Gluten-free dinner recipes don't have to be bland and boring. We've created this feast for Valentine's Day, but it can be made and served with love any day of the year.
Love is in the air, and when we want to treat those we love, it can feel anything but romantic when navigating the world of food allergies. For vegetarians and vegans, meat eaters, and gluten-free and grain-free eaters, there’s something in this vibrant feast for everyone. Common food allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities such as dairy, soy, peanuts, gluten, and grains, can leave home cooks scratching their heads (or pulling out their hair in frustration), when deciding what to cook for dinner, be that special occasions or the everyday. A menu built on whole foods is the tastiest, healthiest, and most economical option. A chocolate silk pie—one made without the help of gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, and grains—is the icing on the cake (or pie) to this Valentine’s Day feast. Cook and eat with the ones you treasure, or treat yourself to a few of the recipes, just because. There’s no better way to wear your heart on your sleeve than preparing a homemade meal, especially when you’re taking a fellow diner’s health into consideration. For recipes that skimp on allergens, but certainly not on taste or nutrition, look no further. Make this allergy-free, gluten-free dinner for those you love.
Recipes
- Orange Roasted Turkey Breast with Olive-Herb Relish
- Grain-Free Romanesco Rice with Cilantro and Lime
- Roasted Vegetable Terrine with Parsley Sunflower Seed Pesto
- Smashed Chickpea Salad in Avocado Boats
- “Raw” French Silk Chocolate Pie with Coconut Whipped Cream
5 tips for allergy-friendly cooking
- Keep dairy on the side, allowing diners to serve themselves at the table.
- For vegans and vegetarians, a whole roasted cauliflower works well as a main course, while doubling as a side dish for meat eaters.
- Replace wheat bread crumbs in recipes with gluten- and grain-free alternatives such as finely ground sunflower or pumpkin seeds, flaxseed meal, or chia seeds. Almond flour also works for those who don’t have a nut allergy.
- When baking, a vegan egg replacer is as simple as 1 Tbsp (15 mL) ground flaxseed mixed with 3 Tbsp (45 mL) water. Use this in muffins, cakes, and other baking items.
- Keep processed foods to a minimum as most contain hidden common food allergens. For greater control (and health), focus on whole foods.
Allison Day, RHN, is a nutritionist, blogger, and cookbook author. Check out her cookbooks, Whole Bowls and Purely Pumpkin (Skyhorse Publishing, 2016).
Mia Barnes
Neil Zevnik
Karli Petrovic
Alanna Man