Gluten-Free Done Easily

Louisa is sharing some great gluten-free recipe ideas here today. I personally am not gluten-free, but I do have friends who avoid gluten for various health reasons. I will be keeping this post and these recipes on hand in case I ever host someone for a dinner who has an allergy! Now that I think about it though… these seem great for anyone– gluten intolerance or not!

Gluten-Free Done Easily
Guest post by Louisa from Living Lou

I’m not gluten-free, but my sister and my mom are both gluten and corn intolerant. To give you a bit of perspective, my mom hasn’t eaten gluten or corn for over 20 years. Basically, my family wasn’t eating gluten before “gluten free” was even a thing–back when rice cakes and rice pasta were the only gluten-free options available. Things have definitely shifted in recent years as “gluten free” has become such a trend, but the truth is, through my mom, I’ve learned that it’s possible to eat gluten free without a ton of processed ingredients and without having to drastically change your diet. Many people think that when something is gluten free, that it means that it is healthier, but that’s not really true–if you’re going to try a gluten-free diet, you should definitely talk it over with your doctor. 

Many of the recipes I create are naturally gluten free (I have over 175 gluten free recipes on my website) because my family eats pretty much everything that I make. So what kinds of dishes to I create that are simple and gluten-free? 

Rice noodle based dishes

Rice noodles (also known as vermicelli) are one of my favorite ingredients to cook with. They are naturally gluten-free, take just a couple of minutes to cook and are really easy to find. Rice noodles aren’t a replacement for pasta, but they are perfect in Asian-style dishes with rice like quick, vegetarian stir-frys, or light soups.

Using vegetables instead of pasta or grains

Many of the gluten-loaded dishes we know and love are really carb-heavy–think lasagna, or sandwiches or tacos. Over the years, I’ve started to replace many of these elements with healthier vegetables. I love using Boston lettuce for healthy lettuce wraps (my ginger chicken lettuce wraps are one of the best recipes ever), or replacing noodles with vegetables for a lighter lasagna. 

3 must-have pantry items: 

If you’re following a gluten-free diet there are a few items that I highly recommend having in your pantry. Most of these can be found at regular grocery stores, but Whole Foods is one of my favourite spots for picking up speciality items (like gluten and corn free hoisin). 

1. Tamari is a gluten-free soy sauce item–a must have for any Asian-style dishes.

2. Ground almonds are one of my favorite ingredients to use in baking, they are the base for my gluten-free brownies

3. Quinoa or rice I love using quinoa or rice for adding bulk to salads, or for serving with stew.