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Home » Side Dishes » Hearts of Palm Pasta

Hearts of Palm Pasta

A photo of Vered DeLeeuw.
by Vered DeLeeuwUpdated Apr 3, 2024
4 Comments
5 from 21 votes

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If you're looking for low-carb pasta alternatives, hearts of palm pasta is an excellent option. Ready in about 20 minutes, it's closer in flavor and texture to wheat pasta than many alternatives.

Hearts of palm pasta is served on a white plate with a fork.

I regularly make several pasta alternatives for my family. Our favorites are zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash noodles, shirataki noodles, and shirataki sesame noodles. While all those recipes are delicious, hearts of palm pasta is especially good. When cooked according to the method outlined here, it is closer to the experience of eating authentic spaghetti than the other options.

Ingredients

The ingredients needed to make hearts of palm pasta.

You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this recipe. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

Hearts of Palm pasta: I get it at Trader Joe's:

A box of Trader Joe's hearts of palm pasta.

Olive oil: I prefer using extra-virgin olive oil in this recipe.

Garlic: I slice it into thin slices.

To season: Kosher salt, black pepper, and dried oregano.

To finish the dish: Grated parmesan, red pepper flakes, and chopped parsley.

Variations

  • You can use butter instead of olive oil. If you do, use 3 tablespoons of butter and 1 tablespoon of oil to help prevent the butter from burning.
  • Ghee is another good substitute for olive oil. I love the nutty flavor it adds to the dish.
  • Sometimes, I use dried thyme instead of oregano. I like both options.
  • Make this a complete meal by stirring in 1-2 cups of shredded cooked chicken immediately after adding the pasta to the skillet.
  • Add ½ cup of small cherry tomatoes. This makes the finished dish aesthetically pleasing.
  • Top the pasta with chopped basil leaves instead of parsley. I love the flavor basil adds!

Instructions

Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here's an overview of the steps for making this recipe:

Peel the garlic cloves and slice them thinly. Brown them in olive oil, taking care not to burn them.

Cooking garlic in olive oil.

Add the noodles, salt, pepper, and oregano as soon as the garlic is golden. Cook, stirring, over medium heat for about 5 minutes.

Cooking the pasta in a skillet.

Remove the noodles to a plate. Top them with parmesan, red pepper flakes, and chopped parsley. Serve immediately.

The pasta is served with a fork.

Expert Tip

Cook the garlic until golden brown, then add the noodles. Garlic tends to go from golden to burnt pretty fast, so be vigilant.

I usually get it right, but today, I added the noodles when the garlic was too pale. Once you add the pasta, the garlic has less contact with the pan, so it stops browning.

The solution: I removed it, browned it in a separate skillet, and added it back to the noodles. So if this happens to you, you'll know what to do!

Recipe FAQs

What are hearts of palm?

They are a vegetable that comes from the core or "heart" of young palm trees. They have a cylindrical shape. You can buy them whole in a can, chop them, and add them to salads.

I tried eating them straight out of the can and liked them. They have a soft, creamy texture and a savory, tangy flavor. This is what they look like straight out of the can:

Canned hearts of palm on a white plate.

What does this pasta taste like?

This pasta is literally made from hearts of palm, so if you eat it straight out of the bag, that's what it tastes like. However, since its flavor is mild, when you cook it with other ingredients, it takes on the flavors of those ingredients. That's why it's so great as a pasta alternative.

Is it like real pasta?

Not exactly. It's a similar experience, especially the flavor and the experience of eating noodles. However, the texture is different than that of real pasta. It's a little chewy.

Can I use minced garlic?

You could, but garlic slices are better in this recipe. If you opt for minced garlic, mince the garlic yourself - don't use the stuff that comes in a jar. It's not as good, and the difference will be noticeable in this recipe.

Serving Suggestions

This pasta makes an excellent side dish. Alternatively, as mentioned above, you can add shredded cooked chicken to turn it into a main course.

When I serve it as a side dish, I often arrange it on a plate and top it with slices of grilled chicken breast, grilled skirt steak, or pork medallions. A cucumber tomato salad or a simple arugula salad rounds out the meal.

Storing Leftovers

You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 2-3 days. Reheat them gently in the microwave at 50% power.

Hearts of palm pasta served with grated parmesan cheese.

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Recipe Card

Hearts of palm pasta is served on a white plate with a fork.
5 from 21 votes
Save this RecipeSaved! Rate this Recipe Print Recipe

Hearts of Palm Pasta with Olive Oil and Garlic

Hearts of Palm pasta, made with olive oil, garlic, and parmesan, is surprisingly close to the real thing.
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time10 minutes mins
Total Time20 minutes mins
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Diet: Gluten Free
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 331kcal
Author: Vered DeLeeuw
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Ingredients

  • ¼ cup olive oil - extra-virgin
  • 4 garlic cloves - thinly sliced
  • 1 package hearts of palm pasta - 9 ounces; I use the Trader Joe's pasta
  • ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt - or ¼ teaspoon of any other salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ cup parmesan - grated
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 2 tablespoons parsley - chopped

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic slices. Cook, stirring often, until golden, about 4 minutes.
    Cooking garlic in olive oil.
  • Add the pasta, salt, pepper, and oregano.
    Add the pasta to the skillet.
  • Cook, stirring often, until the pasta is heated through, for about 5 minutes.
    Cooking the pasta in a skillet.
  • Remove to a plate. Sprinkle with parmesan, red pepper flakes, and parsley.
    Adding toppings to the cooked pasta.
  • Serve immediately.
    The pasta is served with a fork.

Notes

  • When cooking the garlic, cook until it's golden brown, then add the noodles. Garlic tends to go from golden to burnt pretty fast, so be vigilant.
  • I don't recommend using jarred minced garlic instead of fresh sliced garlic in this recipe. 
  • You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 2-3 days. Reheat them gently in the microwave at 50% power.

Nutrition per Serving

Serving: 0.5 recipe | Calories: 331 kcal | Carbohydrates: 10 g | Protein: 7 g | Fat: 30 g | Saturated Fat: 6 g | Sodium: 488 mg | Fiber: 3 g | Sugar: 2 g

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Disclaimers

Most recipes are low-carb and gluten-free, but some are not. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate. Please verify it independently. The carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Please read these Terms of Use before using any of my recipes.

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Comments

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Rose says

    July 06, 2024 at 5:02 am

    5 stars
    I made this recipe- really good!- but for more of a real pasta texture I also combined the hearts of palm angel hair with regular angel hair pasta. It is so good and still lower in carbs and calories than regular pasta used alone.

    Reply
    • Vered DeLeeuw says

      July 06, 2024 at 6:56 am

      I'm glad you liked this recipe, Rose! Thank you for sharing your tweak.

  2. Susan Secord says

    February 28, 2024 at 12:44 pm

    Did you precook the noodles or did you add them straight out of the bag?

    Reply
    • Vered DeLeeuw says

      February 28, 2024 at 12:58 pm

      Hi Susan,
      I added them straight out of the bag.

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Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered DeLeeuw. It features real food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. Contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.

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