
Probiotics have been become increasingly popular with new discoveries in the importance of gut health to overall health. While some supplements have been shown to repopulate the gut, it's unclear that most probiotics actually take residence and benefit the microbiome. When taken in whole food form, the benefits are more certain. Therefore, we prefer to get our probiotics from whole food sources, rather than a supplement.
Kimchi is a popular probiotic-rich food popular in Korea. Usually served as a side condiment to Korean dishes, here it’s incorporated into a delicious and mildly spiced crave-worthy noodle dish. Kimchi supports healthy digestion and is traditionally made with vegetables including cabbage, mustard greens, and bok choy that are also rich in vitamins and minerals.
Carbonara is usually made with pasta, raw egg, parmesan and pork. While this recipe’s ingredients have little in common with the original, it has a carbonara-like vibe that is incredibly satisfying and delicious. Once the ingredients are prepped, it comes together in just minutes. Make the sauce ahead of time and enjoy an easy crave-worthy dinner in a pinch!
I'd love to credit the chef at the Two Bunch Palms resort in Desert Hot Springs for inspiring this one, thank you chef!

All you need on hand is:
Kimchi (homemade classic style or a good quality brand like this one)
Sweet chile sauce (use a good quality one like this one)
Cannellini beans
Nutritional yeast
Lemon juice
Garlic powder
Pine nuts
Diced tomatoes
Shiitake mushrooms
Avocado oil
Smoked paprika
Noodles of choice (gluten free preferred or veggie spirals)
Parsley, scallions, sesame seeds, optional for garnish
First, prep your ingredients.
Let's get started by making our shiitake "bacon" bits. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, toss your sliced shiitakes with oil and seasonings and bake until crispy (be careful not to burn!). You can do this ahead of time or while you prep your sauce and cook your noodles.

Now let's toast the pine nuts. We use a skillet method because it makes it a little easier to prevent burning. Simply heat a skillet, add 1/4 cup pine nuts and toast, tossing frequently by shaking the pan or using a wooden spatula to roll around. Be careful not to burn!

Remove from heat and gather the rest of your ingredients.

There is so much to love about this recipe on top of the many health benefits. The sauce requires no cooking, so just heat up some noodles and toss in your sauce and "bacon" bits. You can also make the sauce ahead of time and store in the fridge until ready to use. It'll be as easy as opening a jar of store-bought sauce, and taste a whole lot better with a ton more gut-friendly nutrients. This one's a keeper!
Only thing left to decide is what color plate to serve it on. Which one do you think looks prettier?
White?

or black?

Cheers to you and your gut bugs!
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