Shirataki noodles

Compared to noodles made from wheat or rice, shirataki is very low in calories, and are sometimes eaten by those on a diet.

Shirataki is often sold in containers with alkaline water, and needs to be rinsed before cooking to remove the bitter flavor.

One variation is ito-konnyaku (糸こんにゃく "konjac strings"), which are generally thicker, darker, with a square cross section.

[2]: 157–11  Shirataki noodles are made from 97% water and 3% konjac, which contains glucomannan, a water-soluble dietary fiber.

Some brands require rinsing and sautéing or parboiling, as the alkaline water in the packaging has an odor some find unpleasant.

Shirataki noodles (top) and other ingredients in a donabe
Shirataki is made from the corm of the konjac plant