If you’ve been curious about Hearts of Palm Pasta but weren’t sure where to start – this is the recipe! It’s light, satisfying, and ready in about 15 minutes with ingredients you probably already have on hand.
Why you’ll love this easy vegetarian dish!
As an Italian, I truly love traditional pasta but these veggie-based noodles are a GREAT pasta substitute that’s also conveniently low carb! I was super skeptical the first time I tried these but they’ve since become a staple in our house.
These hearts of palm noodles have a soft texture that closely mimics regular pasta PLUS they require VERY little cook time which I love 🙂
Why You’ll Love This
Ready in 15 minutes – genuinely one of the fastest dinners in my rotation
Naturally grain-free and low-carb without feeling like a compromise
Minimal ingredients, minimal cleanup
Easy to make vegan with one simple swap
Ingredients needed
The ingredients for this recipe are listed fully down in the recipe card but let’s briefly go over the pantry staples needed including a few substitutions you can make as desired!
Hearts of palm pasta – the star of the show! These noodles have a mild, lightly savory flavor (think: subtle artichoke vibes) and a satisfying tender texture. You should be able to find these at your loval grocery store; Palmini is the most widely available brand but Trader Joe’s hearts of palm pasta are typically my go to. No prep needed beyond a quick rinse.
These noodles are also great in a stir fry!
Garlic cloves– freshly minced is best here; it’s the backbone of the whole dish.
Cherry tomatoes – they blister and burst in the pan and give you these little juicy pockets of flavor throughout. Sub with grape tomatoes or diced Roma if that’s what you have.
Fresh basil – stirred in at the end for a bright, herby finish. Dried basil works in a pinch but fresh really makes a difference.
Parmesan – optional but highly recommended. Freshly grated from a block melts beautifully into the dish. For vegan, Violife’s parmesan is a great swap – or use my vegan parmesan cheese.
Pinch of sugar – just a small amount to balance the tomatoes. Don’t skip it!
How to Make It
Just a reminder that you can find the FULL written recipe down in the recipe card, but I want to quickly go over how to make them with visuals for you 🙂
Cook garlic + tomatoes. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add in garlic and cook for 1 minute. Then add in the tomatoes, salt, pepper and sugar. Mix to combine and toss often and cook until the tomatoes begin to burst, about 6 minutes.
Combine everything. Stir in the hearts of palm pasta and basil and cook for 2 additional minutes and until the pasta is heated through. Garnish with parmesan for extra flavor and additional pepper to taste. ENJOY!
Recipe Tips
Rinse and dry the noodles well. Hearts of palm pasta comes packed in water. Give them a good rinse in a colander, then shake off as much moisture as possible before adding them to the pan – this helps them absorb the sauce instead of steaming in it.
Don’t rush the tomatoes. Let them cook undisturbed for a minute or two so they can blister and start to burst. That caramelization is where a lot of the flavor comes from.
Add the pasta last. The noodles just need to heat through – about 2-3 minutes in the pan is plenty. Overcooking them can make them a bit mushy.
Taste before serving. Hearts of palm has a subtle briny quality, so taste the finished dish before adding extra salt.
Make it a meal. This is great as-is, but adding white beans, a jammy egg, or some pan-seared tofu bumps up the protein nicely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hearts of palm pasta is a grain-free, gluten-free noodle alternative made from the inner core of certain palm trees. It has a mild, lightly savory flavor – often compared to artichoke hearts – and a tender, slightly firm texture. Unlike zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash, it requires zero cooking; you just rinse and heat it through. It’s truly a great low-carb pasta alternative!
Trader Joe’s carries their own version, and Palmini is the most widely available brand – you can find it at Whole Foods, Target, Walmart, and on Amazon. It typically comes in a can or pouch, packed in water.
Mild and lightly savory – not unlike artichoke hearts. The flavor is subtle enough that it doesn’t compete with your sauce, which makes it incredibly versatile. It’s less neutral than rice noodles, but more neutral than, say, zucchini noodles.
Nope! That’s one of the best things about it. Just drain, rinse, and add it to your pan to heat through. No boiling required.
Pretty much anything you’d put on real pasta; just use your favorite sauce! This simple garlic-tomato version is an excellent option but it’s also delicious with my creamy tofu pasta sauce, white wine pasta sauce, easy marinara, or roasted red pepper pasta sauce.
Simple Hearts of Palm Pasta
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Make it a more filling meal by adding a drained can of white beans or some pan-seared tofu to the skillet along with the tomatoes.
Leftovers keep well for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop with a splash of olive oil.
Storage + Reheating – Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet over low heat with a small splash of olive oil or water to loosen things up. I’d skip the microwave if possible – the noodles hold up much better on the stovetop.
Nutrition
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