Wheat/gluten free pasta

[Earthbabe]

I was just wondering if any of those with family/friends on wheat and/or gluten free diets has ever tried making their own pasta and if so whether they had a recipe or any tips.

I am fed up of having to go to the supermarket for spaghetti etc especially as the one with most choice or most likely to have some in stock is Tesco's and it involves a car journey to get there.

[martini]

Have never tried doing pasta EB - pastry's enough of a nightmare I buy some pasta (shapes and spaghetti) from Sainsbury's - it's quite good and doesn't seem to smell too iffy like some do. My daughter gets her gluten free stuff on prescription (flour, digestives, crackers, pizza bases and rolls). Sometimes I get lasage sheets (Juvela) and they're quite good. I'll have a look for a recipe and will post if I find it. If you do make some pasta, let me know how you get on. Good luck

[martini]

Found one ! never heard of amaranth flour though !

http://www.recipes4us.co.uk/Specials...%20Recipes.htm

[Waffler]

I've made pasta before and its fantastic. But I've looked in my Italian cookbook and there's no mention of wheat-free pasta I'm afraid.

[Waffler]

If you don't already know this site, it might be worth a look.

http://www.foodsubs.com/Flour.html

It suggests using Kamut flour, semolina flour or spelt flour, although the kamut flour, it suggests combining with other flours.

[monkeybum]

I know exactly what you mean Earthbabe, I am so fed up of the tiny packets of true free from Tesco when we go through an absolute mountain of the stuff.

[Earthbabe]

Martini I've looked at the site. I have heard of amaranth flour but not sure where to get it from. Proper Soba noodles are made with buckwheat so I might get some more of that and substitute. I'll let you know how I get on. It may have to be next week when Miss E is back at school and I have a little more time to play.

Waffler - I did have a look at this site and it contains loads of info, unfortunately the ones you site are still wheat based and although I have tried spelt as along with kamut it is an older form of wheat and less hybridised I still get problems. Thanks though.

[Waffler]

Sorry EB - thought it was worth a try since it said 'most' wheat intolerances can cope with it.
I'm interested to see that you are now '666' - anything strange happened?

[Earthbabe]

Hadn't noticed at all Waffler, not superstitious and it doesn't fit with my belief system.

It's a shame about the spelt and kamut. I did try but it doesn't suit me and i tried because i thought my intolerance would cope with it. I may try again in the future as every now and then I can manage a little bit of cake without too many ill effects and spelt is much easier to get hold of than some of the others.

Strong wheat flour (as used in bread etc.) is very much a no-no still.

I keep hoping things may settle down but as I know I can't go mad on oats either this isn't going to happen in a hurry. Had the blood test which unsuprisingly showed nothing. The same happened to my neighbour's daughter and she is most definitely coeliac and there is a very strong family history of auto-immune disorders.

[martini]

Hi EB - you can buy Amaranth grain from these people

http://www.herbsgardenshealth.com/Ce...ns_&_Beans.htm

but you would then have to 'mill' it. Couldn't find amaranth as flour anywhere except in recipes and one comment was that it doesn't keep unless in a deep freeze and the usual thing is to grind your own. I also discovered you can grow your own ! See the Real Seed Catalogue - even shows you how to separate the grain

[monkeybum]

You can buy amaranth flour from here http://www.dietaryneedsdirect.co.uk/...aryneedsdirect
they do a good variety of gluten free products and they are not too expensive. Fast reliable delivery too.....well so far!

[Earthbabe]

Thanks monkeybum and martini. I found amaranth grain at the "local" farm shop but it will be too fine to put through the coffee grinder which is my mill substitue (not the one I use for my coffee beans I hasten to add). I have a large pestle and mortar which I could try using. I also read the bit about freezing the flour on this site.

http://www.peter-thomson.co.uk/glute...om_plants.html

which has a lot of useful info. I liked the recipes for us site and there is a good us site called coeliac.com which has some good info on additives of various sorts.

The dietary needs direct site looks brill. Will have to have a better look when I have more time.