Creamy One-Pot Penne Primavera with Shrimp
Just as its name suggests, you only need one pot to make this satisfying pasta dish featuring fresh spinach, red bell pepper and broccoli, along with a generous portion of shrimp. To make the light, creamy sauce, residual pasta water is cleverly combined with Parmesan cheese.
Gallery
Here's how we made over this recipe to be healthy and diabetes-friendly:
1. We packed this dish with vegetables while cutting down on the amount of pasta used. This keeps the portion size hearty but cuts back on the amount of carbs per serving.
2. We used the leftover cooking water from the pasta as a base for the sauce. The slightly starchy water combines with Parmesan cheese for a creamy, silky sauce without adding calories or saturated fat. It's also quick and easy—making the sauce in the same pot as the pasta means no extra pans to clean up!
3. We opted for whole-wheat pasta, which has more good-for-you fiber than regular pasta. Fiber helps your body digest carbs more slowly, helping keep your blood glucose steadier after meals. And because this dish is full of a lively mix of veggies and shrimp, you hardly notice the type of pasta used.
Having diabetes doesn't mean you have to give up all of your favorite foods. You just need the know-how (and easy cooking tips) to make better choices. In Makeover My Recipe, a fun cooking show geared toward beginner cooks, Mila Clarke Buckley takes classics like mac and cheese, meatloaf, brownies and more comfort foods and uses simple tricks to make them healthier—but just as delicious as ever.