🍜 EASY HEALTHY DINNERS: Zucchini & Sweet Potato Noodles with Celery Lentil Bolognese Sauce and Vegan Parmesan 🍜
Noodles made from vegetables such as zucchini, pumpkin, red beet, carrot and sweet potato are the perfect gluten-free pasta low in calories and high in health-promoting nutrients to nourish your body.
Though you might have heard of zoodles (aka zucchini noodles) before there are so many other vegetables you can turn into a lovely pasta dish. Yesterday I mixed things a little up and decided to make a sweet potato and zucchini pasta... nom nom nom. Empty pots and happy bellies. That's what I love.
Ever since my hubby was diagnosed with MS we have been on a mission to control the disease through food, exercise, and stress management. With great success.
Though reducing gluten consumption (pasta, bread, and other baked goods) alone is not going to do it, it is a vital part. Though we still eat bread and pasta on occasion we try to reduce this to an absolute minimum. And that's where noodles made from veggies come into play... perfect alternative.
Once you get used to eating more veggies you might even enjoy them more than regular pasta. We sure do!
Zucchini & Sweet Potato Noodles with Celery Lentil Bolognese Sauce and Vegan Parmesan
Ingredients (serves 2)
2 small to medium zucchini, spiralized
1 small sweet potato, peeled and spiralized
1/3 cup fresh chopped chives (Garnish)
For the sauce
1 cup celery, chopped
1 cup carrot, chopped
¾ cup onion, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
⅓ cup yellow split lentils or any other lentils you have, uncooked
3 cups tomatoes, chopped
1 cup water
Sea salt and black pepper to taste
Herb mix
1 bay leaf
1 tsp dried rosemary
2 tsp dried oregano
½ tsp paprika powder
For the vegan parmesan
Raw cashew nuts
Nutritional yeast to add cheesy flavor
Onion and garlic powder
Sea salt
Directions
- Heat cooking oil over medium heat. Saute onion for 3-5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Then add celery and carrots and cook for 3-4 minutes before adding the lentils, tomatoes, and water. Season with herbs and cook, covered for 20 to 30 minutes.
- In a blender combine all vegan Parmesan ingredients according to taste. Blend until you have a parmesan-like texture of the cashews. Taste and add more seasonings if needed.
- In a skillet, heat cooking oil over medium heat. Toss in the veggie noodles and cook until al dente or still a little crisp. Add Bolognese sauce and top with “Parmesan” cheese and chives.
Bon Appétit
ALL CONTENT IS MINE AND ORIGINAL!
PICTURE(s) TAKEN WITH NIKON D5600
The lightness of vege pastas and vege rice is so much nicer than the sluggishness that wheat pasta can give.
I couldn't agree more!
I am glad you and your husband are able to manage his MS with diet, exercise and stress management, we're rooting for you! 💚
It's amazing what a whole food plant based along with exercise can do! 🌱💪
Which techniques do you use for stress management? I have a lot of stress at work and I can see that it is affecting my overall health. I have started with meditation, and I am hoping if I do it consistently that it will help. 🧘🏻♂️
I need to get myself a spiralizer! It's sad to say, but after being vegan for 2.5 years, I still haven't tried zoodles! 😂
Do you have a julienne peeler? Works fine too. Used that in the beginning and then bought the hand spiralizer. This post on my website might interest you ;) https://eatlove.live/spiralized-vegetables/
For stress... meditation, starting our own company, and moving away from Europe has helped a lot. I am a bit of a chameleon and adapt everywhere, but my husband was stressed living in Belgium and all its rules. Cambodia is a simplified life. We work from home, go exercise (also great stress buster) and meditate.
And diet of course...helps a little with stress too.
Take care ;)
It looks delicious and yummy.....thanks for sharing
Always a pleasure. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Looks delicious
It sure was. Thanks for stopping by!
You had me at VEGAN PARMESAN!!!
Lol... always the cheeses ;)
Sounds delicious! :)
Thanks @nina.ser ;)
That looks so delicious. I've heard about others who managed to keep their MS in check using the same techniques.
So great to hear that it works for you.
I'm resteeming this so we can reach out to more people.
Happy you wrote this post :) It's important we talk about different diseases and how a plant based diet can have a positive impact on them.
Thanks for all the love and support. Our diet is so important, and while there is no one diet fits all, eatimg more plants is defintely key.
So true :) Would love to hear more about how your diet and the impact of your hubbys MS. I love to read about peoples stories and especially when a plant based diet is involved :)
I wrote some in the past but it is indeed woth writig about again. thanks for the tip :) Love those stories too btw ;)
Veggies for the win! So happy your hubs is managing well with you cooking all this wonderfully healthy and beautiful food for your family. I had a personal training client about 4 years ago who had just been diagnosed with MS then. I adored her--she was a feisty Irish woman, but I don't think she was motivated enough at the time to really make any dietary changes. Maybe I'll cross paths with her again one day with more positive motivation that it can be managed! Thank you for the inspiration!
Thanks @plantstoplanks! There is indeed also a lot of healing coming from willpower and positive thoughts.. and all the whole foods of course. Moving to Cambodia and less stress also helped! Thanks for the continuous support. Much appreciated! Enjoy the rest of this beautiful Sunday!
Pardon my ignorance. This is the first time I’ve seen zoodles because I’m not a vegan.
Texture of the zoodles was intended to be soft or springy?
No need to be vegan. Zoodles became popular through diets like paleo (who eat meat but no grains). How you like to cook them is up to you. When they are too soft they kinda fall apart. I like them a little soft but still crunchy too. Somewhere between raw and cooked. Give them a go and let me know what you think. Have a great day!
Mmmm, mmmm, You used my favourite mix of veggies! For me this dish looks absolutely delicious. I love noodles from veggies, and the sauce fits perfect to it, I guess. Why I didn't come up with that yet? :D
Hehe. Glad I turned your fav veggies into a healthy meal. You won't regret making this one. Have a great day!