What is Gluten? Gluten-Free Diet & Foods

What is Gluten?

Gluten is a type of protein and comes under the family of proteins that are found in grains such as the wheat, rye, spelt and also barley. From the grains that contain gluten, wheat is the most commonly consumed.

The two main proteins which are present in gluten are glutenin and gliadin. The Gliadin proteein is mainly accountable for the negative health effects.

When we mix flour with water, the gluten proteins tend to form a sticky network that has a glue-like consistency. This glue-like property is what makes the dough elastic, and also gives bread the ability to climb when baked. It also gives a chewy and satisfying texture. Fascinatingly, the name glu-ten comes from this glue-like property of wet dough.

Gluten-Free Foods: Pizza, Pancakes, Cupcakes and others

Gluten-free food: Here we will be talking about pizzas, pancakes, cupcakes and more delectable treats.

Have you ever thought about how many comfort foods consist of gluten? Whether we talk about the pasta layered into lasagna, the breadcrumbs moulded in meatloaf or the flour in pizza dough, many crave-worthy dishes are made with wheat. Happily, we’ve come a long way when we talk about gluten-free cooking and baking – and by using the right recipes and some smart shopping, anyone can take pleasure in their favourite comfort foods.

We’ve brought together seven surefire gluten-free recipes, which includes wheat-free takes on fried chicken, biscuits, pizza and pancakes. We’ve even found two irresistible chocolate desserts that are completely gluten-free.

Ultimate Quinoa Pizza Crust:

Pizza is one of the mainly popular comfort foods in the region, but for far too long it’s been off-limits for anyone who is on a gluten-free diet. You can enter quinoa, that makes a surprisingly excellent pizza crust and also offers the added benefit of being packed with protein and fibre. Check Health Benefits of Quinoa.

This recipe has a bit of forethought as the quinoa requires to be soaked for 6-8 hours (or overnight) but after soaking that it is as easy as combining together the quinoa with water, baking powder, salt and olive oil and then baking it in a cake pan. All that remains left is to add sauce, cheese and along with your favourite toppings on the top.

Paleo Oven-Fried Chicken:

Fried chicken might be like a fantasy feast for someone who is following a gluten-free diet, but thanks to this particular recipe’s which has a genius combination of almond meal (ground raw almonds with their skins on) and also almond flour (finely ground blanched and skinless almonds), this crispy Southern classic can also be made without flour.

The dish Spiced with cayenne pepper, paprika, oregano and garlic powder, this dish doesn’t lack in flavour. Plus, the chicken is also baked in the oven rather than frying it in oil, so it is easier to bake it and make it better for you, too.

Slow-Cooker Eggplant Lasagna:

Rather than ordering for gluten-free noodles, this recipe has thinly sliced eggplant as a noodle stand-in. It’s a tasty idea and also takes for a very healthy spin on comfort food.

The recipe needs just six ingredients and can be made in a slow cooker so you’d be hard-pressed to find a simpler way to get supper on the table. If you are not having a mandolin slicer, just use a knife for slicing the eggplant. And even feel free to swap ricotta with cottage cheese.

Gluten-Free Biscuits:

Baked goods are very tricky for anyone who is following a gluten-free diet but no one needs to miss out on flaky, tender biscuits. This recipe is based on a gluten-free blend of coconut flour, white rice flour, oat flour, tapioca flour, cornstarch and along with xanthan gum. To save your time, you need to make a large batch of the gluten-free flour mixture to rely on impromptu baking.

These biscuits are made of almond milk which makes them dairy-free, but if dairy isn’t an issue for you, then you can feel free to use buttermilk for a slightly more authentic biscuit experience.

Gluten-Free Pancakes:

You can surely love to Wake up to a fluffy stack of gluten-free pancakes with the help of this quick and easy recipe which is made with white rice flour, brown rice flour, potato starch, ground flaxseed and also xanthan gum. A stroke of regular sugar is best for a more classic take on pancakes, but you can also prefer using brown sugar, which will lend these flapjacks a subtle, molasses-like flavour.

The basic recipe is very versatile, so you can feel free to add one or more of your favourite additions, which may include blueberries, bananas and chocolate chips. And if you’re not among those who are wild about flax, then go ahead and skip it.

Gluten-Free Meatloaf:

Meatloaf is characteristically made with breadcrumbs, crackers or the other gluten-containing ingredient but this recipe is made in rolled oats, which gives the dish some necessary structure, plus extra heartiness. Rolled oats are also a pantry staple that you would surely be having in your kitchen — seek out gluten-free oats if you follow a strict diet.

The recipe gets ready quickly, which makes it a great weeknight supper. It also freezes well so you can consider making a double batch so that you have an extra dinner packed away for later.

Hostess-Style Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes:

This recipe is from blogger and cookbook author Nicole Hunn which takes a little more time and effort than some other recipes which are gathered here, but if you love Hostess-style cupcakes, it’s more than worth it.

The dense chocolate cupcakes are filled up with light and fluffy whipped cream, and then these are also topped with a semisweet chocolate glaze and also a decorative swirl of royal icing. For a more sleek version, simply forego the whipped cream and the icing and you are still left with some seriously good chocolate cupcakes. And if you want to get your chocolate fix even faster, then you need to whip up Hunn’s one-bowl gluten-free chocolate cake.