I've been back doing the Atkins low carb style of eating for the last month or so, and I'm now seeing a noticeable improvement. These noodles are helping in my preparation of tasty and healthy meals. I rinse them off well, boil them, and then finish them by putting them in the frying pan after draining them. In the frying pan can be things like olive oil, butter from pastured cows, and Italian style herbs. Then into the bowl they go, to which I add a healthy dollop of Miso, and some Redmond brand Real Salt/sea salt. I might mix in some organic eggs into the frying pan with the noodles, or maybe there will have been some broccoli florets already there, having been cooked in the oil after being boiled.

These noodles are a big help in turning Atkins friendly ingredients into a meal. Hopefully they'll get more popular, and thus we'll see them become more of a commodity item, rather than a niche product.

I decided to try these since my diet has banned me from carbs. I am a pasta-holic. I looove pasta! So, desperate to find something to curb my cravings, I decided to give these a whirl. So glad I did! They stink terribly when you open them, but I followed the advice of others-rinsed them good & boiled them for 2 mins & cooked them with what I was making--Chicken Spaghetti, & I litterally couldn't tell I wasn't eating spaghetti (I bought the angel hair). I also don't feel bloated like I did before when I ate pasta. Can't wait to try them in other dishes!!!

No carbs? Correct!
No gluten? Right again!
No calories!!!!???? That's what the nutrition label says.
All fiber? Nothing but high quality fiber? Yes!

This is just about the only pasta you can take to a party and hope that most can eat it. As for me? Unlimited portions! All you can eat! It's good for me!

Oh rats! I forgot my diet is so restricted my stomach shrank.

Is there a fishy odor?
Yes, it's there when you drain the noodles for the first time. Give it a rinse with water and you're good. This particular brand is less fishy than the full blown Japanese konnyaku but even that ain't bad. There is no odor after put them in soup or a cooked up into a dish. Hot water will deodorize the noodles. For this brand, you can soak the noodles in hot tap water (mine is 127 deg F) for 2 minutes, drain, and soak again in hot tap water for another 2-3 minutes. If you use the full blown black Japanese shirataki, you do need to blanch in boiling water for about 3-5 minutes for full deodorization.

The noodles look very similar to rice noodles (think pad thai) but not so sticky. Also, they resemble glass or cellophane noodles only not so slippery. You can serve them just like the rice or cellophane noodles.

Since there is no carbs or gluten - Hallelujah! Let the partying begin!

Guilty pleasures ramen soup

Broth - highest quality you can find
1 package of Miracle noodles
suitable leftovers (stir fried asian cabbages, eggplant, hot peppers always!, watercress, left over bits of meat, eggs...)

Rinse noodles. Boil broth and then add noodles. Add leftovers. Let boil again. Serves one insomniac.

Lindy's dirt simple sesame noodles - this is basically an Asian-style pasta salad. It's very free form. You get to adjust all the amounts.

Ingredients (serves about 8 at a party - unless they are vegetarians, figure 4)

For the dressing
Sesame seed oil (the dark stuff0
Soy sauce (get the XO - the good stuff)
Vinegar (if you can find it - get the cane sugar - it's the most Chinese-y)

About 4 packs of Miracle Noodle or Konnyaku
2-4 cups Mung bean sprouts - rinsed
4 scrambled eggs (use water) - if you feel energetic then fry up the eggs into sheets, roll up then, slice into long strands
about 2 cups green onions, sliced 1-2" long

If you feel the noodles are too fishy, then blanch them. The truth is the dressing will cover any odor. Toss the ingredients together. Dress with the sesame oil, soy sauce and vinegar to taste. The dressing will cause the noodles to lose water. If you are making this ahead, you will need to rebalance the dressing later. Serve with something that people can grip like bamboo chopsticks or grippy tongs.

Lazy Days at the Beach Salad
1 pkg Miracle Noodles - drained and deodorized
Japanese seaweed salad - usually kelp, sesame seeds and sesame oil (found at your local Asian market or sometimes Costco) - about 2oz
Your choice of fish - I usually go for canned salmon or sardines, but you can get fancy and add slivers of fish OR just serve the fish on top of the salad.
Soy sauce, vinegar (apple cider for the probiotics), sesame seed oil, toasted sesame seeds or flaxseeds

Add the noodles, the seaweed salad and any other ingredients to a bowl. Add sesame/flax seeds, soy sauce, vinegar and sesame oil to taste and toss. Top with the fish.

I did not have high hopes. I'm sure many of you will do the same thing I did.... look at the item, read the reviews and either put them on your wish list to think about later or just think... are they worth the money to find out if they are as bad-or good-as the reviews say? I was still contemplating this question when my husband snuck into my account and bought them. Surprise! They arrived today--so of course I had to try them today!

They stink... oh man do they stink. Something died kind of stink. I rinsed them... they stank less. I boiled them... the didn't stink at all.... I put them in a teflon pan (no oil per directions) and dried them out. Still no stink. Ok.... I tasted a piece. They taste like... NOTHING. Seriously... there is no taste. They have an odd texture... kind of rubbery, but not real rubbery. But there is no taste. What to do now? So I was fixing pan fried pork chops in butter for dinner... we have a pan with all those good scrapings, butter and grease.... and yes, we dumped these noodles in and sort of flash fried them in all that yummy goodness. And they tasted... just like what we fried them in. Pretty darn good.

Do they taste like real noodles. No they don't. From what we tried tonight, they do taste like whatever your cook them in. I'll have to try boiling them in stock next time. Do they have the same texture? Nope, they have a very distinctive texture and I have no idea how to really describe it. But you know what, when you aren't eating real noodles--for whatever reason--these fill that craving. They aren't the same, but they are close enough.

I didn't expect to like these, I really didn't, but I really do. Try them.... don't let the negative reviews scare you off... they really are good!

When dieting, I buy this variety pack of Miracle Noodle Shirataki pasta consistently. Why? Because they are a great filler that has next to no calories. With that being said, I wouldn't normally buy these due to the price. But when attempting to lose weight, I expect to pay more for less calories and this fits the bill perfectly. I typically cook these mixed in with a stir fry, and they take on the flavor of the food they're being cooked with. One of my favorite things to do with these is make low calorie tacos / burritos by cooking these with a bell pepper / onion mix, spices, and a meat. Delicious!