Weight Loss Shirataki Noodles Pass the Taste Test

I spent the bulk of yesterday researching Shirataki Noodles, also called Miracle Noodles, and Kannyaku noodles. According to everywhere I looked, people are having positive results with the noodles for improving health and weight loss. The problem most people have with them is that they taste bad and have an off-putting texture. I wanted to try them but all of the talk of the bad taste, fishy smell, and rubbery texture had me nervous.

I managed to pull together a bit of courage and went to my local grocery store to seek them out. I found the Tofu Shirataki noodles in the Asian produce section in between the Tofu and the egg roll wrappers. I figured I would try this kind because I had read that the Tofu version was less rubbery. Based on my research, these noodles worked best in Asian meals, so I also purchased Asian marinade, scallions, cabbage and planned out a Teriyaki Chicken feast.

I decided to start early cooking Shirataki noodles the next day as I had learned that rinsing, parboiling, and allowing it to dry yielded the best results. I opened the package and pee-yew... it was funky. It smelled like old fish. Everything in my screamed toss it out and run away. My seafood allergy made me especially suspicious but as far as I could tell, it contained no seafood products. So I rinsed it and they boiled it with a wedge of lemon hoping to eradicate the smell. It worked. When it was done boiling, I set it in a strainer and allowed it to dry.

When it was time to cook my meal, a couple of hours later, the only thing I changed was to put the noodles in the Wok first, before the vegetables instead of last, after the vegetables as I would with normal pasta. In fear of a bad reaction from my kids, I also made a regular pasta version. Then I decided to do a taste test. I called my most finicky child to the kitchen and put a pit of each noodle veggie mixture on a plate. I simply said, "one is Japanese, one is American". She tried it and said this one is better, pointing to the Shirataki noodles. In true disclosure, she is not a big fan of pasta, with the exception of macaroni and cheese, but she actually ended up eating some of this for dinner! I was floored.

Of course I ate it too. It tasted like Ramen noodles, with a similar texture, though a bit more firm. With the cabbage and vegetables mixed in, I didn't notice the chewy texture as my mouth was busy chomping away at the crisp veggies. I can definitely see me replacing rice or chow-mein with these noodles. I may even use them for when I get Chinese take-out, so I plan to keep a few of these in the fridge.

I have yet to try Shirataki noodles for an Italian dish, and don't know that I will. I have been having eggplant when I craved Italian lately, and that is a great low calories substitute for Pasta. Now, if I could just find a substitute for French Fries, all of my worst foods will be eliminated from my diet.