Category: Gluten Free Italian

Roasted Tomato Sauce

Last weekend I was gifted a bag of garden tomatoes.  They were a mix of  different colors, shapes and sizes.  Some were perfect, others had blemishes.  They sat on the counter for a few days while I decided what to do with them.

I’ve read several articles about roasting tomatoes for sauce, but have never tried it myself.  I must admit that I prefer the convenience of canned tomatoes, but with this bowl of fresh garden tomatoes in front of me I was inspired to give it a try.

This post contains affiliate links.

The preparation was simple.  I lined a baking sheet with parchment paper and rubbed it with olive oil.  I cut the tomatoes into 3/4″ slices and placed them skin side up on the oiled baking sheet.  I drizzled them with a little more olive oil, added a few garlic cloves and sprinkled with gluten free Italian seasoning.  I roasted the tomatoes for 2-1/2 hours at 250º.

When I removed the tomatoes from the oven, the skins were split and blistered.  I used tongs to gently lift off the skins and discarded them. I also removed the garlic.

Then I picked up the corners of the parchment and poured the tomatoes and juice into a sauce pot.

I used a stick blender to puree the tomatoes into a smooth sauce.

The kitchen was filled with the aroma of roasted tomatoes and garlic!  As you can see, the sauce is orange in color.  Quite different from the red canned sauce that we usually purchase.

My tomatoes yielded just under 2 cups of sauce.  It really gives you an appreciation of how many tomatoes are needed to fill a large sauce can.

So now my roasted tomato sauce is in the refrigerator waiting to become part of another meal (check it out here)!

Notes ♪♫ Canned tomatoes are one of the few processed foods that I indulge in.  My mother always used Hunts Sauce and I prefer it to this day, maybe because of the memories it brings.  Muir Glen is another favorite brand, especially their Fire Roasted Tomatoes which by the way are a fine stand-in for this very recipe!

Print This Post Print This Post

Polenta

If you are gluten free like me, you might be looking for a change of pace from the usual potato and rice sides.  Enter Polenta!  Today I’ll teach you how to prepare this humble porridge and offer a few ideas on how to serve it.  The cooking method is very much like making risotto, and can take a full 40 minutes for regular, coarse ground corn meal.  For busy nights you can also find quick cooking polenta that takes much less time.  Whichever you choose, be sure the polenta is labeled gluten free.  Here’s how to make it…

This post contains affiliate links.

Ingredients:

  • 5 cups water, divided
  • 1.5 tsp. salt
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 cup gluten free polenta
  • 1 tbsp. butter
  • grated Parmesan cheese, to taste

Preparation:

Heat 5 cups of water in a saucepan.  In a second saucepan, combine 3 cups of the heated water, salt and bay leaf.  Gradually stream in the Polenta, whisking with each addition.  Bring to a simmer and cook over low heat, stirring frequently.

As the liquid becomes absorbed, add the remaining water 1 ladle at a time.  Continue to stir frequently until it reaches the desired thickness, about 40 minutes for regular and 5 minutes for quick cooking polenta.  At the end of the cook time, remove the bay leaf and stir in butter and Parmesan.

Yes, it’s that easy.  So now that you have made a batch of Polenta, how will you serve it?  You could simply enjoy it with extra Parmesan as a side dish.

Or top it with Crock-Pot braised beef for a hearty Italian dinner.

Another option, Beef Short Ribs with Polenta is a beautiful fall dish!

And finally, my personal favorite, the leftovers!  Once cooked, Polenta will begin to firm up almost immediately.  Before that happens, pour it into a baking dish lined with parchment paper.  Cool to room temperature, cover and refrigerate.  Later you can slice it into wedges and grill for about 8 minutes per side.

I hope I’ve given you a few new ideas for your gluten free dinner rotation.  Try a new dish and keep your menu interesting!

Notes: ♪♫ Polenta is made from coarse corn meal.  While corn itself is gluten free, cross-contact with other grains that contain gluten may occur during processing.  Be sure to check ingredient labels and if polenta is not labeled gluten free don’t hesitate to contact the manufacturer.

Print This Post Print This Post

Gluten Free Garganelli Pasta

Garganelli are large, tube shaped pasta, formed by rolling squares of dough around a wooden dowel, using a gnocchi board to create the ribbed surface.  It’s a labor of love, that will reward you with the fresh pasta you have been craving, sans gluten.

This post contains affiliate links.

4 Servings

Pasta Ingredients:

Preparation:

Combine all of the pasta ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment.

Mix on low speed until a dough forms and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.  You should easily be able to remove the dough from the paddle and press it into a ball.

Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it sit for 15 minutes on the counter, allowing it to hydrate.

Divide the dough into 4 pieces.  Work with one section at a time, keeping the rest covered so it doesn’t dry out.  Press the dough into a flat disc, and use a pasta roller to roll the dough out into thin sheets.  I used my Kitchenaid® pasta roller attachment.  Starting with the widest setting, I passed the dough through the roller a few times then gradually decreased the thickness to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th setting.  Lay the sheets of pasta on wax paper that has been lightly dusted with flour.  As you can see, the gluten free dough is very delicate.  You won’t be able to roll it as thin as a wheat dough without tearing.  Fortunately, this pasta shape is very forgiving.

Use a pizza cutter or knife to cut the sheets of pasta into 2″ squares.  Eyeball it, and don’t worry about the edges being uneven.  I’ll show you how to hide them!

Flour a gnocchi board and wooden dowel.  Now, start rolling the squares diagonally around the dowel.  Start rolling from the ragged edge, so that it is tucked inside.

When you get to the end, press to seal.  See how the perfect, pointy edge is on the outside.

Slide the pasta onto a baking sheet that has been lined with wax paper and dusted with rice flour.  When it’s time to cook, you can easily pick up the wax paper and slide the pasta into the pot.

Aren’t they beautiful?  Using a dowel (get them at any craft store) ensures that the shaped tubes are roughly the same size, even though my squares were quite uneven.  Jagged edges are tucked inside and we have crisp ridges on the outside to soak up a sauce.  Cook fresh pasta for 3 minutes in a large pot of salted water, be sure water is at a rolling boil before you add the pasta, and put the cover back on so the water returns to temperature.

When they begin floating to the top, they are done.  See how the Garganelli keep their shape when cooked?  Still, treat them gently.  Use a spider strainer to remove the pasta to a skillet and toss with your favorite sauce.

Print This Post Print This Post