Tag: gluten free appetizers

Gluten Free Eggplant Rollatini Appetizer

Bite sized Eggplant Rollatini are the perfect finger food for holidays, parties or game day!  If you are looking for a gluten free appetizer for your next get-together, give this recipe a try.  They are really tasty and different than the usual party snack.  This recipe will make 20-24.

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Ingredients:

Preparation:

Cut the top and bottom off the eggplant, stand it on its side and peel.

Slice it lengthwise into 12 strips, make them as thin and even as you can.  Trim away any heavily seeded areas.

Heat a griddle or large nonstick skillet and coat lightly with olive oil.  Add the eggplant slices in one layer (do it in batches) and cook briefly on each side, enough so that they can be rolled without breaking.  Sprinkle with Italian seasoning.

Lay the cooked slices on a sheet pan lined with paper towel, to remove some of the moisture.

Cut each slice of eggplant down the middle lengthwise to form strips.  Layer each strip with a slice of ham and cheese.

Carefully roll up the eggplant slices and place seam side down in a baking dish.  Use toothpicks to hold the bundles together.  You can make the recipe ahead to this point and refrigerate, in fact chilling the eggplant rolls at this point will make them easier to work with.

Preheat the oven to 325° and set up 2 breading trays.  In one bowl beat the egg with 1 tbsp. water.  Add the breadcrumbs to the other bowl.

Mist a clean square baking dish with cooking spray.  Using your fingers, carefully pick up one bundle at a time and dip it in the egg, shaking off the excess.  Roll in breadcrumbs and place seam side down in the clean baking pan.  Continue until all the bundles are breaded.  Be sure to remove all toothpicks before baking.

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bake for 25 minutes.

Finish with a drizzle of your favorite BBQ sauce and serve immediately or reheat just before serving.

Notes ♪♫ Most of the ingredients in this recipe are naturally gluten free.  Be careful when purchasing cold cuts.  Look for gluten free brands like Boar’s Head and be sure that they have a dedicated slicer for gluten free products at the deli.  For the breading, I always use Aleia’s Gluten Free Italian Breadcrumbs.  They are just the best!

Originally published 12/31/2019            Updated 12/27/2023

 

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Gluten Free Sausage Cheese Ball Appetizers

These little one bite appetizers are the bomb!  Proof that gluten free does not have to be complicated, this easy recipe is perfect for all your party and game day get togethers.  You may want to make a double batch, they’re that good!

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I used Premio Mild Italian Sausage in this recipe, but you can change it up and use a sweet or hot sausage, just check ingredients for gluten.

For the pancake/biscuit mix I used and recommend Better Batter.  It works well in this recipe, and no one will know it’s gluten free!  Plus, this mix has so many other uses, you know the extra won’t go to waste.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp. onion, small dice
  • 2 tbsp. celery, small dice
  • 1 tsp. olive oil
  • 1/2 cup mild cheddar cheese
  • 3 tbsp. gluten free pancake/biscuit mix
  • 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper
  • 6 oz. mild Italian sausage (about 2 links), casing removed
  • 1/4 cup egg whites
  • cooking spray
  • 1/2 cup gluten free BBQ sauce, for serving

Preparation:

Chop the onion and celery into 1/4″ pcs.  Add to a small nonstick skillet with 1 tsp. olive oil and cook over medium heat until translucent.  Set aside to cool.

In the same skillet, partially cook the sausage.

Transfer the sausage, onion and celery to an electric chopper and pulse a few times to break it up.

Mix the cheese, pancake/biscuit mix, garlic powder and crushed red pepper together in a small bowl.

Add the sausage, onion and celery mixture with 1/4 cup egg whites.

Using your hands, gently toss and mix everything together without squeezing.

Preheat the oven to 375º.  Line a sheet pan with foil and mist with cooking spray.  Form 1-inch meatballs and arrange them on the sheet pan with space in between.

Bake for 15 minutes, turning once.

Drain on paper towels.

Transfer to a serving tray with your favorite gluten free BBQ sauce for dipping.  You can prepare ahead and reheat in the microwave before serving.

Notes ♪♫ This post was inspired by a recipe on Taste of Home.  That’s right, you don’t always need a gluten free recipe or special cookbook.  In fact, only one ingredient substitute was needed to make this recipe gluten free, and you can whip up a batch in under an hour!

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Gluten Free Crab Cakes

Like many of my recipes, this one came about because I was missing an old restaurant favorite.  Crab Cakes are a New England classic and I have always loved them.  Of course, they are now off limits (ah breadcrumbs!).  I’ve been thinking about making a gluten free version at home, and when I finally set my mind to it they came out great!  A lovely appetizer to begin a meal or serve as a main course.

I always say that when you make something from scratch you control what goes into it.  My Gluten Free Crab Cakes are not stingy with the crab meat (restaurants take note!).  With a little advance prep, you can have this entrée on the table in about an hour.

Fresh crab meat is wonderful, but if like me you are not up for cooking and cleaning a live crab, try using frozen crab meat.  It is a very good alternative and worth seeking out.  Of course, you can use canned if that is what you have available.  Look for Fancy Lump Crab and be sure to check the ingredient label.

Yield: 5-6 crab cakes (plan for 1 each as an appetizer or 2 as a main course)

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Ingredients:

Preparation:

Chop the garlic and red bell pepper into fine mince.  Sauté 2 minutes in 1 tsp. canola oil.  Set aside and cool to room temperature.

Combine the breadcrumbs in a bowl and toss to mix.  Whisk the egg, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, minced veggies, lemon juice and seasonings in a separate bowl.  Add the potato flakes and whisk until smooth.

Fold in the crab meat and 2 tbsp. (half) of the breadcrumb mixture.

Using a ¼ cup measuring cup, scoop out the mixture to form 5-6 crab cakes.  Handle them gently and they should hold together (they will be wet).  Carefully roll each crab cake in the remaining breadcrumbs to coat.  Arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment and refrigerate for 1 hour.  This will help retain their shape and hold together while cooking.

Heat a non-stick skillet over medium low with 1 tbsp. butter and 1 tbsp. olive oil.

Cook the crab cakes for 5 minutes per side.  To get that golden crust, don’t move the crab cakes around in the pan until it’s time to flip them over.  Transfer to a baking sheet and put them in a 350º oven for a few more minutes to finish, then lower the heat and keep warm until serving.

Friends, they were so delicious!  The recipe is easy enough, wouldn’t you say?  Go on and give it a try, surprise your special someone or treat yourself.

Notes ♪♫ Several of my readers have mentioned that Lea and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce is not gluten free in Canada, as it contains malt vinegar.  (In the US, it is made with distilled white vinegar and is gluten free).  Always check labels!

 

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Gluten Free BBQ Chicken Potato Skin Appetizers

This is a great appetizer to make for game day or a casual get together.  The recipe is somewhat labor intensive, but if you plan ahead like I did you can cut the prep time.

I used small round baby potatoes (also called new potatoes) that are perfect for bite sized finger food.  They are uniform in size, important when you want everything to finish cooking at the same time.  They come in red and yellow which makes a nice presentation.

Servings: 20

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Ingredients:

  • 10 small round potatoes about 2″ diameter
  • 1/2 sweet onion, cut into small dice
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1/2 tsp. gluten free BBQ seasoning
  • 2 cups shredded chicken (I used 2 leg quarters)
  • gluten free BBQ sauce
  • 1/2 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
  • 4 slices of gluten free bacon, cut into 1/2″ pieces
  • 1 bunch of scallions, sliced

Preparation:

The day before I made Crock-Pot Rotisserie Chicken, so we had chicken for dinner that night and reserved the rest for the appetizer.

I shredded and refrigerated the meat from 2 leg quarters.  If you already have chicken leftovers this is a great way to use them up!

Brush the potatoes with olive oil and roast them at 400º for about 1 hour or until they are easily pierced with a fork.

While the potatoes are in the oven, cook the bacon until crisp and drain on paper towels.

Cook the onions and garlic in the bacon fat, stirring frequently until the onions are soft and lightly browned.

Remove the potatoes from the oven and when they are cool enough to handle, cut them in half and scoop out the centers with a spoon.  Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with BBQ seasoning, then return to the oven and bake for 10 more minutes.

Mix the reserved chicken, onions, garlic and 6 tbsp. BBQ sauce together in a bowl.

Spoon some of the chicken mixture into each potato skin, top each with another tbsp. of BBQ sauce, then sprinkle with Gruyere cheese, bacon and scallions.

You can prepare ahead up to this point, just cover and refrigerate.  Before serving, bake uncovered at 350º for 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are heated through and the cheese has melted.  Drizzle with more BBQ sauce and serve hot.

Serve with more BBQ sauce for dipping.

Big on flavor, this appetizer will appeal to everyone, not just those who are gluten free.  Make a double batch, everyone will want a taste or two!

Notes: ♪♫   Wondering if your BBQ Sauce is gluten free?  I love Stubbs BBQ Sauce because not only is it gluten free but also it contains no high fructose corn syrup.  Their Smokey Mesquite is my favorite flavor.  Want to learn how to make a simple, homemade Gluten Free BBQ Sauce?  Check out my recipe here.

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