Here are dishes from around the globe, gluten-free and grain-free pasta options on supermarket shelves and online and five delicious recipes to satisfy your cravings.
A World of Noodles
San Francisco-based food marketing firm AF&Co. predicts the iconic Singaporean dish laksa—rice noodles in spicy coconut broth garnished with hard-boiled eggs, shrimp and/or fried tofu—will be America’s hottest dish of 2022.In Vietnam, people start the day with pho (rice noodles in rich, aromatic broth), often grabbing a bowl at a sidewalk stall on their way to work or school.The noodle dish of Korea is japchae, a side dish made with clear sweet potato noodles tossed with a savory-sweet sauce and lots of vegetables.Many Americans recently discovered spaghetti con zucchine alla Nerano on CNN’s Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy docuseries (and in Tucci’s new memoir Taste). The dish features thinly sliced zucchini fried until golden brown and tossed with chopped basil, olive oil, pasta water and lots of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.The all-American specialty Cincinnati chili consists of Greek-style meat sauce served atop spaghetti, often with lots of shredded cheese and onions (aka the “four-way”).Last year, baked feta and cherry tomatoes tossed with pasta took the internet by storm. It sounds like a classic Mediterranean dish, but the trend first took off in Finland.
The Ever-Expanding Pasta Aisle
The trend in gluten-free and grain-free pasta continues to grow, so there’s a noodle to fit just about any dietary need.
Legumes keep things gluten-free in Banza’s chickpea-based classic Italian pastas ($3.79, amazon.com) and Tolerant Food’s green and red lentil pastas ($4.39, amazon.com).Jovial’s grain-free cassava pastas ($5, jovialfoods.com) are gluten-free and paleo-friendly.Spaghetti squash has long been a go-to pasta substitute. Solely’s dried organic spaghetti squash pasta ($8, solely.com) transforms it into a pantry staple.Spiralizing put zoodles on America’s plate. Cece’s Veggie Co.’s noodled zucchini and butternut squash ($6), in the produce section, makes it a speedy option.
Noodle Recipes
Giada De Laurentiis’ Pasta With Apples, Sausage and Gorgonzola Jet Tila’s Classic Pad Thai Jenn Louis’ Cuban-Style Chicken Noodle Soup Amanda Rettke’s Buffalo Chicken Mac ‘N’ Cheese Alison Ashton’s Spicy Ramen With Pork Meatballs and Eggs
