Have you seen this stuff? They’re called “Miracle Noodles”, and I’m inclined to agree that yes, they are some kind of miracle. NO calories, NO artificial crap, NOT disgusting. Wait… actually, they could be disgusting if you don’t prepare them correctly.
The first time I made them I was not desperate for a pasta substitute, and was only trying them because I was bending to the persuasion of my mother. Brow-beaten people never read directions, so they turned out disgusting.
But then I did this crazy strict diet thingy and for awhile couldn’t have any starches…and I was desperate for pasta. Desperate people DO read directions!
I was determined to make these noodles taste good, and it turns out it’s not that hard to do! As long as you follow the directions, of course!
You can buy these on Amazon.com. I haven’t seen it in any stores near me, but there is another brand that I found at Meijer called NO Oodle. They didn’t have the “rice” option in the store, but it’s a good way to try these noodles out without having to buy in bulk.
I have only tried the Angel Hair and Rice varieties so far, but there are a few others. The Angel Hair is a very good, almost perfect, substitute for spaghetti noodles. I think the Rice is closer to orzo than actual rice, though. I haven’t tried using the Rice in rice recipes yet though, I’ll let you know how that turns out when I do!
I did, however, use it to make an orzo-ish side dish a few months ago. It simply consisted of things that sounded good to me, and what I had on hand, and it was delicious!
Miracle “Rice” with Spinach and Parmesan
What you will need:
- One 7-oz bag of Miracle Rice
- Fresh Parmesan, grated (probably around 1/2 cup, more to taste)
- 2 cups fresh spinach (you could also use frozen)
- 1 tsp chicken base (I used Better Than Bouillon)
- 1 Tbsp butter
- ground pepper, to taste
Directions:
- Prepare the Miracle Rice using the directions printed on the package. (Rinse, then boil for one minute, then rinse again). They smell terrible! Just hold your nose, I promise you will not taste that smell!
- Saute the spinach in a little butter until wilted.
- Add butter, chicken base, sauteed spinach, pepper and Parmesan to the rice, stir and serve! Sprinkle a little extra fresh Parmesan on top for a nice touch.
Coincidentally, there is a deal on Groupon right now for these! $39.99 for 24 7-oz bags. This makes each pack about $1.60; typically, they are around $2.50 or even $3.00 on Amazon, especially if you buy them one at a time.
I forgot to take a final picture, of course. But you get the idea, right? It was good. We ate it. I’ll make it again someday!
The Canny Preserver 