Delectable Lamb Spaghetti

by Noor H. Salem

In the past, we’ve discussed the recently growing trend of gluten-free foods, and the lack of scrumptious options when it comes to pasta. Opting for a gluten-free diet may in fact be relieving for you if you have celiac disease, or experience gluten intolerance symptoms such as bloating, indigestion, abdominal pain, nausea, heart burn, or excessive lethargy.

Nonetheless, if you a box of crackers, cookies, cereal, pasta, or grain has “gluten-free” on the label, it’s not an automatic green light for a health food. Be aware that it could still contain plenty of unhealthy ingredients, such as enriched bleached flour, refined added sugar, soybean oil, or hydrogenated oils. Whether you’re eating gluten or avoiding it completely, read your ingredients, and ensure you are able to recognize what’s in your food.

One of my clients’ favorite brand of pasta has been Explore Cuisine, ranging from their chickpea fusilli to their spaghetti made of organic beans. The pastas are extremely high in protein, fiber, and a myriad of minerals and vitamins. If you are unable to consume gluten, whether due to celiac, or an intolerance with more subtle symptoms, this pasta will be revolutionary. You can add in your favorite steamed vegetables, pesto sauce, and protein, or eat it as is with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon.

It’s unfortunate that spaghetti comes with a readily bad reputation, but evidently the overload of unhealthy meat and cheese, full of traces hormones and antibiotics, can have detrimental consequences on your health. The noodles you choose can also reflect the nutritional value of the dish you cook up; the majority of pastas and spaghetti noodles are made with enriched bleached flour, genetically engineered ingredients, and preservatives. Moreover, spaghetti is normally made without vegetables, so adding in kale and mushrooms makes this a much better choice for you and your family.

Try this healthy recipe below, and you’ll find it difficult to favor traditional pasta or spaghetti over it. Knowing it’s bursting with vitamins, fiber, and protein, will only cause you to enjoy it further.

Ingredients:

• 1 box Explore Cuisine Organic Chickpea Fusilli or Organic Edamame spaghetti
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons cold-pressed avocado oil
• 1 medium red onion, minced
• 1 cup Portobello mushrooms, sliced
• 2 cups fresh kale, finely chopped
• 1 pound organic grass-fed lamb, ground
• 1 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
• 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
• ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
• ¼ cup organic grass-fed cheese, freshly grated
• 4 cups homemade spaghetti sauce

Directions:

1. Cook the pasta as directed on the package; once ready place in a serving platter. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and lightly toss.
2. Place the red onion and avocado oil in a deep pot, and cook on medium-high heat about three to four minutes, or until caramelized.
3. Add the ground lamb, dill, and salt; cook on medium-high heat until well-done.
4. Toss in the mushrooms and kale; stir occasionally until tender.
5. Stir in the spaghetti sauce, and allow to simmer on low heat for about ten minutes.
6. Remove the sauce mixture from heat, and pour over the pasta. Toss slightly.
7. Garnish with chopped parsley, and organic cheese. Serve with a homemade kale salad for a healthy and complete meal. Enjoy!

Noor H. Salem is an author, speaker, and Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, from Michigan. Noor works with clients in better understanding their bodies and healing with natural foods through her wellness practice, Holistic Noortrition. She presents various workshops, school lectures, group coaching classes, and community lectures on the topic of holistic health. Noor recently published her book, SUNNAH SUPERFOODS, a culmination of life-changing recipes and remedies, with a foreword by Dr. Waleed Basyouni. Her book consists of prophetic hadith, modern research, and delicious recipes, and is in the process of being translated into other languages.