Tag Archive for: senza glutine

Gluten-free olive buns

Bread represents the greatest challenge in the world of gluten free and the pleasure of variety of shapes and flavours is central to the experience. Olive buns are a moment of joy for us because they are one of my son Nicolò’s favourite breads and he loves them so much!

Olive buns are also perfect as a school snack or garden party, but they add a touch of flavour and colour to the bread basket that I love to put on the table whenever possible with as much variety as possible: white bread, dark bread seed bread, cheese bread and so on and so forth!

So, let’s knead!

Olive buns

43.5g carbohydrates per 100 g

Ingredients

  • 370g water
  • 250g pitted green and black olives
  • 220g flour mix for bread, brand Schär B**
  • 150g gluten-free flour, brand Revolution**
  • 150g flour mix for bread, brand Pedon Easyglut**
  • 20g extra virgin olive oil
  • 12g brewer’s yeast
  • 5g salt
  • extra virgin olive oil to brush the surface
  • rice flour* for dusting

**Ingredients specific for celiacs

*Ingredients whose labels must read “gluten-free” (or, in Italy, present on  Prontuario AIC)

Preparation

  1. Place water and crumbled yeast in a bowl or food processor and stir for a few seconds to dissolve the yeast. Add all the flours, salt and oil, then knead until you have a homogeneous and firm mixture that can be rolled out with a rolling pin.
  2. Divide the mixture in half and roll out each half with the help of a little rice flour to form a rectangle about 40cm long and 25-30cm wide.
  3. Place the sliced green and black olives, slightly offset from the centre of the rectangle lengthwise. Cover the olives with the dough to form a roll.
  4. Cut the roll into pieces of about 10cm. Place them on a sheet of parchment paper, leaving them far enough apart to allow them to rise. Brush the surface with olive oil and leave to rise for at least 1 hour. Bake in a convection oven preheated to 200°C for 20 minutes.

panini-alle-olive-senza-glutine-uno-chef-per-gaia

Version with gluten of Olive buns

Prepare the dough with 500g wheat flour and 250g water.

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The traditional Bishop’s cake in my gluten-free version

Torta del Vescovo (Bishop’s Cake ) is typical of the towns in the province of Parma and the name is intended to recall its importance. Indeed, while the plum jam tart is perhaps one of the classics par excellence, given the popularity of the Plum trees in this area, in the past chocolate was a rather rare ingredient and therefore reserved for special occasion desserts (such as a Valentine’s Day Sacher?).

Well, as the name suggests, this cake used to be prepared when the bishop travelled to provincial towns to celebrate the confirmation of children: in its simplicity, the contrast between jam and chocolate makes it a real treat.

Another cake? Try this with fresh fruit.

Bishop’s cake

48.83g carbohydrates with cake basted with

70g fruit juice, no liquor

Ingredients for the dough

  • 300g flour mix for bread, brand BiAglut**
  • 150g butter
  • 100g wholemeal rice flour*
  • 100g sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 8 g baking powder*
  • a pinch of salt
  • milk

Ingredients for filling and coating

  • 450g plum jam with no added sugar*
  • 150g dark chocolate with no added sugar*
  • 80g fresh cream
  • 20g butter
  • rum and other dessert liqueurs*, water syrup and/or fruit juice

**Ingredients specific for celiacs

*Ingredients whose labels must read “gluten-free” (or, in Italy, present on  Prontuario AIC)

Preparation

  1. Prepare the shortcrust pastry in the traditional way, i.e. by mixing all the ingredients until a compact and homogenous dough is obtained. If necessary, add one or two tablespoons of milk to obtain the right texture. Cover the pastry with cling film and place it in the refrigerator for about ten minutes.
  2. With the help of a sheet of parchment paper, roll out a little more than half of the shortcrust pastry to form a disk to cover a baking tin about 26cm in diameter, leaving the edges slightly high so that they can be folded well once the cake is filled.
  3. Stuff the pastry with jam and cover with a second disc, trim the edges if they are too high and fold them inwards using a fork to press them down well so that the jam does not spill out during baking.
  4. Bake in a static oven preheated to 180°C for 30 minutes or anyway until lightly browned. Let the cake cool completely.
  5. Prepare a syrup with about 70g water and a tablespoon of sugar, or a few drops of sweetener (alternatively use the same amount of fruit juice), add the liqueurs and leave to cool.
  6. With a toothpick, pierce the surface of the cake, then use a brush to wet it well with the syrup-liquor mixture.
  7. Melt the chocolate with the cream on a very gentle heat, or in the microwave, then add the butter, mix well and coat the surface of the cake perfectly.
La torta del vescovo: una crostata con marmellata di prugne ricoperta di cioccolato

Bishop’s cake: a tart with chocolate-covered plum jam

Version with gluten of Bishop’s cake

When preparing the pastry, replace the 300g of gluten-free flour and 100g of rice flour with 400g of standard cake flour.

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Mahalabiya: rose-scented milk pudding

Mahalabiya is a rose-scented milk pudding that I got to know and taste during an unforgettable family trip: a day and a half snatched from work to give the children their first encounter with the magical city of Venice.

Undoubtedly, the enchantment of the place and the joy of spending a few hours of serenity with loved ones on a beautiful sunny day made the culinary experience even tastier. But lunch at the gluten free restaurant Cucina Mediterranea Frary’s in Venice was a real surprise.

The unexpected ingredient in the preparation is rosewater, which we do not normally use in traditional cooking, so much so that the olfactory experience of this pudding is very strong: one has the impression of having a perfume to wear on the table rather than a dish to taste! This is because we are used to finding rosewater in cosmetics, but actually in the Italian culinary tradition we have many recipes in which orange blossom wateris used, such as the very famous Neapolitan ‘Pastiera’.

As soon as I got back, I immediately wanted to try to reproduce this typical North African dessert and, thanks to the help of a Tunisian friend, I created my own version of rose-scented milk pudding, my Mahalabiya, which my fellow travellers promoted with flying colours!

If you want to enjoy a lactose-free pudding with no added sugar instead, try my Peach pudding with coconut and mint with no added sugar.

Mahalabiya, rose-scented milk pudding

31.13g carbohydrates per 100g of pudding without decorations

Ingredients

  • 400g milk
  • 100g sugar
  • 60g wholemeal rice flour*
  • 6g rosewater*
  • grated coconut*, cinnamon powder*, slivered almonds*, raisins, pistachios

*Ingredients whose labels must read “gluten-free” (or, in Italy, present on  Prontuario AIC)

Preparation 

  1. Pour the milk into a saucepan and gradually add the sugar and rice flour, stirring with a whisk so that no lumps form. Finally, add the rose water and put the pan on the heat.
  2. While continuing to stir, bring the cream to the boil. When it starts to thicken, remove it from the heat and pour it immediately into small single-portion glasses.
  3. Let cool and place in the refrigerator.
  4. When serving, sprinkle the surface with a pinch of grated coconut, a little cinnamon, a few almond slivers, a pinch of chopped pistachios and some raisins.

Mahalabiya-dolce-senza-glutine-uno-chef-per-gaia

Version with gluten of Mahalabiya, rose-scented milk pudding

The recipe contains only naturally gluten-free ingredients, so no adaptation is necessary for its version with gluten.

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Carrot and almond cakes: the perfect breakfast

Carrot and almond cakes are a perfect solution for so many eating occasions: breakfast, snack, end of meal, garden party or picnic, the combination of carrots and almonds in the preparation of cakes and desserts is always a winner.

These sweets bring together the needs of type 1 diabetes and celiac disease with ease and great taste: the two main ingredients are in fact almonds and carrots, a much-loved classic, the right mix of lightness and taste that brings to mind the flavours of yesteryear, the ones we used to taste when we were kids.

Since you will be able to make so many sweets with this recipe, you can store them in the freezer and take them out at the last moment, perhaps by popping them for a few seconds in the microwave or a few minutes in the conventional oven, and you will always enjoy them as if they were freshly made.

If you are thinking of breakfast, also try the Braid with ricotta, apricots and chocolate chips.

Carrot and almond cakes

46g carbohydrates per 100g

Ingredients

  • 300g almonds, peeled
  • 300g carrots
  • 250g sugar
  • 150g wholemeal rice flour*
  • 4 eggs
  • 16g baking powder*
  • 1 bit of vanilla from the pod
  • a pinch of salt

*Ingredients whose labels must read “gluten-free” (or, in Italy, they may be listed on  Prontuario AIC)

Preparation

  1. Chop the almonds and carrots separately and set them aside. Whip the egg whites and set them aside for a moment.
  2. In a bowl or planetary mixer, whip the egg yolks with the sugar until white and frothy, then add the almonds, carrots, flour, baking powder, vanilla, salt and, as a last ingredient, the egg whites.
  3. Pour the mixture into cupcake tins of the desired size: they are perfect size for breakfast in the morning!
  4. Bake in a convection oven preheated to 160°C for about 25 minutes.
dolcetti-carote-mandorle-senza-glutine-uno-chef-per-gaia

Carrot and almond cakes

Version with gluten of Carrot and almond cakes

The recipe contains only naturally gluten-free ingredients, so no adaptation is necessary for its version with gluten.

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Tagliolini with rocket and almond pesto

How can you give up a good plate of Tagliolini? Then, you cannot but try Tagliolini with rocket and almond pesto.

In our opinion, it is practically impossible! Whether simply with tomatoes or with other more complex ingredients for seasoning, pasta is the first course par excellence and one of the symbols of our Mediterranean identity.

Our Tagliolini with rocket and almond pesto is, needless to say, a gluten free recipe that can be considered a complete dish: it contains vegetables, carbohydrates and the health-promoting oils of dried fruit. Any other ideas for pasta? Definitely Amatriciana!!!

Tagliolini with rocket and almond pesto

carbohydrates 40.98g per 100g without the sautéed vegetables

Ingredients for 4 servings

  • 400 g corn gluten-free Tagliolini Verrigni**
  • 70g rocket
  • 35g almonds, peeled
  • diced mixed vegetables to taste
  • extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper as needed

**Ingredients specific for celiacs

*Ingredients whose labels must read “gluten-free” (or, in Italy, present on  Prontuario AIC)

Preparation

  1. Prepare the rocket pesto. Put water on the stove and bring it to the boil, add a pinch of coarse salt and blanch the rocket for 1 minute. Drain the rocket and throw it into a bowl with cold water, or water and ice.
  2. In a blender, blend the almonds to a flour.
  3. Remove the rocket from the water and place it in a tall glass to be used with an immersion blender. Add about 30g of extra virgin olive oil and blend well, if necessary add 1-2 tablespoons of water; finally add chopped almonds and season with salt and pepper.
  4. Chop up some vegetables (we made a brunoise with leek, courgette, carrot, red pepper, yellow pepper and green beans) and sauté them for a few minutes in a non-stick pan with a little oil, a pinch of salt and pepper.
  5. Cook the Tagliolini in plenty of salted water, drain them al dente, keeping some of the cooking water. Season with rocket pesto and serve with the sautéed vegetables.
  6. This recipe does not use cheese so it is suitable for lactose and dairy protein intolerant people as well as vegetarians and vegans.

tagliolini-verrigni-senza-glutine-pesto-rucolo-mandorle-uno-chef-per-gaia

Tagliolini with rocket and almond pesto

Version with gluten of Tagliolini with rocket and almond pesto

Replace gluten free Tagliolini with standard ones.

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Couscous patties: tasty and easy to prepare

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How to resist Couscous patties? So here is one of our favourite sections, meatballs and patties. Today’s recipe is couscous patties: light, tasty and easy to prepare. We also recommend a sauce to accompany them and enhance their flavour.

If you feel like continuing preparing patties, have a look at the Meatballs and patties section of the blog and try Falafel if you want to opt for vegetarian cuisine.

They are simply irresistible!

Couscous patties 

carbohydrates 18.9g per 100g of patties without sauce

Ingredients

  • 200g Green pumpkin pulp
  • 180 g ready-made couscous** (I love gluten free Bia Couscous )
  • 60g diced speck*
  • 40g raisins
  • 40g Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, grated
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 egg
  • extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper as needed

**Ingredients specific for celiacs

*Ingredients whose labels must read “gluten-free” (or, in Italy, present on  Prontuario AIC)

Ingredients for the sauce

  • 250g Mutti tomato pulp
  • extra virgin olive oil, oregano, thyme, chilli, salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

  1. Soak the rasisins in warm water. Dice the pumpkin and brown it in a pan with a little extra virgin olive oil and the clove of garlic; let it cook for 15 minutes. Remove the garlic, add the speck and squeezed raisins, then cover and cook for another 5 minutes.
  2. Place the cooked pumpkin in a bowl with the couscous and mix, crushing the pumpkin so that the mixture is fairly homogenous. Add the egg and grated Parmesan cheese, mix well and season with salt and pepper.

polpette-cous-cous-senza-glutine-uno-chef-per-gaia

  1. Shape the mixture into round balls, place them on a baking tin lined with parchment paper, drizzle them lightly with oil and bake in a convection oven preheated to 180°C for about 20 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, prepare the accompanying sauce. Season the tomato pulp with the herbs and extra virgin olive oil, then season with salt, pepper and chilli to taste.
  3. Serve the couscous balls with the tomato sauce.

polpette-cous-cous-senza-glutine-uno-chef-per-gaia

Version with gluten of Couscous patties 

Replace the gluten-free couscous with one of the wonderful couscous types by the company Biasponsor of the San Vito Lo Capo couscous festival in Sicily.

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Walnut dark bread

Gluten-free dark bread is always a feast at our place, but every time I like to enrich it with different touches of flavour. One of my favourite additions is nuts, which also allow us to take care of diabetes. That’s why we love Walnut dark bread.

In fact, when we combine a source of complex carbohydrates, as is the case with flour, the fibre from wholegrains and the good fats contained in nuts (walnuts in today’s recipe), the body’s absorption of sugars slows down significantly, helping to avoid blood sugar peaks, which are to be avoided not only in people with diabetes, but in general in all people to prevent the onset of diseases as the years go by.

Therefore, let us get into the habit of eating wholemeal foods as often as we can and when we bake bread, let us always try to vary it by adding sources of fibre and small amounts of good fats as this will not only make it tastier to the palate, but also more friendly to our well-being.

Are you ready to knead? Also try the Mixed leavening bread: it is going to be another great experience.

Walnut dark bread

41.72g carbohydrates per 100g

Ingredients

  • 450g flour mix for dark bread, brand Massimo Zero**
  • 380g water
  • 50g shelled walnuts
  • 30g extra virgin olive oil
  • 10g brewer’s yeast
  • extra virgin olive oil for the surface, rice flour* to form the bread

**Ingredients specific for celiacs

*Ingredients whose labels must read “gluten-free” (or, in Italy, present on  Prontuario AIC)

Preparation

  1. This recipe is very similar to the one written on the mix packet, but includes the addition of walnuts and a few differences in the process.
  2. Place the water and the crumbled yeast in a bowl, or in a food processor, and stir for a few seconds to dissolve the yeast. Add flour, oil and walnuts and knead until the mixture is smooth and firm.
  3. Dust a chopping board with rice flour and place the dough on it; again with the help of some flour, shape the mixture into a large cylinder and place it to rise in an elongated bread basket, or in a container that can hold the dough while it rises and give it the desired shape. Let it rest for about 1.5 hours, or until doubled in volume.
  4. Cover a baking tin with parchment paper, place the loaf of bread on it and brush the surface with olive oil. Bake in a convection oven preheated to 200°C for about 40 minutes.

Pane-nero-alle-noci-senza-glutine-ph-chiara-marando

Walnut dark bread

Version with gluten of Walnut dark bread

Replace the 450g of Massimo Zero dark bread flour with 450g of standard wholemeal flour, reducing the amount of water until the right dough texture is achieved.

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Gluten-free Sbrisolona almond cake

In the Emilian and Mantuan tradition, it is one of the most popular desserts, the perfect end to a meal to be savoured piece by piece, perhaps accompanied by a delicate cream or, for the greediest and most traditionalists, with sabayon. Fragrant, crispy and crumbly: this is my gluten-free Sbrisolona, the cake that is best enjoyed down to the last crumb.

Compared to more traditional Sbrisolona recipes, this gluten-free version contains less butter and fewer eggs to make it more diabetes-friendly without taking away the richness of its flavour and inimitable texture: remember to break it up with your hands so that the pieces are uneven and form crumbs… which everyone will try to grab!

Preparing it is so simple that you will find yourself making it whenever you have guests and little time. And if you like crumbs, don’t miss the Oat and ricotta crumble.

Gluten-free Sbrisolona

55.2g carbohydrates per 100g

Ingredients

  • 250g almonds (of which 150g with peel and 100g peeled)
  • 250g flour mix for bread, brand BiAglut**
  • 170g butter
  • 150g coarse corn flour*
  • 150g sugar
  • 50g wholemeal rice flour*
  • 2 eggs
  • grated rind of 1 lemon

**Ingredients specific for celiacs

*Ingredients whose labels must read “gluten free” (or, in Italy, present on on  Prontuario AIC)

Preparation

  1. Chop the almonds very coarsely, leaving some whole.
  2. Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
  3. Cover a round baking tin 30-32cm in diameter with parchment paper, pour the mixture onto it and spread it out with your hands in an even layer. Finally, bake in a convection oven preheated to 160°C for about 35 minutes.
  4. Once cooled, break it up with your hands into nice irregular pieces.
sbrisolona-senza-glutine-ph-chiara-marando

Gluten-free Sbrisolona

Version with gluten of Sbrisolona

Replace the gluten free Biaglut flour with an equal amount of wheat flour.

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Loaf with raisins and walnuts

Today we felt like getting our hands covered with flour, kneading and smelling the unmistakable, irresistible scent of warm, freshly baked bread. That fragrant smell that fills the house with goodness and makes you want to share and enjoy good food. The recipe we propose is that of a homemade Loaf with raisins and walnuts, perfect to accompany a few slices of Parma ham, in a contrast between sweetness and savouriness, but also delicious with some jam. If you prefer a wholemeal bread, try my Dark bread with flaxseeds.

Well, let’s knead!

Loaf with raisins and walnuts

47.78g carbohydrates per 100g

Ingredients

  • 350g flour mix for bread, brand Nutrifree**
  • 350g water
  • 70g flour mix for bread, brand Fibrepan Farmo**
  • 60g wholemeal rice flour*
  • 50g shelled walnuts
  • 30g raisins
  • 20g chia seeds* (to be soaked in 50g water)
  • 20g extra virgin olive oil
  • 12g brewer’s yeast
  • extra virgin olive oil for the surface, rice flour* to form the bread

**Ingredients specific for celiacs

*Ingredients whose labels must read “gluten free” (or, in Italy, present on  Prontuario AIC)

Preparation

  1. Place the chia seeds in a container with 50g water and wait about ten minutes, stirring occasionally, so that a kind of mucilage forms. Meanwhile, place the remaining water and the crumbled yeast in a bowl or a food processor and stir for a few seconds to dissolve the yeast. Add the flours, chia mucilage, oil, walnuts and raisins, then knead until the mixture is smooth and firm.
  2. Dust a chopping board with rice flour and place the dough on it; again with the help of a dusting of flour, shape the mixture into a large cylinder and place it in an elongated bread basket or in a container that can hold the dough while it rises and give it the desired shape. Let rise for about 1.5 hours or until doubled in volume.
  3. Cover a baking tin with parchment paper, place the loaf of bread on it and brush the surface with olive oil. Bake in a convection oven preheated to 200°C for about 40 minutes.

filone-uvetta-noci-senza-glutine-ph-chiara-marando

Loaf with raisins and walnuts

Version with gluten of Loaf with raisins and walnuts

Replace the 420g of Nutrifree and Farmo flours with a standard bread flour of your choice and reduce the amount of water to about 270g.

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Cabbage and spinach bread balls

Epiphany is coming and with it the end of the holiday season. Along with a stocking full of tempting sweets and games for the little ones, you can celebrate this anniversary with something really good and tasty: gluten-free Cabbage and spinach bread balls.

This dish is just what we need when we have some leftover bread, it is a typical peasant food that gives us simple yet extraordinary flavours. And peasant foods mean not only no-waste cuisine, but also easy-to-find and inexpensive ingredients, so you can’t wish for more!

For gluten free Cabbage and spinach bread balls you will just have to be a little patient when making the bread balls because the dough will be rather soft and sticky, but remember that when you eat them you will not regret the effort for a second!

Cabbage and spinach bread balls

carbohydrates 20.55g per 100g of cooked bread balls without seasoning

Ingredients for 9 bread balls

  • 150g stale bread** (I used this Mixed leavening bread)
  • 130g milk
  • 100g cooked spinach
  • 100g cabbage
  • 2 eggs
  • 40g multi-purpose flour mix, brand Maximum Zero**
  • 30g shredded cheese (I used pecorino romano cheese I had in the fridge)
  • 30g leek
  • 1 clove garlic
  • extra virgin olive oil, pepper, grated Parmesan cheese, butter, sage, salt and nutmeg to taste

**Ingredients specific for celiacs

*Ingredients whose labels must read “gluten-free” (or, or, in Italy, present on  Prontuario AIC)

Preparation

  1. Cut the stale bread into cubes and soak it in milk, turning it occasionally.
  2. In the meantime, sauté 1 clove of garlic and the chopped leek with a little oil in a non-stick pan, then add the thinly sliced cabbage and the cooked (or frozen) chopped spinach. Season with salt and pepper and cook. Remember to remove the garlic.
  3. Put the vegetables in a food processor, chop them well, then add the soaked bread and continue chopping for a few seconds to reduce the bread to small pieces. Add the eggs while stirring, the cheese cut into very small pieces and the flour to a fairly firm texture.
  4. Let the mixture rest for at least 15 minutes.
  5. Now form the bread balls.
  6. There are two ways to proceed: lightly grease your hands and form balls of about 5cm in diameter to be placed on a tray, or cut out squares of cling film, place a spoonful of the mixture on them and form the ball by closing the film. The second option is to freeze the dumplings, so it will be very easy to remove the foil when you decide to cook them by throwing them directly into boiling water.
  7. In a small saucepan, melt a piece of butter with a few leaves of sage.
  8. Bring a pot of salted water to the boil, cook the dumplings in it for about 15 minutes, drain them with a slotted spoon.
  9. Season the bread balls with grated Parmesan cheese and a drizzle of sage flavoured butter, then serve.
canederli-verza-e-spinaci-senza-glutine-ph-chiara-marando

Cabbage and spinach bread balls

Version with gluten of Cabbage and spinach bread balls

Replace gluten free bread with standard bread.

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