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Easy dinner recipes are invaluable during hectic weekdays, and Meghan Markle’s one-pot pasta dish from her Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, has certainly resonated with many. This creamy tomato pasta, enriched with refreshing greens, appears to be an ideal choice with minimal preparation, a few ingredients, and just one pot to clean afterward. However, this simplicity has raised some eyebrows among potential cooks.
Concerns are valid, given that many have been let down by seemingly straightforward recipes before. Often, these dishes turn out to be more complicated than anticipated, or they might fulfill their promises of convenience but lack in taste or nutritional value. Such experiences can understandably lead to skepticism regarding quick-fix meal options.
Despite these reservations, I was confident about the flavor of Meghan’s pasta. My previous encounters with similar recipes, such as the one-pan version from Martha Stewart and the traditional Italian dish known as pasta all’assassina (also playfully known as “assassin’s pasta”), assured me of its potential for delivering good flavor and satisfying texture.
However, my primary concern was its nutritional value. Apart from some protein content from the Parmesan, the dish seemed to lack sufficient protein, an essential component for promoting fullness. While I anticipated a delicious outcome, I questioned whether it would leave me satisfied.
Nutrition experts typically recommend aiming for a minimum of 20 grams of protein per meal, though this requirement can vary based on various personal factors like physical activity, body size, and muscle mass. According to Cara Harbstreet, MS, RD of Street Smart Nutrition, Meghan’s recipe likely provides around 15 grams of protein per five-ounce serving. However, since Meghan did not specify precise ingredient amounts or serving sizes—and online adaptations vary—it is difficult to determine the exact nutritional content, making this figure an approximation. Consequently, the dish may not be filling enough for everyone.
Despite these considerations, the appeal of a quick, easy, and flavorful pasta dish was too tempting to resist. I began to wonder if it was possible to enhance the protein content of this dish without complicating its preparation.
Meghan’s one-pot pasta is fundamentally simple, and the recipe’s framework allows for numerous variations. I believed there must be a simple ingredient to include that would enhance the protein content without requiring complicated preparation or extended cooking times—a sort of magic ingredient to enhance this already easy and appealing dish.
Source
www.self.com