5 Gluten Free Pasta Tips & My 5 Favourite Recipes
Pasta is life. But along with holey bread, gluten free pasta is one of those things that can be a bit mehhh, right?! Here are some quick tips & recipes to ensure you never have that feeling again 😉
* 5 Gluten Free Pasta Tips * to help you cook it perfectly!!
(1) Use DOUBLE the amount of water
Use double the amount you’d use for “normal” gluten free pasta. It makes the pasta less sticky/gloopy if you know what I mean?! I believe this works because gf pasta is starchier 🙂
(2) Only add the pasta to the water once its *properly* boiling.
Its easy to get impatient and put it in when the water has jussttt started to simmer. Don’t!!!! haha
(3) Do the wiggle!!
As soon as your pasta is in the boiling water, reduce to a simmer and move the pasta around with a fork. Repeat this every couple of minutes to prevent it from sticking. Gluten free pasta is a clingy so-and-so.
(4) Don’t overcook it.
Over-cooked gluten free pasta tastes way worse than over-cooked “normal pasta”. Don’t test it by the time on the packet – eat it!
(5) Add a little of your pasta water to the sauce.
Literally take 2-3 tbsp of the water your pasta has cooked in and add it to your sauce – sounds weird, tastes delicious!
Which Brand Should I Buy?
I LOVE Garofalo.
Nothing compares if you ask me. It cooks perfect, there’s never any stickiness and I love their range of shapes. Available in Waitrose, Ocado or on Amazon (affliate link). Its not cheap but I really think the price makes a massive difference when it comes to gluten free pasta.
Garofalo pasta is formed through a metal forming die which gives the pasta a rough surface that allows the sauce to stick- they’re one of few manufacturers that use this method for gluten free and I really think you can tell.
Its also created in a separate factory from their regular pasta so we haven’t got to worry about cross contamination!
I’m also told Lidl’s own spaghetti is fab if you’re looking for something a little more affordable.
This isn’t an ad but I have worked with them before.
My Favourite 5 Gluten Free Pasta Recipes
(1) Hunters Chicken
(2) Pesto Pasta Buddha Bowl – 3-ingredient pesto sauce, takes literally 2 mins to whizz up in a blender/smoothie maker and there’s no comparison to the shop-bought stuff
(4) Creamy Dairy-Free Carbonara
(6 – the bonus one I couldn’t resist adding!) PIZZA TOPPED PASTA – no recipe here, just make your fave pasta bake but rather than just topping with cheese, also add pepperoni, mushrooms, and all your fave pizza toppings!!
(7 – another bonus – someone stop me, we could be here forever… I love pasta) My Simple Tomato Sauce:
Haven’t written up a recipe because its way too short but put these into a pan, simmer for 5 mins until thick:
- Half a tin of plum tomatoes
- half a stock cube (I love Knorr Chicken Stock Pot)
- 1 tsp of mixed herbs/oregano/rosemary (preferably a little bit of each!)
- 2 tbsp of the pasta water once the pasta has been cooked
Mix your pasta into the sauce (mix it in the pan so make sure its properly coated). Serve and try not to inhale it in 30 seconds!!
