Whole wheat pasta
Does anyone have recommendations for brands of whole wheat pasta? I've tried Heartland and they were too gummy. Thanks!
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19 Comments:
barila. but can only eat it with a lot of sauce
dearrie at 8:02PM on 10/19/08
There are whole wheat pastas and whole grain (or super enriched) pastas. If you find whole wheat unpalatable, try Barilla Plus. Frankly, I like whole wheat pasta because of its pasta-on-steroids attitude. Some people just can't get their tastebuds wrapped around it. ("That's not pasta! It's cardboard shaped like a squiggly!")
therealchiffonade at 8:23PM on 10/19/08
i'm trying to like it but the flavor is alot different then what i'm used to. i love wheat bread but the pasta is hard,
dearrie at 8:31PM on 10/19/08
Trader Joe's brand is really good - and I recommend shapes other than spaghetti/linguini/etc. For some reason the long pastas always seem grainier and weirder to me. I like whole wheat penne and rotelle a lot, though.
producestories at 8:36PM on 10/19/08
I actually don't really notice a flavor difference in the Barilla brand. I think it's really good, and the OH, who isn't really into the whole wheat thing or even really the flavor of pasta really liked it when I made it for him.
nightowl at 9:32PM on 10/19/08
I like Bionaturae.
juliec at 11:36PM on 10/19/08
Chiff said it perfectly - I can't wrap my tastebuds around it. I've tried several brands and types of pasta. Luckily I was cooking for one and could toss them and make a pb&j sandwich instead. Not for me.
PerkyMac at 11:43PM on 10/19/08
i totally agree with producestories -- i can deal with whole wheat pasta (i use trader joe's brand) but ONLY in the penne shape. i really notice the difference when i have whole wheat spaghetti or linguine. i make whole wheat penne with canned whole tomatoes with garlic and hot pepper flakes, and slices of chicken sausage, and though i reeeeallllyyyy don't like whole wheat anything, i do feel like it augments the flavor in this one case -- ie a heavy sauce that covers the wheatness ;)
megannesta at 2:32AM on 10/20/08
Given that it has the same calories, and tomato sauce has fiber, is the nutritional benefits of the pasta really worth the sacrifice of taste, for those who love pasta?
I like spaghetti squash instead.
HeartofGlass at 5:49AM on 10/20/08
@HeartofGlass - You have a good point - it's probably not worth it to a pasta purist or a fan of plain pasta with simple, light sauce. But if you're making dishes with hearty sauces or chunky ingredients that whole wheat pasta suits, it's worth using, because it's more nutritious but also more filling than white pasta, and the fiber keeps you feeling full longer.
My personal policy is that I avoid refined grains wherever possible, but rather than simply substitute whole wheat pasta for white pasta, I've changed the way I use pasta - with highly-flavored and hearty ingredients, rather than just with sauce - to better incorporate the whole wheat version.
producestories at 8:23AM on 10/20/08
It seems that I'm in the minority - I actually love whole wheat pasta (usually Barilla). I like my pasta very al dente, and I enjoy that extra bite of the whole wheat pasta. I also rarely eat pasta with sauces. Olive oil, garlic and basil is all I need, although since I simply like the taste of ww pasta, it really wouldn't matter what sauces I like. My OH, on the other hand, has a strong dislike for ww pasta, which I just now begin to understand...
brooke29 at 10:53AM on 10/20/08
Bionature is good... DeBoles is good too - I buy their whole wheat, rice and jerusalem artichoke versions. I also buy another brand my supermarket carries called Luiggi Vitelli.
MadelynRodriguez at 11:02AM on 10/20/08
I've tried whole wheat pasta several times and ended up tossing it out. It's not for me and my family. We enjoy traditional homemade pasta and nothing, in my opinion, tastes better. When using dried pasta I use DeCecco products. If I want extra fiber I look for it somewhere else.
dianeb at 11:42AM on 10/20/08
I like TJ's brand, but pastas that are a whole grain blend rather than 100% might be easier to take.
buffy at 1:03PM on 10/20/08
I like ww pasta too, @brooke29! In some dishes I actually think it tastes better than traditional semolina pasta. I think the nutty bite of it goes really well with things like pesto, veggies, and some sharp cheeses. I also go for Barilla, mostly because it's the only brand of ww my grocery store carries...
embolini9 at 3:08PM on 10/20/08
I have never liked whole wheat pasta. Now it's all we eat, thanks to this brand we get at Whole Paycheck: Gia Russa. It's quite delicate in flavor, cooks as quickly (if not more so) than regular pasta, and not even the penne is stodgy. Highly recommended.
Deb Harkness at 12:19AM on 10/21/08
@embolini9 - you're right about sharp cheeses, I would definitely choose ww over semolina pasta to go with, say, aged Fontina, Manchego or Pecorino!
brooke29 at 1:05AM on 10/21/08
Italians don't eat whole wheat pasta ... the flavor isn't worth it to me. tastes funky
emlod10 at 9:43AM on 10/21/08
We really like Barilla Whole Grain pasta. It has a nutty taste but it's the same texture as regular pasta!
Hillary
Chew On That
Chew on That at 3:12PM on 10/21/08