Pasta dishes can be potentially unhealthy depending on the type of noodles and sauce used. However, there are ways to make them more nutritious. There’s a clever and unconventional substitution you can make while making pasta sauce without compromising the creamy texture. Consider swapping butter with oatmeal liquid. Surprisingly, the breakfast staple oatmeal can serve as a rich and thickening agent for pasta sauce without adding excessive calories. This ingenious technique was developed by Philippe Chevalier, Oprah Winfrey’s personal chef. His recipe allows the media mogul to enjoy pasta while maintaining her commitment to a healthy lifestyle. Here’s a unique and healthy recipe for Oprah-approved creamy butter-free lemon pasta using oatmeal.
Ingredients (for 4-6 Servings)
● Spaghetti, cooked al dente, 1 box
● Olive oil, 2 tablespoons
● Mixed mushrooms, cleaned and roughly chopped, 2 cups
● Shallots, chopped, 2 tablespoons
● Garlic, minced, 1 tablespoon
● Fresh thyme, chopped, 1 teaspoon
● Oatmeal, cooked with 1 cup of steel-cut oats, 4 cups of water, and 1 vegetable or chicken bouillon cube
● Parmesan, grated, 1 cup
● Lemon zest, ½ tablespoon
● Chives, chopped, 2 tablespoons
● Basil, chopped, 1 tablespoon
● Peas, cooked, ½ cup
● Lemon juice, 4 tablespoons
● Salt and pepper, to taste
● Candied lemon, if desired
Method
● In a large pot, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Then, add 1 cup of oatmeal and one cube of chicken or vegetable bouillon. Cook for 15 minutes.
● In a bowl or liquid measuring cup, strain approximately ½ cup of the liquid from the cooked oatmeal and set it aside. Store the remaining oats and liquid separately in the refrigerator. You can use the liquid to make another batch of pasta, while the oats can be enjoyed later with boiled egg or vegetables for a savory oatmeal dish.
● Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add mushrooms, shallots, garlic, and thyme to the pan. Sauté for about 30 seconds. Pour in the reserved oatmeal liquid and stir.
● Incorporate grated Parmesan cheese and a dash of lemon zest into the pan. Stir until the cheese has melted.
● Sprinkle chives, basil, and peas into the mixture. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
● Increase the heat to medium-high and add approximately one tablespoon of lemon juice.
● Add the cooked spaghetti to the pan and toss until the sauce evenly coats the noodles. Season with salt, pepper, and additional lemon juice if desired.
● Plate the dish and garnish with basil leaves and candied lemon, if desired. Serve while hot and enjoy this delicious dish – guilt-free!