This PCOS Pasta - Lentil Spaghetti with Pesto is a PCOS-friendly recipe with 450 calories, 25g protein, and 50g carbs per serving. Ready in 25 minutes. High in fiber (8g), which supports insulin sensitivity.
Nutrition per Serving
Ingredients
Instructions
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Cook the lentil spaghetti according to package instructions.
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While the pasta is cooking, combine the basil, pine nuts, and garlic in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped.
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Add the olive oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth.
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Season with salt and pepper.
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Drain the pasta and mix with the pesto.
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Serve with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
Why this PCOS Pasta - Lentil Spaghetti with Pesto works for PCOS
With 25g of protein per serving (about 22% of calories), this PCOS Pasta - Lentil Spaghetti with Pesto sits at the top end of the 25-35g per-meal range that the 2023 International PCOS Guideline recommends for managing insulin resistance and supporting lean mass. Higher-protein meals also blunt the glucose response when carbohydrates are included, which matters for women with PCOS because chronic insulin elevation drives androgen excess and irregular cycles.
The 50g of carbohydrates here come paired with 8g of fibre, which slows glucose absorption and produces a flatter post-meal blood sugar curve. Fibre is one of the most under-rated tools for PCOS: it feeds gut bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids linked to improved insulin sensitivity, and it modestly lowers circulating androgens by binding bile acids in the gut.
Fat makes up about 30% of calories in this dish. Dietary fat plays a load-bearing role in PCOS because sex hormones are synthesised from cholesterol, and very-low-fat eating can suppress hormone production over time. The 2023 PCOS guideline does not specify a strict fat target, but most clinicians recommend at least 25-35% of calories from a mix of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and saturated sources.
Evening meals affect overnight insulin and morning blood sugar more than most women realise. Keeping dinner protein-forward and finishing eating at least 2-3 hours before bed gives your body time to clear glucose before the overnight fast, which improves morning fasting insulin readings.
PCOS-Friendly Foods in This Recipe
This recipe contains the following foods that may benefit PCOS management: Basil.
Basil is an excellent stress reliever, and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this PCOS Pasta - Lentil Spaghetti with Pesto recipe is designed to be PCOS-friendly. At 450 calories per serving with 25g of protein, it supports balanced blood sugar and hormonal health. It also provides 8g of fiber, which helps with insulin sensitivity.
This recipe takes about 25 minutes total. Prep time is 10 minutes and cook time is 15 minutes. It makes 2 servings, so you can meal prep for multiple days.
Per serving: 450 calories, 25g protein (22%), 50g carbs, 15g fat. Plus 8g fiber. PCOS meal plans typically aim for 30% protein, 35% fat, 35% carbs to support insulin sensitivity.
Yes, this recipe works well as a PCOS-friendly Dinner. At 450 calories, it fits within typical PCOS meal plan targets for Dinner. Pair it with other PCOS-friendly foods throughout the day for balanced nutrition.
This recipe can be part of a structured PCOS meal plan. It makes 2 servings, making it great for meal prep. For a complete weekly plan tailored to your PCOS type, take our free 60-second quiz at pcosmealplanner.com/pcos-quiz to get a personalized 7-day meal plan.
Cook Another PCOS-Friendly Dinner
Each recipe you add to your rotation makes PCOS management easier. Variety keeps you from getting bored and quitting.
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