Is Chickpea Pasta Better Than Normal Pasta?
Yes, chickpea pasta is definitely healthy You’ve probably already come to this conclusion: Chickpea pasta is healthy indeed. “I think chickpea pasta is an excellent choice to add to one’s diet,” Albertson says. “It’s lower in simple carbohydrates and more nutritious than regular pasta.”
Dried pastas made from chickpeas, lentils or black beans have more protein and fiber than regular pasta. That’s because this type of pasta is made from beans.
Chickpea pasta, along with other bean- and legume-based pastas, offers more fiber and protein than both white and wheat pastas. Thus, it’s likely better for blood sugar management than other pastas (7, 8, 9).
While all pasta can be healthy, some noodles are more nutritious than others — and trendy chickpea pasta is legitimately an excellent choice. Popular brands like Banza and Barilla can vary ever so slightly in ingredients, taste, and nutrition, but on the whole these products are a smart and filling meal no matter which one you’re making.
Red lentil pasta beats out regular pasta yet again, coming in with 17 mg per serving, compared to 12 mg found in durum wheat pasta. 6. More Iron. Iron is an essential mineral responsible mostly for transporting oxygen throughout the body. Red lentil pasta benefits those seeking more iron at a ratio of 3 to 2 when compared to wheat pasta. 7.
Chickpeas are not only a great source of protein, but they also contain a ton of umami producing amino acids, which makes this quick pasta taste like it’s been simmering for a long time. By undercooking the pasta and finishing it off in the sauce, the pasta absorbs the excess liquid from the sauce, thickening it up nicely without having to reduce it for a long time.
Prepare Pasta:
- Stir together chickpea flour, white flour, and salt. Create well and add in water and oil (either rosemary garlic oil or regular olive oil).
- Using clean countertop, cover the dough with plastic wrap and let sit for 5 minutes. Knead the dough for 10 minutes.
- Once rested, divide the dough into two equal parts.
With one cup of cooked, refined/enriched wheat pasta, like spaghetti, you can expect:
- 220 calories
- 8.1g protein
- 43g carbs
- 2.5g fiber
- 1.3g fat
- 23% RDI (recommended daily intake) manganese
- 53% RDI selenium
- 26% RDI thiamin
- 26% RDI folate