Easy Gluten Free meal ideas

[teraiin]

So I've asked you guys for help with ideas in the past ('healthy' desserts for example) but now I need more help.

MH and I get together with two other couples every two weeks. (We schedule it because otherwise we'd never see each other... lame I know).

Anyway we alternate cooking. In two weeks it's my turn. The couples are notorious picky. (One won't eat tomatoes or shrimp, one won't eat cheese, one won't eat onions). Anyway last week when we went to the get together it turns out both couples have gone gluten free.

So does anyone have any ideas for affordable, tasty gluten free meals? (preferably ones that don't include shrimp or tomatoes...)

Until this point I had been intending to make spaghetti with meatballs and garlic bread (since she will eat tomatoes in a sauce)...

[Ruca]

Taco/nacho bar? You add your own toppings so she can leave the tomatoes or salsa off.

[mrssqueegy]

Most meals like meat, starch and veggies are easy to make gluten free. You could use gluten free pasta but I'm not a fan personally if I don't have to eat it (DH has celiac).

[shadesofgold]

First of all, it is not lame to schedule dinners together!

One of our go-to meals for dinner parties sounds like it would work really well for all the restrictions. We make this roasted pork shoulder recipe, which is actually quite simple to prepare in advance and super flavorful: cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/12197-momofukus-bo-ssam Garnish with rice and the sauces and serve with lettuce wraps. It is always a hit. You could also do a play on this idea and make PF Chang chicken lettuce wrap knock-offs as an app or main. (Recipes are all over Pinterest.)

Actually, any Asian flavors could work because they seldom involve bread or cheese or tomatoes.

[teraiin]

Thanks for the ideas guys!

Ruca, that nacho/taco bar idea is a good one. I could even include salad so they could make a taco salad or something if the chips/shells aren't what they want.

shadesofgold, That recipe looks awesome!!


The meals I've made in the past haven't been super well received. Not that anyone has been mean, but a lot of 'I don't like *insert thing*"s. I guess i'd prefer them to tell me when they don't like something, but it sure does make it hard to plan meals!

[mrssqueegy]

The one thing I will add about Asian food is that soya sauce usually has gluten in it so watch out for that. If they are just annoying people going gluten free for no good reason I wouldn't worry about it. But if it's for medical reasons I would be super careful. There is a ton of hidden gluten in a lot of things that you wouldn't expect.

You are so nice to be so thoughtful for your friends!

[teraiin]

Sept 21, 2015 12:57:29 GMT -5 mrssqueegy said:

The one thing I will add about Asian food is that soya sauce usually has gluten in it so watch out for that. If they are just annoying people going gluten free for no good reason I wouldn't worry about it. But if it's for medical reasons I would be super careful. There is a ton of hidden gluten in a lot of things that you wouldn't expect.

You are so nice to be so thoughtful for your friends!

As far as I know they decided to go gluten free to 'see' if it would make them magically feel better or lose weight. MH doesn't think they'll stick with it long, but I guess we'll see.


On a side note MH is flipping out and thinks that I should cook whatever I want and not worry about their preferences, but that seems kind of rude to me.

I didn't realize soy sauce could have gluten in it, so thanks for bringing that up!

[Ruca]

BBQ Hamburgers and hot dogs with lettuce wraps for the "bun", salmon with potatoes and veggies, beef veggie soup... My mom is gluten free so I'm just trying to think of some of her go to meals. Good luck!

[Deleted]

Sept 21, 2015 13:01:47 GMT -5 teraiin said:

Sept 21, 2015 12:57:29 GMT -5 mrssqueegy said:

The one thing I will add about Asian food is that soya sauce usually has gluten in it so watch out for that. If they are just annoying people going gluten free for no good reason I wouldn't worry about it. But if it's for medical reasons I would be super careful. There is a ton of hidden gluten in a lot of things that you wouldn't expect.

You are so nice to be so thoughtful for your friends!

As far as I know they decided to go gluten free to 'see' if it would make them magically feel better or lose weight. MH doesn't think they'll stick with it long, but I guess we'll see.


On a side note MH is flipping out and thinks that I should cook whatever I want and not worry about their preferences, but that seems kind of rude to me.

I didn't realize soy sauce could have gluten in it, so thanks for bringing that up!

Anything with caramel coloring in it could/likely does have gluten in it.

[Deleted]

If you want to go with gluten free pasta, Ronzoni makes my favorite gluten free pasta. It's in a yellow box.



Second favorite is probably Barilla. De Boles is gross, don't bother with it. Those are the ones you're most likely to come across in a grocery store without having to go to a specialty shop.

[Deleted]

Sept 21, 2015 12:46:43 GMT -5 teraiin said:

Thanks for the ideas guys!

Ruca, that nacho/taco bar idea is a good one. I could even include salad so they could make a taco salad or something if the chips/shells aren't what they want.

shadesofgold, That recipe looks awesome!!


The meals I've made in the past haven't been super well received. Not that anyone has been mean, but a lot of 'I don't like *insert thing*"s. I guess i'd prefer them to tell me when they don't like something, but it sure does make it hard to plan meals!

If you go with tacos/nachos, most store bought taco seasoning has gluten in it. So either read labels or just make your own. I always just made my own, it's easier.

[snoris]

I eat mostly paleo/gluten free & just hosted a brunch Sunday with other paleo people. I assume my recipes won't help since spaghetti would probably indicate you are serving lunch or dinner. I wish I could share my entire pinterest board with you haha. You asked our opinions, right? I would highly recommend avoiding substitutes. Substitutes are never as good as the real thing so it's not really worth it. Especially if they're at the beginning of their new way of eating, I imagine having a less satisfying version of something they probably like would only make it difficult for them. Generalizations are no fun though. I would recommend something simple like burgers in a lettuce wrap with roasted sweet potato "fries" or roast a chicken with lemon & herbs with some steamed veg.

p.s. the weight loss thing is no joke if you do it right - I just lost 30lbs from crazy clean eating & once I adjusted it was/is easy to maintain

p.s.s. maybe ask them what they've been eating for dinner lately?

p.s.s.s. when I am being super strict with my ingredients I usually bring my own food & cook for myself.... 1. are they really expecting you to follow all their rules without helping you? 2. I'd like to think if they were being REALLY strict they'd offer to take an extra turn or offer to help you cook/menu plan... just sayin'