Showing posts with label gluten free. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gluten free. Show all posts

Monday, August 12, 2013

Pizza Dough - Gluten Free


Pizza Crust   (wheat free and gluten free)
Virtually everyone who can't eat wheat or gluten misses good bread and good pizza crust. Well this is REALLY good pizza crust.

Hate those floppy pizzas that you can't pick up and eat with your hands? This pizza crust is crisp and firm, no floppy pizza here!

Makes one 12" thin pizza crust.

85 g brown rice flour (3/4 cup)
85 g tapioca flour
7 g dried yeast (gluten free version) (8 g = 2 tsp)
2 tsp xanthan gum
1 tsp unflavoured gelatine (agar, Knox)
Pinch salt (1 tsp)
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp vinegar
150 ml warm water

Toppings of choice
 
Preheat oven: 200°C, 400°F, Gas 6

1.  In a mixing bowl combine the rice flour, tapioca flour, yeast, xanthan gun, gelatine, salt and optional oregano.

2.  In a separate bowl mix the olive oil, vinegar and warm water.

3.  Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the wet mixture. Beat well for 5 - 6 minutes by hand, or for 3 minutes in a food mixer. The dough should be soft and slightly sticky.

4. Line a baking sheet with baking parchment, or lightly oil and flour. Put the dough on the baking sheet and using your hands knead the dough into a circular shape. Sprinkling with flour to stop sticking.

5. Make the edges slightly thicker to retain the filling. For the tomato sauce base we used plain crushed tomatoes for quickness, however you can make a tomato sauce to suit your taste, or use a store bought version. Then top with grated cheese (or non-dairy cheese if you're aiming for a vegan version), chopped veggies, jalepenos, herbs etc.

6. Bake the pizza base for 10 minutes.

7. Top the pizza with toppings of your choice and put back into the oven for 25 minutes, until golden brown and base crispy.
In case you're wondering why no sugar is used to activate the yeast, it's not needed. The yeast will work perfectly okay without using sugar.  This pizza is delicious either hot or cold and family members or guests will not notice the difference. 

Why not make small pizzas, approximately 3-4 inches in diameter to serve as a great buffet food, or little snacks.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Basics of Gluten Free

Taken from the Mayo Clinic web site.

Allowed foods
Many healthy and delicious foods are naturally gluten-free:
  • Beans, seeds, nuts in their natural, unprocessed form
  • Fresh eggs
  • Fresh meats, fish and poultry (not breaded, batter-coated or marinated)
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Most dairy products
It's important to make sure that they are not processed or mixed with gluten-containing grains, additives or preservatives. Many grains and starches can be part of a gluten-free diet:
  • Amaranth
  • Arrowroot
  • Buckwheat
  • Corn and cornmeal
  • Flax
  • Gluten-free flours (rice, soy, corn, potato, bean)
  • Hominy (corn)
  • Millet
  • Quinoa
  • Rice
  • Sorghum
  • Soy
  • Tapioca
  • Teff
Always avoid
Avoid all food and drinks containing:
  • Barley (malt, malt flavoring and malt vinegar are usually made from barley)
  • Rye
  • Triticale (a cross between wheat and rye)
  • Wheat
Avoid unless labeled 'gluten-free'
In general, avoid the following foods unless they're labeled as gluten-free or made with corn, rice, soy or other gluten-free grain:
  • Beer
  • Breads
  • Cakes and pies
  • Candies
  • Cereals
  • Cookies and crackers
  • Croutons
  • French fries
  • Gravies
  • Imitation meat or seafood
  • Matzo
  • Pastas
  • Processed luncheon meats
  • Salad dressings
  • Sauces, including soy sauce
  • Seasoned rice mixes
  • Seasoned snack foods, such as potato and tortilla chips
  • Self-basting poultry
  • Soups and soup bases
  • Vegetables in sauce

Links:
Strawberries are gluten free