#20 Gluten-Free Vegetarian Recipes

"Can you give me some Gluten-free Recipes, I suffer from gluten allergy?"

This was a request from my friend in Yoga Class. Till then for me, gluten allergy was something I read about and something that foreigners suffered from. Never did I think it would reach my shores.

So this is an attempt to explain (for I started researching then) gluten allergy and the ways to escape from the side effects of Celiac disease.

I am sorry Fatima I took so long.

• What is Gluten?

Gluten is a mixture of proteins found in certain cereals gluten helps the dough to hold texture. The main culprits are wheat, barley, rye and spelt.

• Who needs a gluten-free diet?

People who have celiac disease need a gluten-free diet.

• Why gluten is bad?

Gluten is common in common in cereal grains and food bread, pasta, pizza and cereal. Though Gluten has no nutritive value. Normal people can consume gluten but people with gluten intolerance have an immune reaction. They develop inflammation and damage in their intestinal tracts and other parts of the body.

What are the signs of a gluten reaction?

A few symptoms of gluten intolerance are

1. Bloating.
2. Diarrhoea, Constipation and Smelly Feces
3. Abdominal Pain.
4. Headaches.
5. Feeling Tired.
6. Skin Problems.
7. Depression.
8. Unexplained Weight Loss.
9. Iron-Deficiency Anaemia.
10. Anxiety.
11. Autoimmune Disorders.
12. Joint and Muscle Pain.
13. Leg or Arm Numbness.
14. Brain Fog

Your symptoms can have other explanations also, consult a Doctor. You can read more about the symptoms here The 14 Most Common Signs of Gluten Intolerance - Healthline

• Okay, let's leave out what a Gluten intolerant cannot eat what can they eat?

Okay first and foremost if you have coeliac disease then a gluten-free diet is for your lifetime and your only medicine. In a gluten-free diet, you can eat fish, meat, fruits, veggies, rice, potatoes, dairy products and oils and butter.

Wheat is added to a lot of foods so read your labels, ideally, you should be eating healthy whole foods. Avoid processed foods, grains and cereals. 

• Name a few  gluten-free grains

For Gluten-free grains try rice, quinoa, corn, millets, jowar/sorghum, flax seeds, and amaranth. There are also buckwheat, tapioca, and arrowroot. Since these are not available here in my place I cannot say anything more about them.

As a rule, I would prefer to eat naturally gluten-free food and not processed.

Also, remember this line I liked a lot, "A gluten-free label does not automatically mean that a food is healthy.  Gluten-free junk food is still junk food."

Having said this there are disadvantages of a gluten-free diet too. Do not indiscriminately subscribe to the diet. Consult your doctor first and follow his guidelines.

Here are some gluten-free foods that I have tried. 

With Bajra also called Pearl Millets

With Jowar also Sorghum

Jowar Rava Idli~Diabetic Friendly

Diabetics Awareness Campaign-Jowar Rava Upit/Upma

With Finger Millets or Ragi

Nachni-che-Satv or Ragi Pudding, A Goan Delicacy

With other Millets

Corn Dishes

Other Gluten-free Ingredients are rice and quinoa.

Do you like this recipe? Have you tried it? In case you do and whenever you do please tag me on Facebook. My Instagram handle is #themadscientistskitchen. You can also use my Twitter handle, Then you are always welcome at my Pinterest page too. I will love to see you there.

Please also subscribe to my mailing list and join me in my journey of Food! Will enjoy seeing what you make so that I too can learn from you!!!