In Italian, "senza glutine" translates to "without gluten", which probably sounds like an oxymoron in that country. When on the topic of the gluten-free diet, most people are quick to say that they could never do it, mainly because they can't imagine giving up their favorite Italian dishes. And who could blame them - pasta and pizza are some of the most comforting and satisfying dishes. It's a good thing that going gluten-free does not require such a sacrifice - there are plenty of alternatives that you can enjoy with your favorite aperitivo.
Pasta:
Take a walk down a natural foods market and you will find a plethora of gluten-free pastas, many based in rice, corn, and/or quinoa. Whatever form you prefer - spaghetti, fettuccine, penne, lasagna - you'll find the option. Popular brands include Ancient Harvest and Pastariso. Ravioli is a little harder to find, so why not try making some yourself: Pumpkin Ravioli.
Pizza:
Believe it or not, gluten-free pizza is quite common. Ask your favorite parlor if they carry it, or if they'd be willing to. If not, you can find many frozen crusts at natural food stores, or make the dough yourself from scratch or a baking mix. If you're avoiding eggs, make sure to check the ingredient list, as many gluten-free crusts contain it. For a pizza sans eggs, check out Nature's Hilights Brown Rice Crust, in the freezers at many natural foods markets.
Gnocchi:
This will be a little tricky to find in stores, but you can easily order gluten-free gnocchi online or find a recipe and make it from scratch. Brands to check out include Conte's and Caesar's (*note, these contain eggs). For a egg-free gnocchi, try out this simple recipe.
Risotto:
Since rice is naturally gluten-free, there's no need for an alternative here. Just find an appealing recipe and get cooking!
Paninis:
There are many brands of gluten-free bread, so it make take a few taste tests to determine which will make the best sandwich. Or, you can try a hand at it yourself, like this Italian flatbread recipe.
Let's not forget Eggplant Parmesan. Here's a tempting recipe.
If you're lucky, you may be able to find some gluten-free tiramisu. If you can't, indulge in a pint of sorbet instead. However you bring an end to your meal, Buon Appetito!
For further information, check out these sites and books:
Whitney Lauritsen is a filmmaker, environmentalist, and vegan who promotes healthy living on her site www.ecovegangal.com. She shares tips on how to be kind to your body and the earth via video, photography, and writing. You can find her talking about being healthy and green on Twitter and Facebook.
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