If you’re low carbing it for the first time this new year, you’re probably like, “Aw crap. I’ll never enjoy a pasta salad ever again.” With that, you throw your hand across your forehead and swoon across your fainting couch. You might moan a little for cosmic effect or call out for your smelling salts. That’s the spirit! Go big or go back to bed, I always say.
This salad can be made with or without the Dreamfields noodles. If you rotinitastic, be sure to only add the noodles in prior to serving, since vinegar is likely to suck the magical unicorn matrix from the pasta, making the number of digestible carbs greater over time. In other words, if you take this dish to a party, send the rest home with friends.
The other option: Don’t use the pasta at all and sub in cubes of cheese and cukes. I’m all about accessorizing…
Festive Pasta Salad
The salad:
1 box (roughly 8 ounces) uncooked Dreamfields rotini pasta
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped cauliflower
1/2 lb broccoli, coarsely chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
1/4 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 sweet red pepper, cut into strips
1 medium green pepper, cut into strips
1/4 cup sliced black olives
The dressing:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup white vinegar
pepper to taste
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp basil
1 tsp garlic powder
The garnish:
2 Tbsp Parmesan grated cheese
1/2 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, rinse with cold water and drain again.
2. Combine pasta with cauliflower and broccoli in a large bowl.
3. Add onion, mushrooms, peppers, and olives. Set aside.
4. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, vinegar, pepper, paprika, basil and garlic powder. Beat until smooth.
5. Pour the dressing over the amount of salad you plan to serve and gently toss.
6. Before serving, top with cheese and cherry tomatoes.
Makes 8 servings.
What about low carb pasta, like Dreamfields?
I can't believe I forgot to write "dreamfields." I totally mean Dreamfields! Thanks for asking!
OMG. Do these cucs make me look fat? 😉
I love Dreamfield's, but I eat it sparingly! LOL
That looks delicious!!!!!
Unfortunately for a majority of people the alleged protected carbs in Dreamfields pasta act exactly the same as ordinary carbohydrates. I'd go with cheese cubes and shredded cauliflower or jicama instead. Otherwise looks delicious.
I Hate To Break The News, But…
Submitted by Dana on Fri, 2011-05-13 14:55
I am going to bum a lot of you out today, but it has to be done. A study has now been done, comparing the blood sugar impact of Dreamfield’s pasta to the blood sugar impact of standard pasta. The blood sugar curves were essentially identical. Read it and weep.
Hi, Dana! It is true that Dreamfields definitely affects some people in a not-so-hot way; those are definitely folks who shouldn’t consume the pasta. OTOH, my family and friends have had really good luck with the pasta. There’s been no hunger issues at all, and I know we are prone to hunger, so I was incredibly wary when testing after reading the same posts you did! I think it’s one of those ‘your mileage may vary’ situations. Adding to that, we cook only to al dente and we try to never have leftovers–two practices which help ensure the matrix doesn’t break down. I think both of us can be right; for some, Dreamfields is a go-to, and for others, it won’t be. Here’s my experience with the product: https://yourlighterside.com/review-dreamfields-pasta-2/
Oats are not low carb.
Check out https://www.wheatbellyblog.com/author/heartprotection/
and https://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/saturated-fat/wheat-belly/
All cereal grains are high-carb and none are above suspicion, some for different reasons than others.
People who have trouble processing carbs should be wary.
Couldn’t you use some type of Miracle Noodles?
Absolutely you can! You could even choose to go noodle free or use chopped up cauli as a white starch.
Do you have the approximate carb count on this without the pasta? I’ve been doing low carb for about 3 months and hesitate to have the pasta. Don’t want to start down a slippery slope.