Okay Weight Watchers Skinny Pasta! When it comes to pasta I do NOT mess around! It’s in my blood.

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Literally, I just ate some an hour ago. 😏

Fun fact about me, I am 100% Italian–American and have basically been eating pasta since I came out the womb (I like to think I was born with a spaghetti fork in hand). But why does this passion of mine matter, you ask? Because a few weeks ago I decided to try out Weight Watcher’s Skinny Pasta, made from the konjac root vegetable. Sounds interesting enough, right? For 0 Smartpoints a serving, I just had to give it a try. Let’s get right into it!

So…What is Konjac?

Raise your hand if you’ve never heard of konjac (or shirataki) noodles before (mine is waaay way up, in case you’re wondering)! Luckily, Weight Watchers included a nice little blurb about this plant on their packaging, which goes as follows:

Konjac is a plant native to Japan and has been used there for hundreds of years. We harvest the Konjac roots to create pasta in different shapes. Konjac contains fiber and absorbs water to help you feel full.

A plant disguised as pasta? Interesting. But wait, more information can be found on the back –

I don’t know about you, but to me, these konjac noodles sound nothing short of a miracle. They have the ability to make you feel fuller? Plus are packed with fiber? Non-GMO & allergy-friendly? Woah. More research on this plant was necessary since I was still baffled as to how it and I have never crossed paths. According to my friend named Google, there is A LOT of information out there about this little Japanese root, including the plethora of health benefits associated with it. Apparently, I’ve been living under a rock.

For starters, like Weight Watchers so kindly mentioned on their package, konjac is a Japanese plant that produces a root vegetable that’s been used by the people of Asia for thousands of years. The roots somewhat resembles potatos in both size and shape, and are even sometimes classified as a yam.

In Japan, the noodles made from this vegetable are known as shirataki noodles, translating to “white waterfall,” (named after their appearance). While shirataki are used in a variety of different dishes, they are most commonly found in stir-fry and soups. So, what makes konjac in noodle form so pivotal for weight loss?

For starters, these babies are FULL of fiber. So full of it that according to Slendier, the konjac root vegetable has the” highest molecular weight and consistency of any known dietary fiber.” Additionally, if you’ve ever heard of the dietary fiber called glucomannan (famous for its magical weight loss abilities) then you’ll be surprised to know that it’s made from konjac!

I can see why these little pouches of noodles are so appealing to those die-hard pasta lovers who are trying to shed some pounds. And while Konjac appears to be a godsend for weight loss, it also gets brownie points for some other side effects too.

Additional Benefits of Konjac (according to Slendier):

• Improves digestion
• Helps control diabetes
• Absorbs minerals
• Increases Immunity
• Better skin
• Weight loss
• Metabolism Boost

How Many Versions of Weight Watchers Skinny Pasta Are There?

Weight Watchers sells their Konjac Skinny Pasta in 6 different forms: couscous, fettuccine, rice, lasagna, noodles, and spaghetti. Out of these 6, I’ve had the pleasure of trying their noodles and fettuccine shapes.

The fettuccine box I purchased from my local Weight Watchers came with 2 servings of noodles, each serving packaged individually within the box. On the other hand, the noodle version I found a couple of weeks ago at Wegmans contained two servings mixed in a large pouch (pictured above).

All Weight Watchers Skinny Pasta is roughly 10 calories per serving (3.52oz) and contains 5g of fiber! Another pro for me – they’re pre-cooked and only take 2 minutes to reheat.

Wow Lyss, That’s Fantastic! But How Do They Taste?

Like nothing, actually! Just like the package claims, these little, translucent noodles have no odor or flavor, meaning they will go with ANY sort of dish you want to prepare. The first time I made these, the taste wasn’t the issue… it was the texture that threw me off. I guess I should confess right now how much of a pasta purist I am (though at this point that should be obvious).

Because these noodles are primarily water & fiber, they are extremely gelatinous. I don’t know what I was expecting, but jelly noodles wasn’t it! I will admit that after the first few bites, I was able to focus less on the texture and more on the overall taste of the dish, which I am sharing with you today!

Tricks To Make Them Less Jelly-like

Now, the second time I tackled Weight Watchers Skinny Pasta, things went a little differently. I already knew what to expect, plus was able to apply the following trick I discovered after doing a bit of online research:

TIP: draining & dry roasting your noodles can create a more pasta-like consistency, which is ideal for those who want to use these noodles more western style!

Well, this helped a ton (why didn’t I read this sooner?!). I’m not talking authentic-pasta-at-a-5-star-restaurant ton, but it did dry the noodles out enough to make me feel like I’m not eating worms. Too harsh?! After making these babies twice, I will say I think they’d work perfectly for an Asian style soup like pho or ramen. However, sometimes you just gotta work with what you have on hand, which in my case was cheese!

Lastly, I will say that these noodles really fill you up. So much so that I was too stuffed for my daily mini post-dinner dessert. Kudos to you, glucomannam! For $4.50 a box (2 servings) and 0 SP, I don’t think it’s a bad idea to have a box or two of Skinny Pasta tucked away in your closet just in case of a smartpoint emergency. One serving of regular spaghetti is usually 5-6 SP, so If you don’t have those extra points lying around, these noodles might be just the trick for you.

Weight Watchers Skinny Pasta Fettuccine with a Skinny Alfredo Sauce: 

Time: 15 min | Smartpoints: 4 | Servings: 1

Ingredients

• 1 packet Weight Watchers Konjac noodles, 0 SP
• 2 Laughing Cows wedges, white cheddar flavor, 3 SP
• 1 tbsp pecorino romano cheese, 1 SP
• 1/4 cup water
• herbs & seasoning (fresh parsley, oregano, salt, pepper & garlic powder)

Directions

1. Heat up your noodles following the instructions on the back of the box (up to #3).
2. Leave your noodles in the pan to continue heating and drying them out. I left mine on medium-high for 5 or more minutes (on top of the 3 minutes in the directions, so 8 minutes total). Also, I recommend using a non-stick pan or using cooking spray first.
3. Dice the 2 Laughing Cow wedges into smaller chunks and drop them into a separate, smaller pot. Pour in the water to help melt down the cheese to make your sauce. Melt the cheese down on low-medium heat. Next, season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder as desired.
4. Combine the konjac noodles with the white cheddar sauce in the pot and mix together. Sprinkle in 1 tbsp of pecorino romano cheese & stir until melted in.
5. Finish with parsley & oregano
6. ENJOY!

If Weight Watchers Skinny Pasta sounds like the answer to your carb-free-diet prayers, then check out their store locator here, or order them through Weight Watchers Online Store or Amazon. For 0 SP and the slew of benefits they provide, these noodles are worth a try, even if it’s only once! Like all new foods, just go in open-minded (and not expecting al dente pasta like I did). 

Some great additional reads on Konjac/Shirataki noodles, many of which were referenced for this blog post.

• http://www.homesweetjones.com/2016/06/shirataki-noodles-preparation-recipes/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirataki_noodles
• https://www.livestrong.com/article/149231-side-effects-of-konjac-root/