Sweet Potato Pasta Recipe - Build Your Bite (2024)

FAQs

Is sweet potato pasta healthy? ›

Although there is not much added nutrition from eating sweet potato noodles, they only have 70 calories, making them a good option for those trying to cut calories. If protein and vegetables are added to sweet potato noodles, they can definitely be beneficial in keeping calories low but still having a balanced meal.

Baking can also cause an 80% drop in vitamin A levels, twice as much as boiling. Therefore, from a nutritional standpoint, boiling rather than baking should be recommended for cooking sweet potato.

1 cup of spiralized sweet potatoes has 114 calories, 27 grams of carbohydrates and 4 grams of fiber. 1 Cup of plain pasta contains 220 calories, 43 grams of carbs and 3 grams of fiber. These are drastic numbers when we are looking at calories and carbohydrate counts.

Boiling sweet potatoes retains more beta-carotene and makes the nutrient more absorbable than other cooking methods such as baking or frying. Up to 92% of the nutrient can be retained by limiting the cook time, such as boiling in a pot with a tightly covered lid for 20 minutes.

If you enjoy sweet potatoes, you can absolutely enjoy them daily. However, eating multiple sweet potatoes every day could cause a harmless condition called carotenodermia, where your skin turns yellow-orange. You may also want to be cautious about your sweet potato intake if you have a history of kidney stones.

Sweet potatoes are known to be high in fiber and have a low glycemic index, which results in a less immediate impact on blood glucose levels. This can help people with diabetes keep their blood sugar levels in check.

There is not much difference between boiling sweet potatoes with the skins on versus peeling them, but you will get a boost of fiber and potassium if you keep the skin on. The skin also adds a subtle texture to each bite. If you're looking for a smoother mash, peel the potatoes first before boiling.

The cold water bath helps rinse the starch off the sweet potatoes so they're a bit more crispy. That said, if you do not have the time, you can still get crispy baked sweet potato fries by using high heat and a little drizzle of olive oil.

A really good sweet potato casserole filling should be light and moist, not dense. If it's dense, then you may not have added an often overlooked ingredient—an egg. An egg adds lift, structure and volume and makes the filling more custard-like.

Whole wheat pasta is an excellent choice for diabetics as it contains whole grains. In addition to whole wheat pasta having a lower glycemic index than traditional pasta, whole wheat pasta also contains more fiber which can help to keep blood sugar levels in check.

Is sweet potato pasta good for diabetics? ›

Sweet potatoes are a popular food among people with diabetes, and for good reason. As a root vegetable, the sweet potato is higher in fiber than its tuberous cousin, the white potato. Fiber cannot be digested by the human body, so it provides bulk without adding calories and helps you feel full for longer.

For lower calorie and carbohydrate content, rice comes out top. But if protein and fibre is your aim, pasta wins over rice. That said, both can play a part in a healthy diet - and as the nutritional differences are quite small, it often comes down to which you would prefer.

Just one sweet potato gives you 102% of the vitamin A you need each day. This helps keep your eyes healthy as well as your immune system, your body's defense against germs. It's also good for your reproductive system and organs like your heart and kidneys.

Eating a sweet potato post-workout is ideal as they contain copper, which can help replenish energy levels and protect the cardiovascular, nervous and skeletal system. It also strengthens the tendons needed to lift weights. Just one cup of baked sweet potato contains 36% of your daily copper needs.

The beta-carotene in sweet potatoes has been shown to fight inflammation, and eating them regularly can help ease joint pain and other symptoms of inflammatory conditions like arthritis. If you're looking for a delicious way to reduce inflammation, add some sweet potatoes to a salad or bake alongside protein!

A Diet-Friendly Alternative

But regular noodles are incredibly high in sodium and having them for snacks or dinner too often could put you at risk for a number of wellness issues. On the other hand, sweet potato noodles are made without sodium, and are also low in calories, sugar, and fat.

They are rich in antioxidants that boost immunity and protect the health of essential organs, such as the heart and kidneys. They are also low in calories. Sweet potato recipes include boiled potatoes, cooked with other vegetables, or made into french fries. You can also bake sweet potatoes for a healthier alternative.

Rich in Antioxidants

Moreover, sweet potato is extremely rich in vitamins A and C. Vitamin A is essential for enhancing your vision, fighting heart disease, and improves the function of your kidneys. In just a single serving, sweet potatoes offer vitamin C with properties rich in collagen, iron, and potassium.

Sweet potato noodles (70 calories)

A healthier alternative to rice and yellow noodles, sweet potato noodles is a staple in Korean food which is slowly going mainstream thanks to its slippery, slightly chewy texture. The Good: It is made from sweet potato starch and it has no fat and no protein.