homemade bone broth is best) and make it as spicy as you’d like. This dish is keto-friendly and jam-packed with flavour, but you could also add some Hoisin sauce if you aren’t cutting carbs.
5. Sesame noodle salad from Serious Eats
This vegan dish is loaded with authentic Chinese flavour from Sichuan peppercorns, Thai chilies, Chinese Chinkiang or black vinegar, sesame paste, and toasted sesame seeds. It’s topped off with a crunchy dose of peanuts, though you could swap them out for cashews if you’re following a paleo diet. Either way, this recipe is worth picking up the obscure ingredients for!