Easy Gluten Free Dinner Ideas
As a coeliac my worst nightmare is being asked to someone else’s house for a meal. Especially if the invitee doesn’t have to deal with food intolerances and if they have no idea that you are a coeliac.
‘I would love to come,’ I say. ‘Although I do have to warn you that I am a coeliac which means I cannot eat wheat or gluten.’
As I am finishing this sentence I can see the look of panic cross their face. Invariably the next words out of their mouth are, ‘Wow, what can you eat?’
The answer is simple. Plenty. I and other coeliac’s can eat plenty. It is just knowing a few simple dishes, what to look for when buying ingredients and then there is no need to panic. Plus everyone else who does not need to eat gluten free can eat the same thing and not realise they are not eating gluten.
The most important thing when buying ingredients is to check the label. If it has wheat or gluten in it then it will say on there. Sometimes different brands have different ingredients so one brand of mayonnaise, for example, will have wheat whereas another will not. So check everything.
Appetisers/Entrees
- Soups – simple vegie or pumpkin soup
- Fresh Vegie Platter – cut up carrots, capsicum, celery, cucumber, tasty cheese and cherry tomatoes. Serve with hummus or similar dip (gluten free of course!)
- Polenta wedges with homemade (or store bought) salsa (recipe follows)
Mains
- Vegie Frittata (recipe follows)
- Oven baked fish served with potato bake and green salad
- Risotto – there are plenty of oven baked risottos that are easy to make if the thought of making risotto makes you nervous.
Dessert
- Pavlova – buy a shell, top with whipped cream and fresh fruit
- Fresh or dried fruit with a selection of cheeses – if using crackers use rice crackers
- Gluten Free Rich chocolate tart – you can either buy a packet mix (Naturally Good Deliciously Free Chocolate Cake Mix is the nicest, pictured above) or be adventurous and make your own.
Recipes
Polenta Wedges with Salsa
1 cup polenta
700 ml vegie stock
¾ cup grated cheese
Bring the stock to the boil and then add the polenta in a thin steam and whisk. (to ensure no lumps) The polenta will slightly thicken, turn the heat down and cook stirring until it thickens. Stir in grated cheese, mixing well. Pour into a sprayed baking tray and cook in moderate oven 180 degrees for 15 minutes.
Serve with the salsa.
Salsa
2 tomatoes
1 green capsicum
1 red onion
Diced above ingredients and mix
Vegetable Frittata
Potato, peeled and thinly sliced
Pumpkin, peeled and sliced
Sundried Tomatoes
Fetta, crumbled
Mushrooms, sliced
Olives
Baby Spinach
Salt, pepper and mixed herbs
Place the potato and pumpkin into an oiled baking dish.
Place the rest of the ingredients on top. Add salt and pepper.
Whisk 6 eggs with 100 ml cream and mixed herbs and pour into the dish.
Top with grated cheese.
Bake in a 180 degree oven for about an hour. Do check it after about 20 – 30 minutes and if getting too brown then top with foil.
The best part about this dish is that it can be made for 2 or 20. You can also adjust the flavour according to personal tastes. I don’t use bacon in mine but if you like it, then just pan fry up some and add them in.
As you can see it is very easy to cook gluten free. If you have any hints or tips I would love to hear them or if you have any questions, leave a comment and I will try my best to help you out.
Janelle is a Stay At Home Mum of two gorgeous boys aged 5 years and 14 months. She blogs over at Nellbe’s Gluten Free Kitchen where she posts about being a mum and coeliac and everything in between. Janelle enjoys tinkering in the kitchen and trying to encourage others to embrace gluten free cooking.
Noms! Could you please come to my house and cook for me?; )
hehe… anytime Brenda
I love frittatas, and oh my word do I want one now!
Mmm I love them too, so so yummy and a bonus for me is that my 5 year will eat them.
Such a fantastic post Janelle. So much info in it. It will be handy to have a gluten free cake mix in the cupboard, for when I know we have visitors coming that are gluten free.
Thanks PQ… it is so easy to do that. Just a tip, the gluten free chocolate biscuits are yummy too
People do panic when you say ‘food intolerance’ don’t they? A bit like when people used to say ‘vegetarian’ 20 years ago (‘…well here’s your lettuce leaf…’) Hopefully posts like this will help people relax when it comes to cooking for someone who has a gluten free diet.
That’s not a bad analogy to make Cate, thanks for that.
They sure do Cate and alot of the time they really don’t know what to do unless they have had to deal with it directly themselves. Thank you.
Extremely well put together article Nell, the food looks very tasty….i have as you know tasted gluten free food and could not tell the difference.
I also had experience helping prepare gluten free food for my coeliac Father-in-Law (since passed)
As you Know Nell, my wife makes a tremendous gluten free Baked Cheese Cake.
Thanks Shadee Bob and yes I know just how delicious your wife’s gluten free baked cheesecake is. I love it when she cooks it!
Goodness, these all look really yummy! I’m passing this post on to my gf cousin. Thanks Janelle.
And thank you Kelly
Your frittata looks so good, I’ll be adding it to my menu plan
it really is very yummy, I hope you enjoy it.
Great selection of easy recipes!
Thanks so much
hi great article… I am gluten intolerant but even that seems to scare people or they say,oh you can just eat it tonight then can’t you??
Saying no seems rude so I am often “too full ” for deserts etc.
OH and I would love the recipe for the baked cheese cake
Ah yes, the ‘little won’t hurt’ line. Thanks for your comments Kristie. I can try and feature the baked cheesecake recipe on my blog… hoping am able too
Oh and I can attest to the chock cake and bickies too… though keeping them in the house can be dangerous.. they are great for a treat!
Yum – great recipes! Just goes to show that it is still yummy to eat gluten free – even if your not a coeliac! Great post!
Thanks Dannii
dont have a gluten intolerance, but I have servere irritable bowel syndrome. What I eat really matters, I have found some new products in coles that have pastries & frozen foods that I can eat – finally. Things like egg yolk, dairy products, or highly processed white flours & foods are like poison to me. It is great to feel like everyone else for a change.
Thats wonderful, I am happy for you, it makes such a difference doesn’t it to eat like everyone else
beverley, I am really struggling with the same problem, can you help me? is there anything else that sets off the symtoms apart from the flour, egg & dairy? is there anything I can take to help?
Very nice recipies.
Thank you Jeanette
Great post Janelle. My sister in law is a coeliac, and I do have trouble trying to think of things to cook for her!
Thanks for your comment, it is hard to know what to cook for others. It really is fear of the unknown… once you know – its super easy. I know your sister in law will appreciate you trying.