Types of Gluten Free Pasta and 6 Pasta Recipes | Cotter Crunch (2024)

This gluten free pasta with creamy, dairy free tomato sauce is easy to make in 25 minutes. There are 5 other pasta recipes here for you, too!

This recipe is perfect for those who are new to gluten free eating, and also for those who may be looking for a lighter pasta alternative.

It’s a protein-packed, vegetarian pasta dinner with a healthy amount of plant based iron. For the recipe, scroll down to the bottom of this post.

But first, let’s talk about carbs…

ARE CARBS BAD?

Carbs can be a confusing topic, am I right? But I will say this; almost everyone enjoys eating them! Gluten free, of course. And depending on what the body needs, we adjust:

• the amount of carbs we eat
• the type we eat (grain free andpseudograins that are gluten free), and
• when we eat them.

I don’t believe in a one size fits all adrenal health.

For some people, adding in a bit of healthy gluten free carbs at dinner can help with sleep and cortisol regulation. Kids and athletes in training need carbs for energy. So no, carbs aren’t bad for us unless we eat too many at the wrong time. To sum it up, listen to your body and feed it according to its needs.

Types of gluten free pasta

There are two types of gluten free pasta that I adore. One is a buckwheat pasta and the other is a lentil pasta.

BUCKWHEAT PASTA

Buckwheat pasta is made from buckwheat flour. Buckwheat is a pseudo-grain, which is not really a grain, but a seed, from the rhubarb plant.

For those with healthy hormones and healthy guts, buckwheat is well tolerated, especially if it’s soaked or fermented.

You can learn more about this nutritional seed in my post, Buckwheat 101.

LENTIL PASTA

The other gluten free pasta I use often is lentil pasta. I love to use lentil pasta because it adds plant based protein without adding meat. Oh, and fiber to boot!

Actually, both types of gluten free pasta contain significant amounts of protein and significant levels of other nutrients, especially B vitamins and iron.

Troubleshooting: why is my pasta mushy?

If you have been eating gluten free for a while, you probably understand. Remember the days when every gluten free pasta option was made from corn, and it melted in the pan? Haha, yep!

A common mistake that many people make is to over cook pasta. This especially applies when cooking gluten free pasta. The key is to cook it to al dente.

This means, cook it a couple of minutes less than what the directions on the box call for.

So, if the instructions say to cook the pasta for 10 minutes, stop cooking it after 8 minutes.

The great news is, our bodies absorb and digest al dente pasta more slowly. So, it doesn’t just taste better, but it’s also healthier for you to eat it that way!

Creamy tomato penne pasta recipe notes

I have a special tip for making the sauce super creamy – Use an egg yolk combined with paleo mayo!

Yes, it’s almost like a carbonara style pasta, minus the cheese. This is also how we add in more good fats and Choline without the dairy. Plus 9 grams of protein- not too shabby!

Just mix a tiny bit of mayo and egg yolk together, then stir it right into the pasta. It melts together with the tomato and onion, which makes the penne pasta extra creamy.

You can also use nutritional yeast or even a cashew cream sauce. For even more protein, add inchicken, beef, or even shrimp if you’d like!

Ingredient Notes– You can buy lentil and buckwheat penne pasta here and you can buy spirals here.

Watch this quick IG video to see how I make the dish without stewed tomatoes. It’s perfect for when you are in a hurry.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lindsay Cotter | Gluten Free (@cottercrunch) on Mar 24, 2020 at 8:50pm PDT

Other gluten free pasta recipes

Here are a few other recipes that are made with other gluten free options, like spaghetti squash and chickpea pasta. Just as easy to make, healthy and delicious, too!

• Pumpkin Spaghetti Squash Pasta

This Spaghetti Squash Pasta is gluten free and paleo!The tender pasta is toppedwith miso pumpkin sauce and buttery scallops. Ahealthy, lighterversion of your favorite pasta dish. DIG IN!

• Roasted Radish Lemony Chickpea Pasta

This vegan chickpea pasta recipe is packed with lemony flavor, making it the perfect light, gluten free pasta dinner for spring or summer!

• Peppery Arugula Pesto Pasta

An easy gluten free pasta recipe for a quick weeknight dinner or healthy lunch! Ready in under 30 minutes and vegan friendly. Can’t beat that now, can you?

• 5 Ingredient Vegan Pasta with Walnut Sauce

Make this for an easy dinner, using just 5 ingredients! Tender pasta with a delicious and smooth garlic walnut sauce. Gluten free with a low carb recipe option!

• Jalapeno Chickpea Mac and Cheese

Vegan Jalapeño Chickpea Mac and Cheese is gluten free, full of flavor, and ready in under 45 minutes. Made withlentil and chickpea pasta, jalapeños, and Mexican spices.

Now, go make any of these delicious meals for your friends and family. Bet they won’t notice that they’re eating something HEALTHY!

So, I would LOVE to know… what’s your favorite type of gluten free pasta?

If you have a recipe that you want to me make, leave a comment below the post!

Oh, and if you make ANY of these pasta recipes, please (pretty please!) let me know that, too!

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This post was originally published on November 21, 2016. New photos and content were added on November 2, 2020.

Cheers,

LC