Perhaps you’ve decided to cut back on gluten in the New Year – or maybe you are being instructed to by a doctor. Then again, you might simply be curious about the gluten-free lifestyle because you have a friend or family member living it. Regardless of your reasons, it’s always a good idea to know how to alter your recipes so that people with different dietary restrictions and preferences may enjoy them. To help you turn your favorite dishes into crowd-pleasing modern meals, see these gluten-free cooking tips:
Substitute with gluten-free all purpose flour.
We are so lucky to have so many gluten-free cooking and baking substitutes at our disposal these days – and a pre-mixed gluten-free flour blend makes a quick and easy substitute for gluten flour, especially when you are looking to thicken a pan sauce or stew. Just like wheat flour, allow the gluten-free flour to cook for a minute before whisking in the liquid to cook off some of the starchy flavor.
Alternatively, you could try using a naturally gluten-free flour like Ancient Harvest 100% Whole Grain Quinoa Flour. It makes a wonderful substitute for wheat flour in recipes like this one for Pumpkin Spice Baked Donuts.
Bonus: Want to try making your own gluten-free flour blend? We have some tips for how to do that – and also some secrets to successful gluten-free baking.
Try cornstarch.
This is another go-to alternative to wheat flour. Cornstarch is frequently used to thicken liquids, and it does a great job – but please note that the cooking process must be altered slightly: Cornstarch is typically added at the end, after it is first mixed with water. You will also likely need less cornstarch than you would gluten-free flour.
Embrace tamari.
Tamari is a tasty, versatile and usually gluten-free (be sure to check the label) one-to-one swap for soy sauce in recipes, and can be easier to find than gluten-free soy sauce.
DIY the dusting and breading.
Many recipes for hearty comfort foods call for breading or dusting proteins or veggies before cooking. Cornstarch makes a good replacement for dusting flour, and cornflakes add a delightful crunch to gluten-free toppings and crumbs – as do our 100% Whole Grain Quinoa Flakes. (Try them in this Quinoa Crusted Eggplant Parmesan, pictured.) You can also opt to make your own gluten-free breadcrumbs by toasting and crumbling your favorite gluten-free bread.
For even more gluten-free cooking tips as well as delicious recipes, be sure to visit the recipes page at AncientHarvest.com.
