How To Eat Gluten Free (The 10 Recipes You Need To Master) (2024)

If you're learning how to eat gluten free, you need to start somewhere. These are the 10 gluten free recipes you need to masternow to help you eat great and stick to that diet!

How To Eat Gluten Free (The 10 Recipes You Need To Master) (1)

Whether you've been cooking and baking gluten free for the better part of a decade (like me!), or you're brand new to the gluten free diet, it helps to have a can-do attitude. Whoever tells you just to stick to foods that are naturally gluten free and you'll be fine simply doesn't live in the real world with the rest of us. Although we all know that a diet rich invegetables, naturally gluten free complex whole grains (like quinoa and brown rice), lean meats and fruits for snacking is ideal, for most of us that's just not a long-term solution—especially for those of us who are raising children in a gluten free household.

Maybe you have kids who need to pack a school lunch. Sometimes you need to wrap up a burrito for a quick dinner and you just can't bring yourself to buy those expensive, taste-free gluten free packaged brown rice tortillas. How aboutthe proper side to serve with your famous spicy chili? Maybe you even want to serve an actual gluten free birthday cake that tastes, well, likebirthday cake. You see where I'm going with this.

These are the 10 gluten free recipes that, should you master, you will never feel deprived on a gluten free diet. By all means, stock yourrefrigerator with fruits, vegetables and lean meats. I try to do the same. But for those times when real life intervenes, here's how to cook and bake for it.

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Gluten free flour tortillas. These are the perfect soft, flexible gluten free flour tortillas, the kind you simply can't buy (along with a how-to video for visual learners). The best part, other than the authentic taste? They freeze perfectly.Just stack the cooked tortillas, wrap them tightly, and freeze. When you're ready to eat them, either defrost them in the refrigerator and refresh them in a hot, dry skillet until flexible. You can even prepare the tortillas, fill and wrap them with your favorite burrito ingredients, and freeze. Defrost in the refrigerator or microwave and enjoy warm!

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Fresh homemade naturally gluten free corn tortillas are made with masa harina corn flour, salt and warm water. The moment you open a bag of the masa, you'll know from the smell that you're about to make authentic corn tortillas.

Although packaged gluten free corn tortillas are way less expensive and easier to find than gluten free flour tortillas, they simply can't compete with the fresh kind. Make them at least once, and you'll always know what's possible with just a few minutes of effort—and 3 simple ingredients.

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DIY Gluten Free Pancake Mix. Anyone who has ever baked with a Bisquick mix knows how versatile it is. Ialways keep this mix on hand in my house. It's perfect for everything from straight up pancakes and pancake muffins to breakfast casseroles and super quick muffins.

The store-bought gluten free Bisquick is, sadly, rather gritty and just not nearly as tasty and versatile as the conventional, gluten-containing kind. But this mix fills that gap—with just a few basic gluten free pantry ingredients.

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Homemade Against the Grain Rolls recipe. I have many, many recipes for gluten free bread here on the blog. And I even wrote a whole book about gluten free bread. But the best entry point for someone just getting started on a gluten free diet doesn't begin with a flour blend at all. It's a riff on Brazilian cheese bread that isjust as good as the crazy-expensive Against The Grain tapioca rolls that you can buy frozen in the grocery store.

There's no yeast, no special technique (you make the dough in a food processor), and they save you tons of money. Perfect for lunchboxes!

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This extra flakygluten free pie crust is made with sour cream, and rolls out beautifully.Pie crust is good for so much more than making actual pies (although it does come in handy in that regard). It's really just a basic pastry dough. Use it to wrap hand pies or your favorite sweet fillings in any form. You can even pat it into a disk and cut out biscuits or scones.

You don't need my gluten free pie recipes if you have your own favorite. But of course mine are available for the taking (click here).

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If you’re looking for the perfect side to almost any meal, this naturally gluten free cornbread is just the thing. The only grain is cornmeal—no rice flour blend—and this forgiving recipe can be made with sour cream or even milk (nondairy is fine!) instead of yogurt.

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These flourless chocolate peanut butter cookies are gluten free, grain free, dairy free,and even packed with protein. They're perfect for breakfast, even (leave off the chips if it makes you feel better :) or a snack.

If you're worried about baking with gluten free flour blends, or simply don't have any available to you, this is where you begin. Not a speck of flour of any kind in sight.

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This super simple recipe forchocolate chipyogurt gluten free quick bread alwaysmakes a perfectlymoist and tender loaf. It's my go-to quick bread recipe, since you can mix in whatever you like. If you're not feeling the chips, replace them with fresh or frozen berries or dried fruit like raisins or currants. It's a versatile enough recipe that many readers have made it into muffins. Go for it!

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A classic thick and chewy delight, these gluten free chocolate chip cookies set the standard for everything a cookie should be. And they're easy drop cookies, ready in a flash.

Whenever a reader (or a friend or acquaintance) asks me how to get started baking gluten free, I always say drop cookies. They're so easy, never fail and make you feel like a champ since they come out perfectly every time. And who doesn't love a chocolate chipper?

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Finally, we have these easy gluten free cake mix recipes for basic chocolate and vanilla cakes. Keep them on hand and you’ll never be without the perfect birthday cake. Sometimes, you just need a piece of cake, for crying out loud! These easy mixes are the perfect starting point.

For my gluten free son, I consider even the “unhealthy” recipes for cookies and cake in this list to be a form of health food. Since we have these recipes,I feel confident that he'll never “cheat” on the diet. Since it's not really a diet, is it. It's a way of life. And my promise to you remains as it has always been:

If they can make it with gluten, we can make it without!

How To Eat Gluten Free (The 10 Recipes You Need To Master) (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to start a gluten-free diet? ›

Focus on shopping the perimeter of your grocery store: vegetables, fruits, fish, poultry, meats, and dairy products are good places to start. In their natural forms, without potentially gluten-containing flavorings or ingredients added, these foods are gluten-free and are staples of a gluten-free diet.

What happens when you eat gluten after not eating it for a while? ›

Symptoms of glutening are often digestive (abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation). However, gluten exposure can also cause headaches, anxiety, brain fog, skin rashes, or problems with a variety of body systems. These symptoms can last for days or weeks.

How do you master gluten-free baking? ›

What to Expect with Gluten-Free Baking
  1. Gluten-free flours absorb more liquid.
  2. Gluten-free batters can tolerate (and even benefit from) overmixing.
  3. Gluten-free batters need to rest.
  4. No kneading required.
  5. Gluten-free batters need a longer bake time.
  6. Stick to the recipe.
  7. Don't “dip and sweep.”
  8. The less flour, the better.

What foods should you avoid if you are gluten-free? ›

In general, avoid the following foods if you have celiac disease: Cereals, breads, or other grain products that include wheat, rye, barley, or oats. This includes white or whole-wheat flour (including cookies, crackers, cakes, and most other baked goods), semolina, couscous, bread crumbs, most pastas, and malt.

Does peanut butter have gluten in it? ›

It's important to know that peanuts, peanut butter, peanut flour and peanut oil are considered naturally gluten-free foods. Gluten is a form of protein found in wheat, barley and rye (2).

What happens first week of gluten-free? ›

It's common to feel constantly hungry during your first several weeks without gluten. You may want to eat all the time. Your body hasn't been able to absorb food properly for a while. So once it can, it'll try to make up for the deficit.

How do you flush gluten out of your body? ›

Once you've ingested gluten, your only option is to wait for it to pass through your system. There's no quick fix – no way of truly speeding up the process. The best thing you can do is be kind to your body. Treat individual symptoms as they arise, stay hydrated, and get back on track with your gluten free diet.

Why do I feel worse after going gluten-free? ›

Some people report feeling dizziness, nausea, extreme hunger and even anxiety and depression when they suddenly go from eating a lot of gluten to being gluten-free. These symptoms usually go away after a few weeks on a gluten-free diet, but talk to your health care provider if they persist.

What does a gluten belly look like? ›

FAQs about gluten intolerance symptoms

The intestines make up most of the middle and lower abdomen, so “gluten belly” will look like any other type of lower digestive tract bloating. However, if bloating seems to be a regular or constant problem, that's a possible sign that it may be due to gluten intolerance.

Which flour has no gluten? ›

Black bean flour, white bean flour, fava bean flour, garfava (a blend of garbanzo bean and fava bean flour), garbanzo bean (chickpea) flour, green pea flour and soy flour are some of the readily available varieties.

What is the trick to making good gluten-free bread? ›

Tips and Techniques to make better Gluten Free Bread
  1. Use psyllium husk powder.
  2. Let the dough rest (not exactly the same as a bulk proof)
  3. Mix or knead thoroughly.
  4. Use less yeast.
  5. Bake in a tin with tall sides.
  6. Bake for longer, often at a lower temperature.
  7. Create steam in the oven.
  8. Use the tangzhong or scalded flour method.

Is Oatmeal gluten-free? ›

Yes, pure, uncontaminated oats are gluten-free. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration considers oats a gluten-free grain under its gluten-free labeling regulations and only requires that packaged products with oats as an ingredient contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten overall.

What are the worst foods for gluten? ›

If you have a gluten intolerance, avoid the following:
  • potato bread.
  • rye bread.
  • sourdough bread.
  • wheat crackers.
  • whole wheat wraps.
  • flour tortillas.
  • flatbread.
  • bagels.
Sep 10, 2020

What are the best foods to eat on a gluten-free diet? ›

Many naturally gluten-free foods can be a part of a healthy diet:
  • Fruits and vegetables.
  • Beans, seeds, legumes and nuts in their natural, unprocessed forms.
  • Eggs.
  • Lean, nonprocessed meats, fish and poultry.
  • Most low-fat dairy products.

What major foods are gluten-free? ›

Gluten-Free Foods
  • Fruits.
  • Vegetables.
  • Meat and poultry.
  • Fish and seafood.
  • Dairy.
  • Beans, legumes, and nuts.

How long does it take to get used to a gluten-free diet? ›

Your symptoms should improve considerably within weeks of starting a gluten-free diet. However, it may take up to a few years for your digestive system to heal completely. A GP will offer you an annual review during which your height and weight will be measured and your symptoms reviewed.

What are the first signs of being gluten intolerant? ›

What are the symptoms of gluten intolerance?
  • Abdominal pain.
  • Anemia.
  • Anxiety.
  • Bloating or gas.
  • Brain fog, or trouble concentrating.
  • Depression.
  • Diarrhea or constipation.
  • Fatigue.
Jun 30, 2021

Will I lose weight if I start eating gluten-free? ›

This type of diet may also encourage weight loss (and a better sense of well-being) because overall calorie intake may decrease. If you were overweight before starting a gluten-free diet, your weight loss may be welcome. But, if your weight loss is unwanted, try adding calories with some of the above tips.

How long after going gluten-free will I notice a difference? ›

A gluten-free diet can improve symptoms from celiac disease. Many people notice improved pain, bloating, and diarrhea in as little as a few weeks. Other benefits of a gluten-free diet include improved bone density, mood, and energy levels.

References

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