Protein-packed pasta with a plant-based twist

For a great example of how the lines are increasingly blurring in the food industry, look no further than the home of pasta.  

A surprising 20% of Italian young males (aged 16-34yr) recently indicated that high protein content is one of their top five most important attributes when buying pasta. 

Traditionally, consumers regarded pasta purely as a carbohydrate. But recently we’ve seen a slew of new pasta products featuring protein declarations. Last year, nearly 12% of pasta launches had a non-gluten claim1. Furthermore, 5% of new pasta launches had a high/added protein claim2. 

This might only be the start yet! In fact, the retail value of high-protein rice, pasta and noodles is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15.5% from 2023 to 2027. So how can pasta manufacturers tap into this opportunity to satisfy health-conscious consumers with low-carb options that have higher nutritional value?  

One great solution is to fortify your pasta with palette-pleasing plant proteins - like those in our Vertis™ portfolio. In fact, our experts have demonstrated that it’s possible to create a delicious, gluten-free pasta with 30% protein content. So, if you’re looking for the ideal way to add protein to your pasta in a plant-based way, here’s how. 

Vertis™ CanolaPRO®: the complete, planet-friendly protein
We offer several proven, planet-friendly plant proteins for pasta: Vertis™ CanolaPRO®, Vertis™ Pea protein concentrate and dsm-firmenich pea starch. 

Derived from the canola plant, Vertis™ CanolaPRO® is a 90% native protein isolate that is certified non-GMO; dairy-free, gluten-free and solvent free. In fact, following its recent recognition by the Upcycled Certified Program, Vertis™ CanolaPRO® is now the only commercially available certified upcycled protein with a PDCAAS = 1. 

Instead of the side stream leftover from canola oil processing being used for animal feed or fertilizer, it’s now being used as a high-value protein for humans thanks to a patented extraction technology developed by our experts. 

But just as importantly, this versatile protein has a balanced sensory profile and can be easily incorporated into pasta recipes with minimal effect on the great texture and taste of your product. 

You can add our Vertis™ pea proteins for an additional protein boost. They have mild-to-neutral taste, good texture and structure. And just like our canola-based proteins, are free of major allergens and are, of course, plant-based. 

So good we made it ourselves!
At dsm-firmenich it’s not just about ingredients expertise; we also bring extensive application experience to the table. So, to demonstrate just how easy it can be to incorporate our plant proteins into pasta, our technical team created our very own High protein pasta concept to share with customers. 

This nutritious, low-carb creation contains an impressive 34 grams of protein per 100 grams of pasta – and just under 52% carbohydrates. It’s extremely low in salt and saturated fat, vegan and gluten-free.

This is relevant not only to the home of pasta, but also many other countries. For example, across the three diverse nations of Poland, Spain and Germany, an average of nearly 20% of consumers have said that low-carb options are one of their top five most important attributes when buying pasta4.

You can download a recipe sheet if you’re interested in knowing more about this concept; and how our experts can work with you and your team to rewrite the pasta recipe book. There’s even the potential to try our concept for yourself, either in one of your own kitchens or on-site at one of ours. Simply Contact us today!