Fitness Trainer Senada Greca Embraces Carbs With Her Mediterranean Pasta Recipe

Celebrity fitness trainer Senada Greca is not a fan of fad diets and makes sure to get each macronutrient into each meal.

In one of her latest Instagram recipes, she made a Mediterranean pasta bake using olive oil for fat, salmon for protein, and pasta and vegetables for carbs. She switched out traditional pasta for red lentil pasta to make the recipe not only higher protein but gluten-free as well!

The best thing about the Zentoa founder's recipes is that they are usually customizable. In this recipe, it's pretty easy to cut out dairy, added sugars, and gluten. Senada replaced her regular pasta with red lentil pasta for an extra dose of protein, but most lentil pastas are gluten-free - just make sure to check the label! - making it a perfect option for anyone who has celiac disease or chooses to follow a gluten-free diet.

Although she uses salmon here, she admits in the caption that the recipe can be made without it or even swapped with another protein, like chicken, although the cooking time may vary. In the caption of this Instagram post, she called the dish “SUPER DELICIOUS,” adding, “Even the ones that don’t love salmon (but you can also sub it out) will LOVE this dish. Make sure to Save and Share it.”

She added, “Super easy to make and can be stored in the fridge and eaten over a few days.” The ingredients and their measurements were listed in the caption of her video, although fans can sub out any ingredients they don’t like.

After baking the feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, spinach, and cubed salmon in the oven for thirty minutes at 375°F, she adds her cooked pasta to the dish and mixes everything together before enjoying her dinner.

Although some fans praised the delicious recipe, other followers wanted to make it clear that it was not a Mediterranean dish, as she had claimed. “Sorry Senada, but this is not Mediterranean pasta!! Italian pasta is another thing. Come to Italy in order to try authentic pasta,” one user commented.

“I offer alternatives. My recipes are inspired by certain meals, i.e. Mediterranean flavors in this. Not claiming they’re the exact thing as an Italian buttery pasta dish but an amazing, healthy substitute,” Senada replied.

Another “restaurant owner” called the pasta “offensive,” which also prompted Senada to respond. “You may own a restaurant but I would suggest you give this recipe a go and let me know,” she replied. “Also, I’m Albanian, and grew up with the best of chefs, my mom and my grandma.”

Other fans had different problems with the recipe. “Looks interesting. I could not eat cheese and fish at the same time,” another follower commented. “You’d be surprised how well the two work together,” Senada replied.

“What’s a good substitute for Feta cheese for people who don’t eat it? It being cheese btw … this looks so freaking good,” another fan asked. “If you’re wanting a vegan option, I think there are some decent vegan substitutes like cashew cheese perhaps,” Senada replied.

“How many servings are in this recipe?” another user asked. “This recipe makes 3-4 servings depending on your caloric goal,” Senada replied. “How are you measuring how much pasta you’re eating per meal? Because I want to eat half the pan,” another follower asked. “Half of this pan is honestly better than most pasta dishes. Especially since this is lentil pasta. Packed with protein,” Senada replied.

Others were in love with her white crop top and hoped that it was part of the Zentoa founder's new apparel launch. “Ohhh you are so cute! Love the colorful. Please tell me your top is part of a new Zentoa drop!!!” one fan exclaimed. “There will be a new Zentoa drop very soon (this top will eventually be released as well but other gorgeous things coming up),” Senada replied. “Make sure you sign up on the website (zentoa.com) to be notified as we’ll have limited drop amounts this time around.”

Interested in more of Senada Greca's recipes? If you like what she cooked for dinner, just wait and see what she made for dessert! The celebrity fitness trainer whipped up a Chocolate Ice Cream Pie that is packed with protein to keep you feeling full so you won't feel the need to keep running back for seconds (although it's so delicious you may want to anyway!) Fans can check out her recipe for Chocolate Ice Cream Pie by clicking here!