I have a confession to make. I can’t eat whole wheat pasta. It’s true! I’m all for eating healthy and not overdoing it, I exercise regularly and I consider myself “relatively fit.” I’m also fairly conscious of what I put into my body. I’ve refused to take prescriptions from my doctor after looking into them, I won’t take pain killers unless the hangover is really bad. So all that being said, I can’t do it….. some people will mix half regular and half whole wheat and claim you can’t taste the difference. What are you n’Americano? of course I can taste the difference! There are just some things that you don’t mess with. So with all the hype of elections this year, I’m starting my own campaign.
Pasta Lovers against Whole Wheat Pasta
What You’ll need:
- 1/2 an onion diced
- 1 clove of garlic diced
- 1/2 pound of chicken (or pork) diced into bite sized pieces
- 2 cups of tomato sauce
- heavy cream
- 1 pound of your favorite pasta (De Cecco Rigitoni tonight!)
- seasoning
- extra virgin olive oil (from Italy)
Pour some olive oil in a large sauce pan and throw in your garlic and onion. Fry the garlic and onion on low heat until it starts to brown and get soft, then add in the chicken (or pork) and stir occasionally until almost fully cooked. Now add the tomato sauce…. what kind you say? Well, we jar our own in late summer but use the brand you like best. It’s probably just as good (not really but I’m trying to make you feel better.) You could also use fresh tomatoes. Add your seasoning: We use sea salt, crushed black pepper, basil and a chicken bullion cube (try it!). Simmer for about 15 minutes, then stir in a splash of heavy cream and continue simmering for another 10 minutes. Cook your pasta al dente, drain and add your sauce… WALLAH! We make a full pound so that we have enough for lunch the next day. Buon appetito!
HELLS YEAH, Joe! I’m standing up too for this fabulous idea. I’ve tried…LORD knows I’ve tried. Really freaking tried to love whole wheat pasta. I can’t do it. I figure a whole nation of people, my people (in heritage) have lived off regular non-wholewheat pasta for centuries and they are doing just fine. They don’t live in one of the most obese nations, their life expectancy is higher than most and they are happy. Why can’t Americans just stop messing with good things and just find a happy balance?
I have a recipe on our blog for whole wheat pasta (it’s an adaptaion of a jacques pepin recipe) – but I basically counteract the ‘heathiness’ of it by adding lots of gruyere cheese and a fried egg on top. Somehow I think it masked the whole wheat pasta… ya think?
I’m with you Joe. I used to believe that baloney about pasta being no good for you until I came here and saw healthy, thin people eating pasta once a day, just about every day (other days they may eat rice). They won’t eat it more than once a day, but pasta is their main lunchtime meal.
Of course, like “we are never full” said, it also depends on what you put on it. But pasta with tomato sauce is a good healthy meal. Skip the fake whole wheat stuff!
Joe, love the idea! I guess I won’t be able to participate though, cause I kinda like the whole wheat stuff too. Don’t get me wrong, I eat regular pasta..and I LOVE it!! But, I don’t have a problem with the whole wheat stuff. I usually buy a good brand though, so I think that makes a difference. My next post is actually a healthy pasta recipe that uses ww pasta that I just tried and liked. Hope you can forgive me
Maybe you can ’cause I am not a true Italian. Good luck, I am sure you will have quite a following!!!
I’m with you Joe! I think whole wheat pasta tastes like cardboard!
That is a yummy sauce!
Pat in Brooklyn
Warning: Do not read my blog’s entry today on an empty stomach!
ha ha ha!!! I just had a conversation with one of my customers today about this!!! It’s just not right, I’m with you Joe!!:)
haha! Well, we always called it macaroni before it got swanky! haha
Go get ‘em, Joe!
AMEN, finally someone has started a movement that has meaning! Whole wheat pasta tastes like cardboard, yuck! My motto, eat it in moderation and just have a little bit and you’ll be fine! I live on pasta…if it were up to my husband we’d have it every night. And your right Joe, the homemade canned tomato sauce DOES NOT compare to store bought! I’ve converted so many “Americani’s” to the homemade, they don’t even touch the sore kind anymore.
Amy – ya have to do something to mask that taste! I don’t blame you.
MB – I think the whole no carb/ atkins thing is partially to blame.
That’s ok Robin… you’re still an honorary Italiana in my book.
Pat – and why would we want to eat cardboard…right? Empty stomach or not Pat, I can always fit in a good pizza:) great idea!
Lorraine – I know I won’t see it on your new menu!
Maryann… I knew you’d get a kick out of that!
Amen Maria! moderation… that’s why Italians have room for secondi:)
I agree. My Dad used to forcefeed me wholewheat pasta. Bleaugh
Hey, Joe. Just wanted to say that I gave you a little blog ‘virtual award’. you can check it out here:
http://www.weareneverfull.com/graziegraciasthank-you/
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7103122267134934350&postID=770363563631070548
I’ve tried that whole wheat pasta I thought it was awful. Texturally it was soft and mushy, it didn’t have that chewy bite that I long for.
I won’t even TRY it, Joe! I agree. There are some things you don’t mess with!!
Good recipe. Thanks for sharing!
I just commented over at Robin’s place–I tried it once a long time ago and it was awful. I believe that it’s probably gotten better but P won’t even consider it, which means I won’t either unless I’m up for making two pots of pasta with each meal. And, for the record, I’m not. I wouldn’t mind trying it again just out of curiosity though…but then again, I also tried spleen in Palermo
There is absolutely no reason to subject yourself to whole wheat pasta! Yes, the Americans are all worried about eating carbs… but Italians live on carbs, and they are healthier than Americans. One secret is that pasta cooked correctly– al dente– has a lower glycemic index than overcooked pasta (which is how it usually comes in the states!)
Oh yes, another Italian health secret may be that they don’t eat candy bars, or snacks at all, and they don’t drink 20oz of milk with their coffees… just a thought…
Figcharlie: I’m so sorry about that;)
Thanks so much Amy!
Michelle – I knew P was a smart man;)
I agree Rachel… and could add a list a mile long to yours! thanks for stopping by.
I’m with you Joe….whole wheat pasta is just gross!!!!! Makes me gag! I want my pasta to stick to my bones and if you saw me, you know it does!
Hmmm gonna try your tomato sauce.
I’m glad your with me Lucia…. let me know how it comes out.
Hey Joe- I can’t say anything more than our Amici have already said… whole wheat pasta… “if it ain’t broke…”… I always figure if it was good enough for the last couple of centuries, no real reason to change it. I will warn you though, there is something worse than the Whole Wheat: Brown Rice Pasta. I will not NOT!! refer to it as macaroni- it has no place in the macaroni world (and I am SURE that Maryann would agree!). Durum Semolina… the only way to go. And btw, thanks for the great picture- that is the ideal dish of macaroni… De Cecco (love how it ‘grows’ in the water) and just the right amount of tomatoes to coat it- not drown it… I think I know what I’ll be making for dinner tonight
Johnny T
Johnny… thanks for joining the movement. Real Italians don’t eat whole wheat:) The brown rice pasta sounds like an awful thing.
you know it’s been two years since this was posted – whole wheat pastas have come a long way since then. I’m eating one right now and they taste a lot better than they did.