#HEARTS OF PALM BENEFITS HOW TO#

They’re harder to overcook than super-soft zoodles.

“Hearts of palm noodles can be easily softened by boiling them in water for about five to 10 minutes,” Naar explains. All you need to cook them to soft-enough-but still al dente!-perfection is a pot, a stovetop, and a strainer.

#HEARTS OF PALM BENEFITS HOW TO#

Wondering how to cook palmini noodles to your liking? The good news is that you're probably already a pro, because the process is practically identical to cooking pasta. How do you soften hearts of palm noodles? This makes them amenable to a whole host of culinary purposes, whether you want to add a refreshing bite to a salad or serve a decadent alfredo sauce with a base that can hold its own. They’re a bit crunchy when raw, and can remain al dente when cooked. “Hearts of palm have a unique texture that carries a bite when cooked or mixed in a dish in its raw form, like that of white asparagus,” Roszkowski says. Texture-wise, hearts of palm noodles are naturally firm and fibrous-a bit crunchy when uncooked, and al dente when boiled. Hearts of palm noodles have a mostly neutral flavor with citrusy notes that are similar to that of an artichoke heart, Olivia Roszkowski, a health-supportive culinary arts chef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education, tells SELF. What do hearts of palm noodles taste like? So much so that people sometimes say “Palmini noodles” to refer to generic hearts of palm pasta. Yes: Palmini is one of the better known brands of hearts of palm pasta and helped popularize the product early on. Is hearts of palm pasta the same as Palmini? Alternatively, you can rinse the noodles to remove as much salt as possible before cooking to ensure that neither the flavor nor sodium levels of your final dish are affected, Rachel Naar, RD, CDN, owner of Rachel Naar Nutrition LLC, tells SELF. If you’re trying to cut down on sodium-say, if you have high blood pressure, for instance, and your doctor recommended limiting it as part of a heart-healthy diet-Geiger recommends seeking out select brands that make their noodles with only hearts of palm (like Trader Joe’s).

Some brands add citric acid as a preservative too. “Depending on the brand, hearts of palm noodles may have salt added, as well as water,” Geiger explains. In many cases, hearts of palm will be the only ingredient, but sometimes there are small amounts of other ingredients too. More recently, it’s been more broadly available in pre-cut noodle form, from linguini to angel hair to lasagna noodles. It’s long and cylindrical, and often sold canned or jarred and sometimes sliced into rings. This vegetable is derived from the inner part of particular palm tree varieties that are native to South and Central America, according to the Michelin Guide. Hearts of palm noodles are typically made from just one main ingredient: hearts of palm, the core (or “heart”) of certain palm tree varieties. Are you convinced to give hearts of palm pasta a try yet? Read on for everything you need to know about these trendy, tasty noodles.

Hearts of palm benefits