Catelli Healthy Harvest Ancient Grains pasta assortment

What’s old is new again – at least when it comes to eating grains. That’s the core message behind Catelli Foods Corporation in announcing the launch of new, all natural Catelli® Healthy Harvest® Ancient Grains pasta, a first-of-its-kind product introduced to Western Canadian store shelves in late January.

I’m all about standing behind a healthy carb: Catelli® Healthy Harvest® Ancient Grains pasta blends 100% Canadian whole wheat with five wholesome ancient grains: quinoa, teff, amaranth, millet and sorghum.

Chef Lynn Crawford
 
Food Network Celebrity Chef Lynn Crawford helped launch the new line of pasta at an exclusive cooking event last week at PICA (Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts).

“Whole grains and ancient grains have been a healthy choice for thousands of years, and Catelli has transformed this mix of proven ingredients into a simple, delicious and nutritious product,” said Chef Crawford, award-nominated cookbook author and chef-owner of Toronto-based Ruby Watchco restaurant.

In addition to her busy restaurant, Crawford is host of Food Network Canada’s Pitchin’ In, judge of the Food Network Canada’s Chopped Canada, previous executive chef at Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto and New York — and the first female Canadian invited to participate in the Food Network’s Iron Chef America and Top Chef Masters Season Five.

Chef Lynn Crawford and Ariane Colenbrander of Vancouverscape

After an intro and chat about cooking with pasta, we were led into PICA’s culinary kitchen, equipped with chef’s toques and aprons, ready to produce Chef Lynn’s chilled noodle salad with ginger wasabi dressing. Lucky for us, the ingredients were already laid out waiting for chopping and measuring, the pasta pots already at the boil.

This healthy salad is super easy to make, is flavour-packed, and will make for great summer dining options, as it’s easily portable for picnics, camping, and other outdoor adventures.

Chef Lynn Crawford and PICA culinary team
[Chef Lynn Crawford and PICA culinary team]

The first time in any kitchen leads to searches for pots, pans, tongs, measuring cups, and I’d like to extend a huge thanks to the PICA team for lending a helping hand in their kitchen.

Certified GMO-free (NON GMO Project Verified), Catelli® Healthy Harvest® Ancient Grains pasta is available in three cuts –  Spaghetti, Spaghettini and Rotini. We used Catelli’s spaghettini in the salad (find the recipe below).

Catelli five grains
 
The health benefits of eating 100% whole grain wheat have been touted for years, but what makes the other grains so healthy? Here’s at look at the five grains behind the pasta:
 
– Dating back to the 13th century South American Inca Empire, quinoa is high in fibre, protein and minerals – including magnesium, potassium, zinc and iron – and low on the glycemic index.
– Native to the Americas and prized by Aztec civilization, amaranth is rich in protein, containing all the essential amino acids, key vitamins, and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and iron.
– Originating in Ethiopia and Eritrea between 4,000 BCE and 1,000 BCE, teff, a poppy seed-sized grain, is high in protein, fibre, calcium, thiamin and iron.
– Domesticated in Northeastern Africa over 5,000 years ago, sorghum – a good source of vitamin B6, riboflavin, thiamin and magnesium – is known to support digestive health, help fight cardiovascular disease and help control blood sugar levels.
– Cultivated 4,000 years ago from wild West African grass, nutty-flavoured millet is known to be heart healthy, containing high levels of protein, magnesium, and niacin. Alkalizing to the body, millet is considered one of the most digestible and non-allergenic grains available.

Ariane Colenbrander of Vancouverscape at PICA kitchen, Vancouver, BC, Canada
 
Want to incorporate these healthy grains into your cooking? I’m working together with Catelli® to offer one lucky reader a year’s supply of Ancient Grains pasta. That’s 60 boxes of pasta! To enter, follow Vancouverscape on Twitter and simply leave a comment below describing your favourite pasta dish, or retweet the following:

Enter for a chance to win a year’s supply of Catelli Ancient Grains pasta from #Catelli & @Vancouverscape http://goo.gl/EU0Jk5

Do both for an extra entry. I’ll draw a winner at random on Monday, April 6 at 5 pm. Good luck to all entrants and here’s a toast to healthy eating! Congrats to @Prairiebelle aka Belinda McNabb. Thanks for all your entries and comments!
 
Catelli® Healthy Harvest® Ancient Grains pasta retails for $3.29 and is available at major retailers in Western Canada. Visit Catelli® online for more product info.

Catelli Chilled Noodle with Ginger Wasabi Dressing

Chilled Noodle Salad with Ginger Wasabi Dressing (serves four)
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes

Ingredients:
1 package (340 g) Catelli® Healthy Harvest® Ancient Grains Spaghettini
2 cups (500 ml) snow peas, thinly sliced diagonally
1 cup (250 ml) shelled edamame
1 small English cucumber
2 cups (500 ml) Napa cabbage, finely shredded
1 cup (250 ml) red pepper, cut into matchsticks
3 green onions, thinly sliced
1 ripe avocado, sliced
1/4 cup (60 ml) cilantro leaves
2 tbsp (30 ml) black sesame seeds
 
Ginger Wasabi Dressing:
1/4 cup (60 ml) seasoned rice vinegar
3 tbsp (45 ml) canola oil
2 tbsp (30 ml) soy sauce
2 tbsp (30 ml) lemon juice
1 tsp (5 ml) lemon zest
2 tsp (10 ml) brown sugar
2 tsp (10 ml) sesame oil
1 tsp (5 ml) grated fresh ginger
wasabi to taste
 
Instructions:
1. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain well. Rinse under cold water until well chilled; transfer to large bowl and set aside.
2. In a pot of boiling water, cook snow peas and edamame until tender-crisp. Drain and rinse under cold water until well chilled; set aside.
3. Meanwhile, halve the cucumber lengthwise and use the end of a spoon to scoop and discard seeds; cut cucumber into julienne strips.
4. Ginger-Wasabi Dressing: Whisk together rice vinegar, canola oil, soy sauce, lemon juice and zest, brown sugar, sesame oil and ginger. Season with wasabi to taste.
5. Add cucumber, snow peas, edamame, Napa cabbage, red pepper, green onions and avocado to noodles; toss with enough dressing to coat.
6. Garnish with cilantro leaves and black sesame seeds.
 
Tip: If time permits, chill the noodle dish by refrigerating for one to four hours.
Per serving: 590 calories, 19 g fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 710 mg sodium, 84 g carbohydrates, 145 g fibre, 13 g sugar, 21 g protein

Photos courtesy of Catelli Foods Corporation.

34 Comments

  • Comment by andrea amy — March 23, 2015 @ 12:07 pm

    My personal favourite pasta dish is rotini tossed in a sauce made of equal parts ranch dressing and italian dressing and then loaded with lots of fresh vegetables like coleslaw, mushrooms, tomatoes, broccoli, cucumbers, celery and bell peppers. My kids love pasta carbonara the best though 🙂

  • Comment by andrea amy — March 23, 2015 @ 12:08 pm

    I followed on twitter and tweeted 🙂 Thank you for the chance!!
    https://twitter.com/mommy2fiveboys/status/580083171074580480

  • Comment by Jonnie — March 23, 2015 @ 12:16 pm

    My favorite pasta dish is lasagna. I make it with ground beef, mushrooms, green peppers and tons and tons of cheese.

  • Comment by Jolie — March 23, 2015 @ 6:16 pm

    I love fettucini Alfredo 🙂
    Following on Twitter – Jolie238
    RT – https://twitter.com/Jolie238/status/580176134794567680

  • Comment by Karla Sceviour — March 23, 2015 @ 6:18 pm

    spaghetti with meat sauce,,topped with parmesan cheese,,yum!

    tweeted also (@ksceviour)

  • Comment by kristine ewald — March 23, 2015 @ 7:06 pm

    love spaghetti with meat balls

  • Comment by Maggie K. — March 24, 2015 @ 6:50 am

    My favourite pasta dish lasagna. We only have it once in a while so it always remains a treat.

  • Comment by Glogirl — March 24, 2015 @ 11:14 am

    My favourite pasta dish is Creamy Garlic Bacon Penne.

    I follow you on Twitter @glogirl3 and tweeted~ http://twitter.com/glogirl3/status/580432266633060352

  • Comment by jan — March 24, 2015 @ 11:44 am

    My favourite pasta dish is with spinach, garlic and black olives.

  • Comment by Carol M — March 24, 2015 @ 11:50 am

    Many favourites, but one of them is lasagna.

  • Comment by Rhonda W G. — March 24, 2015 @ 12:08 pm

    Follow on twitter @vintagebased

  • Comment by Rhonda W G. — March 24, 2015 @ 12:08 pm

    I make a tuna curry pasta salad that is amazing…

  • Comment by Robyn Bellefleur — March 24, 2015 @ 12:24 pm

    My favorite pasta dish is Bacon carbonara.

  • Comment by Tammy Dalley — March 24, 2015 @ 1:09 pm

    Fettuccine Alfredo is my favourite

  • Comment by nicolthepickle — March 24, 2015 @ 4:35 pm

    I like Spagettini with tomato sauce, tomatoes, fresh basil and sausage.
    I follow you on twitter too. @nicolthepickle

  • Comment by nicolthepickle — March 24, 2015 @ 4:38 pm

    I tweeted as well. https://twitter.com/Nicolthepickle/status/580513779789725696
    Thank you so much for the chance. I love pasta.

  • Comment by maria — March 24, 2015 @ 5:47 pm

    I love fettuccine alfredo

  • Comment by Brenda Penton — March 25, 2015 @ 2:42 am

    My favourite is Spaghetti Bolognese

  • Comment by jenn — March 26, 2015 @ 12:22 am

    I love spaghetti carbonara.

  • Comment by Cassey C — March 26, 2015 @ 9:07 pm

    My favourite is meatball spaghetti

  • Comment by Cassey C — March 26, 2015 @ 9:08 pm

    Followed and tweeted as cassey48

  • Comment by Gene D — March 28, 2015 @ 4:59 pm

    spaghettini with spicy meat sauce

  • Comment by Pam — March 29, 2015 @ 1:14 am

    I love seafood linguini especially with shrimp, mussels and clams.

  • Comment by michael h — March 29, 2015 @ 11:55 am

    Baked Ziti!

  • Comment by Wendy hutton — March 29, 2015 @ 2:13 pm

    chicken alfredo, tweeted and follow @wghutton

  • Comment by ivy pluchinsky — March 29, 2015 @ 3:27 pm

    i love fettuccine alfredo with cream cheese, yum. I follow and tweeted @ivypluchinsky

  • Comment by Andrew P — March 29, 2015 @ 8:23 pm

    My favourite is Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

  • Comment by Anna W — March 31, 2015 @ 2:50 pm

    I love linguine with shrimp.

  • Comment by Anna W — March 31, 2015 @ 2:51 pm

    I follow on twitter @anna7992

  • Comment by Courtney — April 3, 2015 @ 5:15 am

    I love most pasta dishes, but my all time favourite is spaghetti and meatballs

  • Comment by Belinda McNabb — April 3, 2015 @ 12:48 pm

    following on twitter and tweeted. https://twitter.com/Prairiebelle/status/584079691981533184

    I like to make spaghetti and add a bit of olive oil, parmesan, chopped basil and cut up cherry tomatoes

  • Comment by Andrew P — April 5, 2015 @ 5:54 pm

    Followed and Tweeted – https://twitter.com/apham17/status/584881579983507456

  • Comment by Nicole Jubleew — April 5, 2015 @ 9:20 pm

    I follow you on twitter and tweeted here: https://twitter.com/JubleeW/status/584933439243231232

  • Comment by Nicole Jubleew — April 5, 2015 @ 9:21 pm

    My favourite pasta dish is Beef Ravioli in tomato sauce.

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