Cooking With 100% Whole-Wheat Pasta

It takes a few minutes longer to relax the gluten (protein) and make this pasta less chewy, but experimenting with one of the NEW 100% whole-wheat pastas available at Raley’s, Bel Air and Nob Hill maybe worth the extra wait. About 10-12 extra minutes should do it. It’s so easy to exchange one of these 100% whole grain pastas with regular pasta in a traditional recipe. I believe if you are striving to embrace a healthier lifestyle, it just keeps getting easier at Raley’s.

Since first eating whole grain pasta back in the 1970’s, I’ve seen the quality and taste improve substantially. Give one a try in place of your favorite regular pasta recipes and experiment with different brands until you find one that you like. Perhaps try mixing half whole-grain and half regular pastas when preparing your favorite dishes. Some people discover whole grain pastas taste better with sauces other than the usual marinara. It can be delicious when eaten cold or hot.

100% whole-wheat pasta is typically more wholesome. Each 2 oz. serving of Heartland Pasta for example, has 5 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein plus you have a better chance of getting more vitamins, minerals, fiber, phytoestrogens, lignans, and antioxidants. We also carry Fill Circle, Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat, Westbrae, Gia Russa and Da Vinci to name a few!

Each whole-wheat pasta has a unique color, flavor and texture, while being fairly similar nutritionally. So it will all reduce to personal preferences when choosing which to purchase. Be forewarned that you may eat a little less whole-grain and higher fiber pastas than normal since they seem to be more satisfying. When I’m deciding on whether to buy whole grain or regular pasta, I think about which kind will taste better in the dish. I love combining whole grain pastas with greens as in this Whole Grain Lasagna Layered with Swiss Chard and Ricotta recipe.