Craving Italian but worry about the high glycemic content (NOODLES)? Here's my answer to take care of that craving!
"Healthy Spag with Vegetable Mash"
the "Spag:"
1-2 pounds lean ground turkey or hamburger
1 bottle your favorite spaghetti sauce, or use canned tomatoes with Italian spices
In skillet, cook turkey/hamburger until down. Season lightly with garlic salt. Add sauce to the meat. Simmer on low. I also add some canned diced tomatoes if I have them on hand. Since it will be served by itself, I try and keep the amount of liquid added to a minimum.
the "Mash:"
1-2 bags (depending on size) of frozen veggies with cauliflower, zuchinni, and carrots.
1-2 cups frozen spinach
1-2 tablespoons butter, or 1-2 tablespoons olive oil.
Your favorite Basil or Italian seasoning
Place frozen veggies in large sauce pan and add approximately 1-2 cups water–enough so there is 1-1 1/2 inches of water on the bottom
Place lid on pan and cook on high heat until completely cooked. Lower heat and keep simmering until veggies are very soft. Add butter/oil, and any Italian seasonings you'd like.
When all combined, using large spoon, mix and slightly "mash" the veggies together. The carrots will probably be the only ones that will stay in tact. Serve just like mashed potatoes.
Place both "Spag" and "Mash" on a plate, sprinkle a little shredded cheese. Serve with a small, healthy piece of whole wheat/grain bread, with goat cheese on top.
My kids didn't even notice there were no noodles!! And they actually ate the veggies, since they were seasoned and served together just "like mashed potatoes!". My hubby said, "The sauce/meat is always my favorite part of spaghetti, anyways!"
In the mood for Italien? How about some "Spag and Mash?!"
What's in YOUR fridge that you have "tweaked" to make a healthier version?!
We actually love spaghetti with spaghetti squash. It is seriously like using angel hair pasta.
I was about to tell you the same thing. We use spaghetti squash in place of noodles for spaghetti all the time! Delish!!!!!!
Yes–Spaghetti squash is a wonderful option! You can also use a shredding-like tool and use zucchini and other squash as the “noodle,” too.
or you could use a spaggetti squash…. adding more veggies in the process.
I finally cooked one, thinking it’d be hard, but it wasn’t at all. The hardest part by far was cutting the squash in half…they have a pretty tough outer shell!