How To Cook & Like Shirataki Noodles

What if I Don't Like the Taste and Texture?

Both taste and texture can be significantly improved if you follow this guide. The golden rule is to rinse them really well and pan-fry them without oil or other liquid in order to remove as much water as possible. The less water remains in the noodles, the better the texture. Once they are prepared, they can be cooked in sauces, gravies, with cheese or in stir-fries.

What Are Shirataki Noodles?

Shirataki noodles (aka miracle noodles, konjak noodles, or konnyaku noodles) is an ingredient popular in Asian cuisine. It's made from konjak plant which is ground and then shaped into noodles, fettuccini or even rice. Shirataki noodles are almost zero calorie and zero carb.

They are 97% water, 3% fibre and traces of protein, fat and calcium. There are 4 kcal and about 1 gram of net carbs per 100 g (3.5 oz) of shirataki noodles. If you find that the packaging says "zero" calories or "zero carbs", etc. it's because the FDA allowed products with less than 5 calories, less than 1 gram of carbs, protein and fat to be labeled as zero.

What are the Benefits of Eating Shirataki Noodles?

 This study shows that glucomannan, a type of soluble fibre found in shirataki noodles, may help you lose weight and improve health. Interestingly, glucomannan powder can be used as thickener in smoothies or instead of xanthan gum. Below are the main benefits of glucomannan:

• Soluble fiber is very low in calories and lowers the energy-to-weight ratio of the food that is consumed.
• It has shown to promote satiety via several mechanisms. Including shirataki noodles will keep you full for longer!
• It slows down digestion which again induces satiety.
• It inhibits carbohydrate absorption and improves glycemic parameters (lowering blood glucose levels and inhibiting insulin spikes).
• It reduces fat and protein absorption (only beneficial for excessive calorie consumption).

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Are There Any Side Effects of Eating Shirataki Noodles?

The same study shows that there are few potential side effects of glucomannan.

• It may cause minor gastrointestinal issues, such as bloating, gas, and mild diarrhea. If it does, reduce the serving size.
• It may reduce the bioavailability of oral medications. You should avoid eating shirataki noodles with your medication and supplements. The medication should be taken 1 hour before or 4 hours after your meal containing glucomannan.
• There have been some incidents of esophagus, throat or intestine blockage by using glucomannan tablets which absorb large amounts of water. Note that the tablets are not the same as shirataki noodles which already contain water and don't pose this risk.
• Since there are no nutrients, do not overuse products containing glucomannan. The vast majority of your diet should be focused on real food (eggs, meat, non-starchy vegetables, raw dairy, avocados, berries, nuts, etc).

Do Shirataki Noodles Taste Like Pasta?

If you really want to enjoy shirataki noodles, don't have high expectations. They won't taste like real pasta but they make a fantastic pasta alternative when they are prepared the right way.

You can find all sorts of products using glucomannan: noodles, fettuccini, penne or even rice. My favourite ones are noodles and rice simply because the texture is better and gets easily mixed with other ingredients, minimising the rubbery sensation.

How to Cook Shirataki Noodles (The Best Way!)

The steps to the perfect shirataki noodles, rice or penne, follow the simple steps below:

• Rinse the shirataki noodles well.
• Fill a saucepan with water, bring to a boil and cook the noodles for about 3 minutes. Adding a dash of vinegar helps!
• Drain the noodles, place in a hot dry pan and cook on high for about 10 minutes.
• Use in stir-fries, cook in sauces or gravies, bake with cheese, an don't forget about flavour by using herbs and spices. Cooking shirataki directly in sauces makes the flavours penetrate so you have flavorful keto pasta dish.

How To Use Shitarataki Noodles

The best way is to use them in stir-fries rather than regular pasta meals, or combine them with other otptions such as zucchini noodles or palmini noodles.

As shirataki noodles have no nutrients, use small amounts and mix them with other ingredients like vegetables, meat, sauce and/or cheese. Adding spices, herbs, garlic, ginger and other ingredients will infuse them with fantastic flavour and make them taste truly delicious!

Try in my Easy Paleo Pad Thai, Vegetable Laksa with Shirataki Noodles or Prawn & Noodle Stir-Fry!

Nutritional values (per serving, half pack)