Barilla Protein+ (Plus) Cellentani Pasta, 14.5 Ounce (Pack of 12) - plant based - Made from Lentils, Chickpeas & Peas - Non-GMO, Kosher Certified

I always order this pasta because it’s cheaper in bulk. I cook pasta multiple nights a week and this is my favorite brand.

Great taste and texture. Great to eat alone or with sauces. I use them with many types of meals. I would highly recommend.

I'd never seen the Barilla Plus Cellentani shape in stores, so was happy to find these. I'm a Barilla Plus devotee because of the extra protein content, and also because it seems harder to overcook than other pastas. Happy to know there are other pasta shape varieties available.

I have tried a variety of plant-based pastas, and, frankly, some have been awful. I was a little leery of this one because in addition to semolina and durum wheat it also includes lentils, peas and chickpeas, which can result in weird texture and even weirder taste, although they provide more fiber, protein, and overall better nutrition. Still, Barilla is a well-known and respected name in the pasta business, so it was worth a shot. I was pleasantly surprised. The texture is a little more chewy, but the taste was similar to regular pasta. I did add mushrooms, cheese, butter, and a Barilla pasta sauce so be prepared to use the pasta as a starter and get creative. The instructions recommend boiling the pasta for between 8 and 10 minutes. Based on my experience, I recommend going a bit longer on the time or you might find it too al dente. This is a good product, and 12 boxes will last a long time. It's a little more expensive than regular pasta, of course, but it is a specialty item.

I don't eat as much pasta these days, as I try to stick to whole wheat and frankly those varieties don't taste as good. But the girlfriend loves pasta and eats it often -- and she's picky on texture and flavor, even with stuff that doesn't always matter to me, like the shape. So this was a risk given that you get 12 boxes, but figured it was worth a try. Texture / Flavor I gave this pasta a try with a simple pasta primavera recipe -- very veggie heavy with just oil, melted cheese, and lemon juice to make the "sauce." So that added some flavor, but didn't strongly cover up the texture of flavor of the pasta itself for this test run. If I didn't know the pasta was made any differently than traditional pasta, I wouldn't have known from the taste or texture, although the texture was a bit firmer/denser than I'm used to. However, the girlfriend just chomped away and did not seem to know that this pasta was any different. She loved it, so now I don't have to donate the rest of the boxes. As for the protein+, this product only seems to be about one gram more than my other pastas. While I'm not sure how healthier it is than traditional pasta, the fact that it's made with alternate wheat and lentils/peas/etc does naturally sound better to me. But who knows -- it does taste good and we'll continue to use it.

This is good, firm pasta when cooked according to the directions. The long curlicue shape and ridges make this pasta excellent for holding sauce, although it also makes it a little harder to drain the water from inside. I served this with a red sauce but think these would be great in mac and cheese as well as casseroles. The “twist” is that the usual semolina wheat is supplemented with lentil, chickpea, barley, and spelt flours, and pea protein for a plant protein boost without changing the texture. When I compare the nutrition facts of this to a package of Barilla Al Bronzo spaghetti that I have in my pantry, made only with semolina wheat, there’s 2% more protein, 7% more dietary fiber, 2% more calcium, 4% more potassium, 1% fewer carbohydrates, and 10 fewer calories in a 2 oz. serving size. The “Best By” date of my order is about 20 months in the future. I’m very pleased with this product and would recommend it.

As an anemic vegetarian, I struggle with getting enough protein in my diet, and am always on the hunt for new products to help with that. I've tried many, MANY different protein products over the years, and since Cellentani noodles are my favorite shape of pasta, I was thrilled to try these! Each box contains about seven 2oz servings, listed as 190 calories with a breakdown of 10g Protein / 38g Carbs / 1g Fat. It is 100% certified Veganq plant-based protein, from Lentils, Pea, Chickpea, etc. I noticed I did need to cook them longer than "normal" noodles for my preferred texture. They do have a slight "protein powder" aftertaste like most similar products. At about $3 per 14.5oz box, these are comparable and convenient to get in bulk, especially as most stores near me do not stock this type of product. Happy to enjoy healthier pasta!

Good: - toothsome bite. I hate soggy pasta and this has a wonderful texture even when cooked beyond al dente. - protein. My kids get to easy pasta while also getting a bit more protein. It’s 3g per serving more than comparable durum pasta. - the shape. Not only is the shape fun. It is also versatile and holds sauce very well. I have used it for myriad recipes both hot and cold to great success. - excellent value for a quality product. Cons- none