Gluten-Free Italian Recipes

The finished pasta with shrimp scampi. Photo: CC--blue.tofu

This easy recipe marries shrimp, pasta, butter, garlic and a few other simple ingredients to create a rich, tasty scampi dish that will have diners calling out for more.

The finished mushroom risotto. Photo: CC--SaucyGlo

If you love macaroni and cheese, then you will likely also love risotto. This recipe makes a delicious, creamy risotto that is big on cheese and packs the rich, subtle flavor of mushrooms. It makes a great addition to grilled meat, or all by itself.

The finished chicken cacciatore. Photo: CC--thehungrydudes

Simple, rustic foods are one of my true loves. Simple, rustic, Italian foods are one of my great loves. The Italian word 'cacciatore' means 'hunter.' In Italy, dishes prepared 'alla cacciatore,' or 'hunter-style,' usually include chicken or sometimes rabbit, and are prepared with tomatoes, onions, herbs, often bell pepper, and often include either red or white wine.

This recipe is perfect for those who like trying new types of pastas. It has a Thai-style flair that you just can't find in your average Italian recipes.

The finished gluten-free bruschetta. Photo: CC--bruschetta_CC--Family OAbe

Bruschetta is one of those simple, tasty Italian treats that can make sipping your wine while waiting for your food a true pleasure. Here's a recipe for a simple, delicious gluten-free bruschetta that includes avocado for a bit of a California twist.

The finished gluten-free lasagna. Photo: CC--xtarant

Lasagna has long been one of my favorite dishes. I can still remember the joy and anticipation that filled me as my mom pulled a large pan of lasagna out of the oven, and the torture of waiting for it to cool until my brother and I could dig in.

This excellent tasting pasta recipe is very easy to make and it will please even the most picky pasta fans!

The finished cheese risotto. Photo: CC--micurs

Risotto is a classic Italian rice dish, traditionally prepared with a starchy, short-grained rice called arborio rice. With a few simple ingredients and about thirty minutes in the kitchen, the result will surprise and delight even the most picky eaters, and will make for a nice twist on the familiar macaroni and cheese.

The finished gluten-free tagliatelle in porcini mushroom cream sauce. Photo: CC--h-bomb

Very similar to fettuccine, tagliatelle is one of my favorite kinds of pasta. I especially like Schär brand gluten-free tagliatelle. When I was in Italy a while back, I enjoyed a tasty plate of gluten-free pasta in a porcini mushroom cream sauce. The dish was a home run, and when I got back to the States, I opened my cupboard and tried to duplicate the rich, flavorful sauce that had won my heart in Italy.

The finished insalata caprese. Photo: CC--devlyn

Want an easy, splashy side dish or snack that's low in calories, big on flavor, and  also makes use of the last of any summer tomatoes you might have left? This old Italian favorite will do the trick nicely.

The finished chicken and sausage with peppers. Photo: CC--bobjudge

This is a nice variation on the classic Italian dish of sausage and peppers. This recipe makes a tasty, delicious easy to make meal that is great by itself, preferably with a glass of chianti, and also pairs nicely with rice.

The finished gluten-free pasta primavera. Photo: CC--Tim Rodenberg

Pasta Primavera is another of my many, many favorite dishes. Give me my favorite Schar pasta and whatever fresh veggies might be on hand, grab a splash of wine and throw in a dash of simple preparation and, violá, a smashing meal.

The finished pasta salad.

Grape n’ Tuna Pasta Salad just in time for the warm spring weather here is a perfect picnic meal.

This recipe can be served on top gluten-free crackers, or with crudites or as a spread atop toast.

The finished apricot compote. Photo: CC-Simon Aughton

This dish is one of my favorites to make in late summer, when apricots are at their peak of ripeness. Nectarines and peaches also make great substitutes. Whatever you choose, go for the ripest, most fragrant fruit you can find.

The finished classic tomato sauce. Photo: CC-Aelle

This gluten-free classic is a great sauce to keep on hand and can be kept in the freezer for several months. It’s perfect for just about any meat or vegetable you want to dress or dip.

The prepared blue cheese polenta. Photo: CC--RGS

I love polenta in all forms; baked, grilled, and fried are great to serve alongside sauces but a piping hot bowl is classic. Polenta is easily transformed by adding other flavors; strong cheeses hold up well. Warm polenta is a wonderful substitute for mashed potatoes and an Italian staple no gluten-free diet should ever go without.

The finished Meyer lemon mushroom risotto. Photo: CC--roolrool

A good risotto is a thing of beauty, a delight to the palate, and a joy to the stomach. During my travels in Italy a few years back, risotto was one of the dishes that never let me down.

The finished pea and mint risotto. Photo: CC-chrisphin

Risotto is a classic Italian starter open to endless variation. In this recipe, a great balance is born between the salty cheese and zesty, fresh mint.

The finished zucchini and bacon frittata. Photo: CC-roolrool

Frittatas are great because you can serve them right out of the skillet and they are perfect either warm, or at room-temperature. This Italian-inspired dish takes on a sultry personality with the added saltiness of the bacon.