Now that you’ve switched over to a gluten-free diet, you might have felt like your cooking options are somewhat limited. Bread, cereal, and pasta are off-limits, and the same goes for pastries, french fries, crackers, and the majority of processed foods. How can you cook healthy meals for your family every night when you can’t use some of the most fundamental ingredients? Fortunately, there are plenty of gluten-free ingredients you can keep in your pantry to produce delicious meals on a whim.
1. Granola
This might surprise you, but pure oats are 100% gluten-free. You can make oatmeal, granola bars, oatmeal cookies, and more without risking your health. You can also buy gluten-free granola at the grocery store if you’re craving a crunchy, healthy snack. However, make sure you look at the label, as many granola brands are processed with grains that have gluten. Make sure you’re getting a 100% pure product that wasn’t processed with wheat or barley. Grab a bag of gluten free granola at the store and keep a stash in your pantry so you can always whip up a quick breakfast when you’re running late in the morning.
2. Dried Beans
Dried beans are 100% gluten-free, and you can do just about anything with them. Make a pot of chili, cook up some ham and beans, have a gluten-free taco night, make bean dip, prepare homemade baked beans, or cook up some beans with your ham and eggs. If they’re stored in a safe, airtight container, they can last for months in your pantry. And they’re loaded with nutrients, so you’ll be able to treat yourself and your family to a healthy, nutritious meal.
3. Gluten-Free Flour
Just because you’ve started a gluten-free diet doesn’t mean you’ve stopped craving your favorite sweets. Luckily, you can buy gluten-free alternatives to traditional wheat flour. Try brown rice flour, oat flour, almond flour, or one of the other countless alternatives. With a stash of flour in your pantry, you can make all your favorite cakes, cupcakes, brownies, and pastries. You can also bake bread every morning, make gluten-free tortillas, cook up some dinner rolls and bake everything you used to bake before you discovered that you had a gluten allergy.
4. Dried Rice
Rice is one of the most popular foods on the entire planet. It’s incredibly cheap, easy to store, lasts for months at a time, and can be used to make various dishes. It’s also a great way to make your dishes heartier and more filling. Serve meat over rice, cook up some fried rice, or prepare a healthy stir-fry. Just make sure you check the label before you buy a bag of rice at the grocery store, as some brands might be contaminated by grains that contain gluten.
5. Dried Corn
Add a little flavor to your diet with a stash of dried corn. You can make cornbread, corn pudding, creamed corn, homemade popcorn, and much more. Dried corn is also an excellent ingredient for soups, stews, side dishes, and other recipes. Rehydrating corn is as simple as soaking the corn in boiling water, and it’s a healthier alternative to canned corn loaded with sodium.
With all these ingredients together, you can go back to making delicious meals for your family. Have a taco night with gluten-free flour, corn, beans, and rice, or prepare a stew with dried beans and corn. You can do just about anything with gluten-free pantry staples.
