How To Cook Gluten Free Pasta?

If you are interested in learning how to cook healthy gluten-free pasta at home, or if you have a gluten-free friend who would like to learn how to make their own gluten-free pasta, this is just what you need.

Gluten-free pasta is made from a blend of cornstarch and potato starch.

Essentially, it is made to be similar in consistency to traditional pasta, but it is healthier and more nutritious because it does not contain gluten.

You can cook gluten-free pasta in several ways. The most common methods are boiling, steaming, or sauteing.

• Boiling

Step 1: An easy way to cook gluten-free pasta is to boil large amounts of cooking water with tablespoons of salt and add oil in pasta water.

Step 2: Add the pasta sheets, turn the heat down to low and cover the pot.

Step 3: Let the pasta cook until it is “al dente”, the cooking time about 10 minutes and drain using metal colander.

• Steaming

It’s easy to cook gluten-free pasta by steaming. You just have to put 2-3 cups of water and a tablespoon of salt and pepper in a pot.

When your water is bubbling boil put the sheet of pasta in a steamer basket, and wait until it’s soft.

• Sautéing

Cook gluten-free pasta by sauteing it in a large pan with oil on medium heat for 4 – 8 minutes. Stir frequently to separate the noodles.

Use gluten-free pasta to prepare a tasty sauté by heating oil and adding minced garlic. Cook until garlic is fragrant and toss with the cooked pasta. 

You can season your gluten-free pasta with salt and any spices you enjoy, such as basil or oregano.

As the cooked noodles cool it will absorb the pasta sauce.

Looking on How To Cook Gluten Free Pasta? Then this article is for you!

What is Gluten Free Pasta?

Everyone seems to have their own ideas on what exactly gluten-free means. Is it only pasta?

Technically, the gluten-free diet is a diet that is free from all forms of wheat. Wheat is the primary source of gluten and is present in many foods that we eat and from which we are made.

Gluten-free pasta is an alternative option for those who wish to avoid the protein found in wheat. But what is gluten-free pasta?

It is pasta that has been stripped of its gluten. Gluten is an elastic protein found in wheat, barley, rye and triticale, which are part of the grass family.

Gluten free pasta is made from alternative flours or starches that do not contain this protein.

The most common alternative flours or starches used in gluten free pasta are buckwheat, rice, sorghum, amaranth, quinoa (a small seed) and millet.

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, and a small percentage of the population may be sensitive to it.

This can be because of gluten sensitivity or celiac disease.

You can find these products in most supermarkets today, and with so many different these products, it’s hard to tell what is gluten free and what isn’t.

How To Make Homemade Gluten Free Pasta

Have you ever tried to make homemade gluten free pasta? It really is easier than you think, and it doesn’t take much time either.

Homemade pasta is so much better than store bought, it’s cheaper, and you can make it taste exactly the way you want. You just have to learn how to cook it.

This article will show you how to make homemade gluten-free pasta:

Gluten free pasta ingredients:

• Gluten-free flour or maize flour
• 2 Eggs
• Pinch of salt
• Butter

Procedure:

Step 1: Mix the gluten-free flour, egg, and butter together to form a dough.

Step 2: Roll the dough out flat and thin on a floured surface

Step 3: Fold the rolled-out pasta dough and cut up into a tube shape and cut into a long strip.

Step 4: Cut the strips into small pieces with a knife or in a pasta machine.

Step 5: Boil the pasta in a pot of water for 6-10 minutes until it is soft and cooked all the way through.

Step 6: Drain the pasta in a plastic colander and serve.

Whenever you think of pasta, you probably don’t think of gluten. Yet, it’s an important pasta ingredient in many dishes, including quick dinners, vegetarian entrees, and even desserts.

You can make it gluten-free by substituting gluten-free pastas like quinoa and corn, or enjoy the convenience of pre-made gluten-free pastas, that you can find at most grocery stores.

Great Sauces To Use With Pasta

You want to make the most of your store-bought gluten free pasta but, how do you make sure it’s tasty, creamy and satisfying? 

Sauces can be an integral part of a pasta dish that can turn a mediocre meal into a fantastic one.

While many might think that there is only one sauce to use with pasta until they find out that there are actually a lot more options out there.

We start with one of the must have sauces:

• Tomato sauce
• Alfredo sauce
• Spicy marinara
• Creamy marinara
• Arrabbiata
• Pesto ( Is Pesto Vegan? )
• Marinara

These are the best sauces to accompany your pasta dishes.

There are many different pasta sauce that you can buy, but you can create your own homemade sauce to use on your pasta too.

The best thing about making your own sauce is that you can decide which ingredients you want to use and you can adjust the amount of each ingredient to make it as spicy or as mild as you like.

Read more here Is Alfredo Sauce Gluten-Free?

Common Mistakes People Make When Cooking Gluten-Free Pasta

Gluten-free cooking can be tricky, especially if you’ve never made your own pasta before. After all, you don’t want to end up with that dead-rat-like feeling that you get when eating gluten-filled pasta.

There are many misconceptions about cooking gluten-free pasta, and if you’re not careful, you can make some of these mistakes.

So here are a few common mistakes that people make when cooking gluten-free pasta, and what to do instead.

• Gluten-free foods are made without gluten, which is a compound that can cause a digestive upset in people who are intolerant to it. It causes physical symptoms like abdominal cramps and bloating in many individuals, but can also lead to health conditions that affect the brain.
• It’s important to cook gluten-free pasta until it’s al dente, or still slightly firm pasta. Otherwise, it might be too soft or mushy for your tastes.
• Some gluten-free pastas have a slightly different texture than regular pastas. If you’re used to semolina or durum wheat pasta, you might notice a change in the texture of gluten-free pasta.
• Gluten-free pasta dough is much sturdier and thicker than regular pasta dough and can take longer to cook.
• Don’t overcook, especially if using a gluten free flour blend, if you don’t want a mushy pasta.
• Use a large pot to prevent the pasta from sticking and clumping.

Cooking gluten-free pasta is not as difficult as it seems, especially with the help of this list of common mistakes that people make when cooking gluten-free pasta.

Does Gluten Free Pasta Taste The Same As Regular Pasta?

Many people that are gluten-intolerant are wondering if gluten-free pasta tastes as good as its regular counterpart.

The answer to this question is that it does not.

While gluten-free pasta may not taste the same as regular pasta, it has all the same taste sensations. 

For those who have had gluten-free pasta in the past, they already know that it is quite difficult to replicate the taste of wheat pasta.

While there are some great gluten-free pastas out there, you will not be able to replicate the taste of regular pasta with gluten.

It is made from rice, corn, quinoa, potato, or other non-gluten-containing grains.

Most people who eat gluten-free products have no trouble adjusting, but if you are new to the gluten-free diet, you might notice that gluten-free products don’t quite have the same texture or flavor as gluten-containing products.

Because gluten-free pasta is made from non-gluten-containing grains, it usually has a different consistency than pasta made from wheat flour.

Gluten-free pasta is usually not as thick as regular pasta, and it’s usually made with less water.

Regular pasta contains protein called gluten that gives it a chewy texture. Gluten-free pasta does not have this protein, so it is more brittle and crunchy.

We made also an article about Is Pasta Plant Based Food? Find out here!