So I thought I would post a quick little 411 on these "noodles" I discovered a couple months back. They're called, as the post title suggests, Shirataki Noodles - what are they? Depending on the brand, it's usually a mix of tofu and Konjac flour, which comes from the roots of the yam-like Konjac plant grown in Japan and China.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not in the least bit trying to suggest that this "pasta" did/is/will replace my normal, good ole' flour/egg Italian pasta ANYTIME soon, BUT, for those watching their weight, this does provide a GREAT alternative when you're trying to be "good", and still eat the foods you enjoy. Keep your traditional pasta for a splurge or cheat night, and eat these during the week.
Texture - I'm BIG on texture, and these do provide a bit of a challenge, though, I did find that between the Tofu Shirataki and plain Shirataki noodles, the Tofu Shirataki is less "rubbery" than the plain one. The best way I can describe the texture is a slightly more "rubbery" than rice noodles consistency. I've found that the best application for these noodles is some sort of Asian mix - whether you stir fry veggies and chicken and mix with the noodles, or use them as an "udon" soup type of thing, they're great at absorbing lots of flavor, which most Asian dishes have. Also, since you're probably more used to different pasta "textures" in Asian cuisine, your brain will probably accept and adapt more easily to the Shirataki in this application, whereas trying to treat it as traditional spaghetti and meatballs would be a little strange.
Smell - yes - WARNING - upon opening the package of noodles, there is a definite "fishy" smell - don't let that discourage you. I'm not at ALL a big fish eater, so if anyone should be discouraged, it would have been me, but once you open the package, drop the contents into a strainer, rinse off with some cold water for a few minutes, then drop into boiling salted water for just a couple minutes - then you can use them as you'd like. If you're going to stir fry them however, I suggest you dry them off first, so you don't have oil splatter all over the place.
Shirataki noodles aren't only low-cal, they also provide a huge amount of fiber, which is beneficial to all diets, and fiber also helps you feel fuller for a longer time period, so you eat less.
