Gluten free holiday dishes

More and more people are either finding that they are gluten intolerant or are making the choice to follow a gluten-free diet. In order to produce gluten-free holiday dishes, it is important to understand exactly what gluten is and what products are likely to contain gluten. It is usually best to use only products that have not been processed in order to be sure that no gluten has been added.

Gluten is a protein that is found in many grains including wheat and barley. It is also used in many processed foods as a binder, thickener or preservative. That is why it is important to know and understand what names are used to identify gluten and to stick as much as possible with fresh, unprocessed products.

Potatoes are gluten-free. Butter, milk, and sour cream are gluten-free. Garlic and chives are also gluten-free. As you can see, you have the basics for some wonderful mashed potatoes. 

Cheese is also gluten-free, but of course, flour is not, so making scalloped or au gratin potatoes requires that the recipe be tweaked to make it work. Substituting rice flour or corn starch for wheat flour works very well in either of these recipes.

Cooking a roast is a holiday tradition and since most meat is gluten-free, it is not an issue. Just be sure that if you are going to marinate or flavor the roast in any way that the flavoring is gluten-free. Salt and pepper are fine as are freshly ground spices or fresh herbs.

Brussels sprouts are a great dish to serve during the holidays. They roast up deliciously and can be cooked in the oven along with the roast. When they are roasted, the flavor changes from savory to sweet and they show up on many holiday tables. Some of the traditionally used flavoring for Brussels sprouts need to be considered carefully before being used. Bacon is delicious crumbled with Brussels sprouts; however, not all bacon is guaranteed gluten-free. 

You need to check the labeling of any bacon you might be considering. One brand, Boar’s Head, guarantees that it is free of even trace amounts of gluten. Another season often used with Brussels sprouts is balsamic vinegar and while the vinegar itself is made from grapes, the wooden casks may be sealed with wheat glue, which could result in a trace amount of gluten.

Vegetables and fruits are gluten-free in their natural state. It is important to consider very carefully what is being added to the dish to guarantee that it stays that way. The simple addition of butter and salt and pepper will keep things gluten-free, but especially during the holidays, everyone likes to ramp things up a bit.

Lasagna is a traditional dish at many holiday meals. Regular pasta is not gluten-free. There are several manufacturers who are producing gluten-free pasta, but some are much more successful than others. If you have not found a pasta that you like then substituting zucchini or eggplant is an option in lasagna. The veggies should be lightly grilled and need to be sliced thin and then layered with the traditional tomatoes, meat, and cheese that is usually found in lasagna.

To begin the holiday meal there are many appetizers that are gluten-free including shrimp cocktail, cheese, veggies, and homemade dip or hummus, deviled eggs and much more.

For dessert, a crust with crushed nuts, baking soda, salt, and butter allows the possibility of a pie. Any kind that you like is possible just be sure there is no gluten in the filling.

There are almost limitless possibilities for holiday dishes that are gluten-free. Many traditional dishes can be adjusted to make them gluten-free and maybe it is time to try something totally unexpected and different. Just because you are eating gluten-free it doesn’t mean that you will be eating flavor-free.