Gluten free Italian food

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Are you wondering whether Italian food is suitable for someone on a gluten free diet? Or maybe you are more interested in finding Italian-inspired recipes that are gluten free? Well either way, you are in the right place!

In this article, we tell you everything you need to know to understand whether Italian food is suitable for someone who is on a gluten free diet. We start out by talking about which common Italian ingredients and dishes are gluten free. After that, we talk more broadly about whether Italian food is a good option for someone who is on a gluten free diet. Finally, we provide some examples of our favorite Italian-inspired recipes that are gluten free.

Creamy garlic herb pasta with parmesan cheese sprinkled on top. The pasta is photographed from the side.

What Italian food is gluten free?

Are you looking for examples of Italian food that is gluten free? In this article we provide information on items that are popular in Italian kitchens that are gluten free. First, we provide examples of ingredients that are commonly used in Italian cuisine that are gluten free. After that, we provide specific examples of Italian dishes that are gluten free.

Popular Italian ingredients that are gluten free

Are you wondering what common ingredients that are used in Italian food are gluten free? Here are some examples of common Italian ingredients that are gluten free.

  • Fruits and vegetables (tomatoes, olives, mushrooms, onions, garlic, etc.)
  • Fresh herbs (basil, parsley, rosemary, thyme, etc.)
  • Cheese (parmesan, mozzarella, burrata, etc.)
  • Meats (prosciutto, salami, anchovies, beef, fish, etc.)
  • Polenta
  • Rice (arborio, etc.)
  • Pesto (basil pesto, red pesto, etc.)
  • Marinara sauce
  • Olive oil

Popular Italian dishes that are gluten free

Are you wondering which Italian dishes are gluten free? Here are some examples of common Italian dishes that are generally gluten free.

  • Caprese salad
  • Risotto (made without wheat flour)
  • Gelato (some flavors)
  • Polenta
  • Carpaccio

What Italian food is not gluten free?

Are you looking for some examples of Italian dishes and ingredients that are not gluten free? Here are some examples of common items on Italian menus that are not gluten free. First, we discuss common ingredients that are used in Italian food that are not gluten free. After that, we provide examples of popular Italian dishes that are not gluten free.

Popular Italian ingredients that contain gluten

Are you wondering what ingredients that are used in Italian food contain gluten? In this section, we provide details on ingredients that are used in Italian food that usually contain gluten.

  • Dried pasta (spaghetti, fettuccine, fusilli, pappardelle, macaroni, etc)
  • Ravioli and tortellini
  • Lasagna noodles
  • Gnocchi
  • Pizza dough
  • Bread (focaccia, Italian, white, etc.)
  • Wheat flour
  • Bread crumbs

Popular Italian dishes that contain gluten

Are you wondering what popular Italian dishes do contain gluten? Here are some examples of popular Italian dishes that are made with gluten-containing ingredients.

  • Pizza (made with pizza dough)
  • Calzones (made with pizza dough)
  • Bruschetta (made with bread)
  • Lasagna (made with lasagna noodles)
  • Ravioli and tortellini
  • Gnocchi
  • Chicken parmesan, eggplant parmesan, and veal parmesan (made with bread crumbs)
  • Pasta dishes (made with dried pasta)
  • Arancini (made with breading)
  • Breadsticks and grissini
  • Tiramisu

Italian food that may or may not contain gluten

What are some Italian dishes that may or may not contain gluten? Here are some examples of Italian items that may or may not contain gluten. Some of these items are likely to contain gluten containing ingredients and others are likely to be cross contaminated with small amounts of gluten from being prepared on the same surfaces as items that contain gluten.

  • Meatballs. Meatballs are one example of an Italian dish that may or may not contain gluten. Meatballs are often made with bread crumbs or flour in them. The bread crumbs help to bind the meatballs together and ensure that they maintain their structure. If meatballs are made with regular bread crumbs then they will not be gluten free.
  • Soup. Soup is another example of an item that you might find in an Italian restaurant that may or may not contain gluten. There are a few ways that gluten can be introduced into Italian soups. As one example, wheat flour is sometimes added to soups to help thicken them. As another example, pasta is sometimes added to Italian soups.
  • Cream based sauces. Cream based sauces are another example of an item that may or may not be gluten free at an Italian restaurant. Cream based sauces are sometimes thickened with wheat flour, which means that they may contain gluten. Before you eat any dishes that have cream based sauce on them, you should make sure that there is not any wheat flour in the sauce.
  • Gluten free pasta (cross contamination). While many Italian restaurants offer gluten free pasta, that does not mean that the gluten free pasta is necessarily safe for people with celiac disease or similar gluten sensitivities to eat. That is because some restaurants cook the gluten free pasta in recycled water that has already been used to cook wheat based pasta. If you are sensitive to cross contamination, you should always make sure that the gluten free pasta is cooked in separate water and separate pots from the regular pasta.
  • Gluten free pizza (cross contamination). Much like gluten free pasta, gluten free pizza may or may not be safe for people with celiac disease and similar gluten sensitivities to eat. This is because gluten free pizza is often prepared and cooked on surfaces that are covered in wheat flour from regular pizzas. If you are ordering a gluten free pizza at a restaurant that also serves regular pizzas, you should ask whether the pizza is prepared on a dedicated countertop and whether the pizza is placed directly on the shelves of an oven that is also used to make regular pizza.
  • Fried items (cross contamination). Gluten free items that are cooked in a fryer that is also used to fry gluten containing items may contain small traces of gluten. If you are ordering an item that is cooked in a fryer, make sure to ask whether the restaurant has a dedicated gluten free fryer.

Is Italian food good for gluten free diets?

Is Italian food suitable for people who are on gluten free diets? In general, Italian food is not a great option for people who are on gluten free diets. Many of the dishes that are common at Italian restaurants, like pizza and pasta, contain large amounts of gluten. That means that kitchens at Italian restaurants are often covered with traces of gluten. It is generally best for people who are very sensitive to gluten to eat only at Italian restaurants that have dedicated kitchen spaces that are only used for gluten free food.

Gluten free Italian recipes

Gluten free Italian Restaurants

Are you looking for examples of Italian restaurants that offer a variety of gluten free options? Here are some of our favorite Italian restaurants with gluten free options.

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About The Author

I am a home cook with celiac disease. I have a preference for vegetarian cooking and vegan baking and have been testing and developing recipes for over 10 years. My goal is to teach you how to cook by explaining why you should do things a certain way rather than just what you should do. Check out our about the author page to learn more about me!

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