Explore Cuisine Organic Black Bean Spaghetti
This stuff smells like gerbil chow when its raw and smells like Play-Doh when its cookedbut it hardly tastes like anything at all! Weird. It also has a sort of bouncy texture, like chewing rubber bands, but then after a few seconds they dissolve, as 14-year-old Nicholas put it.
That sounds very negative, but all four members of my family agreed that this is an acceptable kind of pasta. We think Sunflower Pasta Salad is not the best use for it because its so thin and twisty this recipe really works better with a more chunky pasta.
We later found that Explore Cuisine Organic Black Bean Spaghetti works well in place of soba noodles in an Asian-style noodle bowl with spicy peanut sauce. The noodles are very similar in size and color to soba, and they cook super quickly: just 4 minutes! Soba is made of buckwheat, which is gluten-free, but many brands also include some regular wheatso black bean spaghetti could be a good alternative for people on a GF diet.
Lydia asked for seconds of this pasta, which feels like a little victory to me: For about a year now, shes been saying, I dont like beans, and we stopped insisting that she eat them because she sometimes said, They make my tummy hurt, which sounded like a possible allergy or intoleranceso I was curious how shed feel about foods made from beans that dont look like beans. She didnt like any of the others, but she did like this one!
What To Serve With Gluten Free Pasta Salad
Another great cold salad option is our Gluten Free Coleslaw. Serve these two salads together with your favorite grilled food.
Here are some of the gluten free pastas that we like:
- Jovial Pasta
- Barilla Gluten Free Pasta
- Trader Joeâs Gluten Free Pasta
- Ancient Harvest Gluten Free Pasta
- Pamelaâs Gluten Free Pasta
Jovial also has a grain free cassava flour pasta. We haven’t tried it in pasta salad yet, but we love it in hot pasta dishes.
Did you make this gluten free pasta salad? Leave a comment below and let me know what meat, veggies, and cheese you used.
Ancient Harvest Corn & Quinoa Rotini
Everybody liked this one. Its thicker than typical rotini and has a lot of body, even after the maximum cook time of 9 minutes. It tastes much like wheat pasta, maybe a little warmer or more roasty in a way that you wouldnt recognize as corn if you didnt know. It reminded me of the subtle difference between Cheerios, which contain a little corn, and other Os cereals that are made with oats only.
Here are step-by-step photos of assembling a bowl of pasta salad, using Ancient Harvest rotini.
Daniel said these noodles taste like egg noodles, in a good way. We think theyd work well in kugel, stroganoff, or other meals typically made with egg noodlesgreat for vegans or people allergic to eggs.
Lydia ate these up and asked for more!
Read Also: What Are Good Gluten Free Meals
How Can I Make Gluten Free Pasta Taste Better
Generally, I think gluten free pastas taste pretty great! However, the issue with many gf pastas is often the texture. Cook for too little time, and the texture can be overly tough or chewy. Or, cook for too much time, and the pasta can become overly soft, gummy, and might fall apart. Neither result is ideal, so heres what I recommend:
Always undercook gluten free pasta by 1-2 minutes!
When cooking gluten free pasta of any kind, I recommend cooking the pasta for 1-2 minutes less than indicated on the box. So, in this gluten free pasta salad recipe for example, my brown rice and quinoa pasta instructs me to cook for 7-9 minutes. Instead, I cook it for about 6 minutes before draining it, and then rinse with cool water to stop the cooking process.
How To Make Gluten
- Boil the gluten-free pasta, making sure not to over or undercook. Drain and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk or shake together the ingredients for the Italian dressing.
- Add all of the ingredients for the pasta salad to a large mixing bowl, including the gluten-free pasta noodles and all toppings.
- Give the vinaigrette a good shake and toss the pasta salad with ¾ of the dressing.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Also Check: Gluten Free Coconut Cream Pie
Gluten Free Pasta Salad Recipe
Tossing together a gluten free pasta salad recipe is quick, simple, and you can mix up the ingredients to switch up flavors and textures. This gluten free pasta salad is a family favorite but you can feel free to add in additional ingredients, or leave something out that you’re not a fan of.
Tips for making gluten free pasta salad:
- Follow the package instructions when you make the pasta and watch for doneness. The pasta can go from undercooked to overcooked quickly.
- When your pasta is done, rinse the pasta in cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Make sure you use fresh ingredients .
- If you’re going to be enjoying the gluten free pasta salad over multiple days, consider adding the dressing when you are ready to enjoy it.
- Because pasta salad has a variety of ingredients, it usually only stays good for 3-4 days.
Note: Pasta salad does not freeze well.
Banza Cavatappi Made From Chickpeas
Among the GF pasta we tried, this is the only one whose main ingredient Nicholas was able to identify easily. It really tastes like chickpeas, especially if you eat it plain. Thats not a bad thing if you like plain unsalted chickpeas or if you add seasonings similar to your favorite chickpea dishif the texture works for you.
At the minimum cook time of 9 minutes, this pasta got a bit soggy, and reheated leftovers were even wetter. Lydia took one nibble and decided she did not even want this stuff on her plateshe was moving one noodle at a time onto the table until I stopped her!
In the pasta salad, though, this pasta worked well enough. I kind of forgot I was eating anything other than our usual pasta. Its flavor is compatible with my olive oil sauce, I think, but nobody else in the family agreed enough to eat much of it.
Oddly, despite the dominant flavor, this pasta is the only one that has any ingredients other than the obvious: in addition to chickpeas, it contains tapioca, pea protein, and xanthan gum.
Also Check: Great Value Gluten Free Flour
Gluten Free Italian Pasta Salad With Homemade Dressing
This Italian Pasta Salad is the perfect side dish. It is so flavorful but also light and refreshing. The pepperoni has a bit of spice, the basil and tomatoes are so fresh, the mozzarella is creamy and the dressing adds just the right amount of tang. Bring this to any get-together and it is sure to be a hit!
Helpful Tools For Gluten Free Pasta Salad
- Gluten free pasta: check the different brands above
- Chef’s Knife: to cut all the ingredients with precision
- Real salt: you will need plenty of good quality salt as you cook pasta and in the salad
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: this is my favorite brand of olive oil
- Large Salad Bowl: this large salad bowl comes with a lid and serving utensils for easy transport
Read Also: Carbs In Gluten Free Pizza
How Do You Cook Gluten
Most gluten-free pasta is cooked the same way as white pastain boiling water for about 8 to 12 minutes, depending on the pasta type. But some gluten-free pastas differ. For example, the Cappellos Almond Flour Fettuccine comes frozen and only needs to sit for a few minutes in hot water.
Each pasta will have the directions written out on the box. Its especially important to follow these cooking instructions, as gluten-free pastas can overcook quickly, becoming mushy and sticky.
Cold Italian Pasta Salad
A Classic Italian Pasta Salad that’s gluten-free, vegan, and allergy-free! The cold pasta salad you love, with tri-colored pasta, fresh veggies, and a healthy homemade Italian dressing! A super easy and quick meat-free vegetarian and dairy-free recipe that’s a perfect side dish to feed any crowd!
Literally, can we just take a moment to recognize the pure and utter deliciousness of Italian pasta salads? I’ve never met a soul who doesn’t like a scoop of those cold tri-colored rotini noodles, bright, fresh, crunchy veggies, and that herby vinegary Italian dressing. I understand why some people don’t like a classic American macaroni salad, but the mayoless pasta salad? You just can’t say no! All pasta salads SCREAM summer and one that’s so full of bright colors, it takes the top spot! And with this recipe, everyone can enjoy! It’s gluten-free, vegan, and allergy-free, so bring it on!
Also Check: General Mills Gluten Free Cereal
How Do You Cook Gluten Free Pasta
Ten years ago Id be writing very different guidelines on how to cook gluten free pasta but weve come a long way. Before there were some pastas that youd have to drain halfway through the cooking process and top up with fresh boiled water from the kettle. Anyone else remember those days? The pasta was so starchy youd end up with a golden soup.
These days manufacturers seem to have cracked the gluten free pasta code and this is no longer necessary.
My Top Tips for cooking pasta
- always use your biggest saucepan give the pasta room
- boil the kettle and add this to the pan, bring back to boil THEN add your pasta
- never stir with a wooden spoon, always a metal spoon or ideally a pasta spoon
- no need to season until cooked
- no need to add oil until cooked
- follow cooking times on packaging but rule of thumb is 10 minutes al dente and 12 minutes is soft for average sized pasta and spaghetti.
- use a large colander to rinse
- season and oil in colander, give it a shake to coat and set aside until ready to serve.
That really is it, no rocket science here just basic cooking skills and knowhow.
Mediterranean Pasta Salad With Chickpeas
Jul 28, 2022 by · This post contains affiliate links ·
Mediterranean Pasta Salad With Chickpeas is packed with fresh bold flavors, colorful pasta, chickpeas, fresh veggies, olives, and feta, and tossed with a simple homemade honey mustard salad dressing. The best Mediterranean flavors in one bowl. Gluten-free!
This easy recipe makes a perfect side salad or a quick delicious lunch salad the next day. Just drizzle with more dressing or olive oil, and enjoy.
If you enjoy this pasta salad, I’d love you to try this Cold Pasta Salad With Sausage next time.
There are so many of you, different readers, here at the Yummy Bowl – some of you like to get straight to the recipe ingredients and instructions, and some of you love reading the full information with tips and tricks that I provide for the recipe.
There is a skip to recipe button in the top left corner along with a clickable table of contents list that will quickly take you to the part you are more interested in. Enjoy!
My few comments on the ingredients + don’t forget to read the Tips section!
The full recipe and ingredients can be found in the recipe card below this post.
- Tomatoes – cocktail, cherry, red vine, or plum tomatoes. Usually tomatoes with stems on are the most flavorful as they are beautifully ripe. A little trick, don’t rush to remove the stems from your tomatoes. Keep them until the very end and cut off only when ready to add to the pasta salad. This way, they retain their flavor for longer.
Also Check: Is There Gluten In Oat Milk
Top : Tips For Successful Gluten
Is it really a barbecue if there is no pasta salad? When I grew up in the Midwest, pasta salad was a fixture at every gathering. It was usually topped with Italian dressing and vegetablesand quickly devoured. Making it was easy, so I took over the task in my teens.
My love for pasta salad has only grown, but now I face other decisions. Like, which gluten-free pasta will hold up the best and not tear when adding ingredients? Can I make it the night before?
To help get you in the pasta salad spirit, here are my top five tips for preparing a version that will make your guests do a double take.
How To Make The Pasta Salad From Scratch
This is SUCH an easy recipe and so quick to make! It’s just chopping up fresh veggies, boiling some gluten-free pasta, and tossing everything together in one BIG bowl!
Don’t Miss: Mission Carb Balance Tortillas Gluten Free
Best Overall: Cappellos Almond Flour Fettuccine
Courtesy of Amazon
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Texture is similar to regular pasta
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Also compatible with paleo diets
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Ready to eat in 90 seconds
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Expensive
Who else recommends it? Delish also picked Cappellos Almond Flour Fettuccine.
What do buyers say? 87% of 800+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.
The owners of Capellos set out on a mission to create pasta that could be enjoyed by all discerning pasta lovers, regardless of dietary restriction and they found their answer in one main ingredient: almond flour. Capellos pasta combines almond flour with a handful of other recognizable ingredientscage-free eggs, tapioca flour, xanthan gum, and sea saltto create a gluten-free, grain-free pasta that is beloved by customers.
Many of these customers give this fettuccine top marks for its taste and texture, which they say could go head to head with any regular semolina wheat pastabut is suitable for more restrictive diets. In addition to fettuccine, Cappellos also offers spaghetti, lasagna sheets, and gnocchi, in a regular or sweet potato version.
Unlike the other dry pastas on this list, Capellos, which feels the closest to homemade pasta, is kept frozen until youre ready to eat it. But the good thing about this that many people also highlight: Once you put it in the boiling water, its ready to go in 90 seconds.
Base Ingredient: Almond flour | Net Weight: 9 ounces | Protein: 6 grams per serving | Fiber: 3 grams per serving
How Do You Keep Gluten Free Pasta From Getting Hard
Short answer: you cant. 🙁 Sorry! Cooked gluten free pasta typically does NOT keep well in the refrigerator for more than 2-3 hours before it hardens and becomes crumbly. I find cooked brown rice pasta holds up a little longer and better than a corn/rice blend pasta, but this recipe is definitely best when made then served immediately, or you can refrigerate it for up to 2 hours before serving. You might need to add a touch more dressing before serving if you refrigerate it first.
Okay, okay!! Are you ready to dive into this bowl of deliciousness?!
Don’t Miss: How To Make Gluten Free Cupcakes
Faq And Gluten Free Pasta Salad Tips
- What other ingredients could you add to mix things up? You can definitely give a cultural twist to it, but it may not stay a vegan gluten free pasta salad. Add feta cheese for a gluten free greek pasta salad, or mozzerella, tomatoes and salami for gluten free italian pasta salad.
- How to add more protein If you enjoy meat, you could add your favorite meat or protein source chickpeasor edamame would even be delicious as well, or even a tuna hummus pasta salad. Tofu and tempeh are great additions as well.
- Can you mix and match pastas? Absolutely, make it fun. Kids love different pasta shapes! You dont have to stick to gluten free pastas either.
- What to serve with this summer hummus pasta salad Whether this is your main meal or side dish, consider flavorful additions to complete the platter. Some recommendations include:
- Both sweet potato turkey burgers and apple turkey burgers go lovely with this cold vegan pasta recipe. A true match made in heaven.
- Another option that weve done, to keep the meal meat-free, is this sheetpan salmon recipe.
- For a refreshing, fruity salad, try this broccoli kale salad with lemon garlic baked salmon or this arugula cantaloupe salad.
- For another appetizer side, this vegan couscous salad is a colorful hit!
The Secret To Great Gluten Free Pasta Salad
I had a dinner meeting recently with our pasta artisan and the family that supplies us with the rice for jovial gluten free pasta. Their family has been in the rice business for generations. The brother was labeled a rice geek, or expert depending how you look at it by his sister and she encouraged me to ask him anything, confident that he would know the answer.
My question: Why does gluten free pasta get hard in the refrigerator and is it possible to make a good gluten free pasta salad that will stay soft the next day?
His answer: If you cook regular rice for the instructed length of time and put in the refrigerator, it will also be dry and hard the next day. The secret to cold rice that stays soft, and therefore your brown rice pasta, is to cook it until it is very soft, then refrigerate it. I recommend adding 2 minutes to the cooking time for the pasta.
I am happy to report that we gave his tip a try and it worked! We cooked one cup of gluten free elbows for the cooking time on the box of 10 minutes and one cup for 12 minutes. Then we refrigerated both batches overnight. The pasta that cooked longer was soft the next day, the perfect texture for pasta salad. Try this technique out for yourself with our new recipe for Classic Macaroni Salad.
Read Also: What Does It Mean To Be Gluten Free
