The Buyer’s Guide to Gluten Free Pasta
By Ellie Edwards
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March 11th, 2022
Gluten free pasta is a storecupboard essential for those that have a gluten intolerance – it’s a great base for classic Italian sauces, from pestos to hearty ragus. In this guide we dive into what gluten free pasta is, and the best gluten free pasta to buy
What is gluten free pasta?
Gluten free pasta is a storecupboard grain which replaces wheat, rye or barley flour for gluten free grains including rice, chickpea and corn flour. Gluten free pasta is a popular choice for those with a gluten intolerance.
Gluten is what provides pasta dough with its elasticity. This means that traditionally, gluten free pastas can be denser and more brittle, however our range of gluten free pastas have a wonderful al dente texture and gentle bite.
How to cook with gluten free pasta?
All these recipes use wheat pasta, but swap them for any gluten free pasta shape of your choice.
This easy pomodoro sauce is so simple to make – it only needs to start cooking just before putting the dried pasta on to boil! We’ve used San Marzano tomatoes to make the ultimate tomato sauce, plus added a little garlic, salt and chilli.
Voatsiperifery Pepper Cacio e Pepe
Cacio e pepe looks deceptively simple, with its use of only three ingredients, but it can be frustratingly easy to get wrong. Follow our simple steps to crack it every time.
Orecchiette with Friarielli Broccoli, Garlic and Chili
This simple pasta dish is a wonderful way of making the most out of jarred vegetables. Adding Aleppo pepper gives a fruity, aromatic flavour to contrast the sharp pecorino.
Macaroni cheese is a classic comfort food, and a smooth, glossy cheese sauce is key to making an excellent version. We’ve given this dish an indulgent truffle twist.
Carbonara is a rich pasta dish, made with a glossy cheese sauce. The star of this recipe is guanciale, a type of cured meat prepared from pork cheeks, with a silky texture.
Which gluten free pasta should I buy?
Best gluten free pasta for seafood sauces
Morelli organic gluten free calamari is a ring-shaped pasta made with rice and corn flour. This pasta takes its name from the squid rings it resembles. This organic pasta has an al-dente texture – pair it with creamy seafood sauces, from lobster to crab.
Best gluten free pasta for smooth sauces
Rummo penne rigate pasta no. 66 is a classic pasta shape, made with a blend of wholemeal rice, yellow corn, white corn and potato starch. The pasta shapes are drawn through a bronze die, to give the pasta a rough texture that marinara, arrabbiata and pesto sauces will cling to.
Best gluten free pasta for an earthy flavour
Rummo gluten free chickpea fusilli is a spiral pasta shape with an earthy and nutty flavour. Made from Tuscan chickpeas and brown rice, this high fibre pasta is extruded through bronze dies. The rough surface and ridges allow sauce to cling to the pasta.
Best high fibre gluten free pasta
Made with red lentil flour and wholemeal rice, this gluten-free pasta is drawn through a bronze die, producing a rough texture that sauces will cling to. Serve these hollow tubes with chunky vegetable sauces and rich ragus.
Best gluten free pasta for carbonara
Morelli organic gluten free linguine is a long-flat shaped pasta made with corn flour and water. Once cooked, this gluten free linguine has an al dente texture with a little bite. The thin pasta strands are perfect for serving with glossy carbonara.
Best gluten free gnocchi
Gnocchi is an Italian classic, and these gluten free potato pillows swap wheat flour for corn flour. These plump dumplings are quick to cook and pair well with pesto, tomato sauces and rich ragus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which gluten free pasta tastes the most like regular pasta?
Gluten free pasta won’t taste exactly the same as wheat flour pasta, because the flours used to make it have different flavours. Gluten free pasta made with chickpea flour or red lentil flour is nutty, and earthier than one made with rice flour.
The gluten free pasta that is most similar to regular gluten pasta is Rummo, where the pasta shapes are made with a blend of wholemeal rice, yellow corn, white corn and potato starch. Plus, in case you needed any extra convincing, Rummo is the gluten free pasta of choice for food writer Stanley Tucci.
Is gluten free pasta healthier than regular?
Gluten free pasta isn’t healthier than regular wheat flour pasta, however certain grains have different nutritional properties. Pasta made with chickpea and brown rice flour is high in fibre, while pasta made with red lentil flour is high in protein.
Shop all gluten free ingredients here, and read our guide to gluten free flour here.
About the author
Ellie Edwards is a food writer for Sous Chef. Previously she worked at olive magazine, writing about exciting new ingredients, UK restaurants and travelling the world to find the best cinnamon buns. When she's not exploring the likes of Belize, Kerala and Zanzibar, Ellie loves rustling up a feast in her London kitchen, with a particular passion for porridge, sourdough and negronis.
