GF DF EF, Gluten, Dairy and Egg Alternatives
by Linda Hollis 2024
Gluten Free Alternatives
GF DF EF Breads at Supermarkets
Be aware: I have found that a lot of the early supermarket gluten free breads contain egg white to help with texture. There are some new brands now that don't use egg white, and a few that taste close to a normal but firm wheat based bread.
Swiss Natural GF sliced loaf and Well & Good Seeded Sliced Bread are good examples of the new better tasting brand breads with no egg white.
Note: Swiss Natural goes dry quickly, but you can brush slices with a little of your alternative milk or water before toasting.
Example: Swiss Natural have a GF sliced loaf, with no egg white, and it's pretty close to tasing like a firm sliced bread or sourdough, nice lightly toasted. However, the same brand roles are a bit too airy. They have a half size and full size loaf.
Available at Foodland, Drakes and a few other supermarkets.
Example : The brand Well & Good have a very nice GF sliced loaf - again also quite like normal bread, especially toasted, and no egg white. However, it's a small loaf for the high price.
Available at Foodland and a few other supermarkets
Example : Instead of risen bread, try
corn or rice wraps, tortillas, or taco shells. There are many brands and varieties available, as well as various sizes. Check ingredients, as some say e.g. 'corn', but may have wheat in them as well.
Available at most supermarkets
GF GF Flour / GF Bakers Mixes
You will find most supermarkets and health shops will have at least one or more gluten free flours which are actually a mix of ingredients like rice flour, coconut flour, maize, tapioca and sometimes seed flours etc. Be aware that not all GF flour mixes will be suitable (especially biscuit/muffin mixes), as they may have lactose or whey powder and other things you may not want in there - so check the ingredients.
Example: White Wings GF Plain Flour
For baking that doesn't need rising, like biscuits, thickening of sauces, pancakes, coating for frying.
Available at Foodland, Drakes and a few other supermarkets.
Examples: Easy Bakers GF Special White Mix or Easy Bakers GF Meals & Grains Mix.
The White Mix is good for sandwiches, toast, pizza, wraps and biscuits.
The Meals & Grains mix is good for sandwiches, toast and pizza.
Available at Foodland and a few other supermarkets
Example: Orgran GF Self Raising Flour
For baking cakes, and biscuits that require rising.
Available at most supermarkets
GF Seed Breads and Other Wraps
There are also seed breads
that you can make without any flour, but do have oats (which can be GF oats) and Psyllium husks, as well as the seeds and other ingredients.
Do you even need a bread at all!
Cos lettuce leaves (boat shaped), make a great alternative to hold your favourite toppings and spreads, and or Iceberg lettuce leaves (that you can roll up with fillings). You can make cold rolls with rice paper and fillings, or Sushi Rolls (with or without the rice).
GF Pasta
GF Pasta varies in price and in texture, as well as ingredients. Some are made with buckwheat, some are a combination of rice and quinoa. The buckwheat variant is often more course, whereas the rice/quinoa variant is more like traditional pasta. Both however, need to just cooked enough and not over done, or they tend to crumble. More water is required than with usual pasta when cooking.
(Try Aldi supermarkets for best value).
GF Breakfast Cereals
There are plenty of gluten free cereals - check out the alternative foods isle in your supermarket, or buy in bulk from your local health food store (one that sells loose grains, flours, seeds, nuts, dried fruit etc). There are too many to list here, but you have gluten free varieties of cornflakes, oats, rice bubbles, Nutrigrain style cereals, mixed grain/seed/dried fruit mueslis, etc. You may think that the normal non-wheat cereals are gluten free, but they are often not, so check the ingredients in-case they have added dairy powder/lactose for flavour or texture.
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