Pasta Alternative?

[SayJay]

What have you guys found to be your favorite pasta alternative? Im going to miss that more than bread! Good ol' spaghetti and sauce.. Anyways, please share what your favorite noodles are, I just picked up a white rice alternative, and a corn alternative. Havent tried them just yet, they are on the menu for tonight.

Also, are there any cost effective ways to get pasta noodles? I dont see any bulk packages. Or if a certain type (rice vs corn for eg) that is noticeably cheaper than others?

(ps, i tried to search for a thread already started, but didnt come up with anything)

[wildwood]

  On 10/18/2010 at 8:08 PM, SayJay said:

What have you guys found to be your favorite pasta alternative? Im going to miss that more than bread! Good ol' spaghetti and sauce.. Anyways, please share what your favorite noodles are, I just picked up a white rice alternative, and a corn alternative. Havent tried them just yet, they are on the menu for tonight.

Also, are there any cost effective ways to get pasta noodles? I dont see any bulk packages. Or if a certain type (rice vs corn for eg) that is noticeably cheaper than others?

(ps, i tried to search for a thread already started, but didnt come up with anything)

My college age daughter prefers Sam's Mills corn pasta to rice pasta although she does like the rice pasta also. The key seems to be rinsing it when you drain it otherwise it tends to stick together. I usually find the Sam's Mills at Big Lots for 1.20 a pound which is not too bad. They do not have it all the time so I stock up when I find it there. Have you tried risotto? I make it in my pressure cooker and it is really good with shrimp scampi. Hope this helps!!!

[tarnalberry]

Tinkyada is the most popular of most of us, though a few don't like it.

You can also just use other things - spaghetti sauce on rice or potatoes, for instance.

[scarlett77]

  On 10/18/2010 at 8:08 PM, SayJay said:

What have you guys found to be your favorite pasta alternative? Im going to miss that more than bread! Good ol' spaghetti and sauce.. Anyways, please share what your favorite noodles are, I just picked up a white rice alternative, and a corn alternative. Havent tried them just yet, they are on the menu for tonight.

Also, are there any cost effective ways to get pasta noodles? I dont see any bulk packages. Or if a certain type (rice vs corn for eg) that is noticeably cheaper than others?

(ps, i tried to search for a thread already started, but didnt come up with anything)

Tinkiyada is popular and you can buy online for bulk. It is rice and generally good...just make sure to salt the water properly and I too find that rinsing is key. Also be sure to check for doneness on this one...there seems to be a very slim line between undercooked and over cooked with rice pasta. I like the Ancient Harvest which is corn/quinoa and is a bit toothier if you like pasta to be more traditionally aldente. I've heard great things about Bionature, but I have never tried it.

You should be able to find in bulk online, but it is still pricey. I use Tinkyada most often because it seems to be one of the cheapest and readily available. But the cheapest I've seen it is $3.39 a bag. I have been able to find it locally at Whole Foods, 2 large grocery chains, and Target.

[jerseyangel]

I love Tinkyada--also, you could use spaghetti squash. It's very tasty with pasta sauce and cheese, or butter or olive oil and cheese.

[cassP]

Tinkyada brown rice pasta anything is my favorite!!!!! i cant imagine why anyone wouldnt like it ???!!!!

and sometimes i like to just do a bolognese sauce over basmati rice

[Mizzo]

When we first went gluten-free we went with the corn pasta because they were readily available and cheap. Then we tried Bionatura and Tinkyada, no comparison, B and T are way better but they are also 2x the price of corn and 3x the price of wheat.

Bionatura is our favorite but it runs about 3.79 a pound. I use Bionatura for spaghetti and pasta salads, and Tinyada for penne, shells etc.. with sauces. We can't go back to corn now.

Good luck

[sa1937]

I'm still trying to figure out if I have a favorite. I've tried Tinkyada with good results, Schar corn "spaghetti", which I like and I just bought Heartland pasta at Wal-Mart for $1.98 for a 12 oz. bag (they have 3 varieties available but I haven't tried any yet). I've been able to find Sam Mills corn pasta at a Mennonite-type market locally for $1.99 a pound (regular price) so that's definitely a good buy. Haven't been to Big Lots since they moved to the other side of town so I don't know what I might find there.

I do think the key is to use lots of water to cook it (whatever kind you choose) and rinse well. The water gets very "pasty".

[Ahorsesoul]

Bi-Aglut is my favorite but it's expensive. I order online for Spaghetti, Macaroni, Penne, Fusilli, Lasagna and Tagliatelle (Long Egg Noodles). Well worth the money.

Ancient Harvest Quinoa is good.

Sch

[Dixiebell]

Out of the ones we have tried my family likes Tinkyada best. I buy the spaghetti type and mix the regular with the spinach and my husband, the gluten eater, says this one is the best.

[Marilyn R]

We had Schlar penne with marinara sauce, salad and grilled Italian Sausage (from the local meat market...just pork and fennel) tonight. It was good! I don't care for Ancient Harvest brand, but I have a few quirks when it comes to quinoa.

We also like the gluten-free corn/rice pasta sold at Wal-Mart.

For dessert, we had my soon to be infamous raw apple pie dessert. (Sliced fresh apple, a sprinkle of cinnamon and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup.

You might want to wait a few weeks or months before trying gluten-free pastas. (Absence makes the heart go fonder ... your gut is healing and whole foods are best now ... but that could just be my experience. Everyone responds to the gluten-free deal differently.

Good luck, and bon appetite!

[Darn210]

Another vote for Tinkyada . . . although we really didn't try that many. All I remember is the DeBoles one totally fell apart . . . that rice pasta looked like . . . well. . . rice. . . by the time it was served.

I buy my Tinkyada from Amazon, 12 pounds (12 pkgs) at a time. Free shipping and it comes in at about $2.75/lb which is about $0.95 cheaper per pkg than Whole Foods in these here parts.

[luvs2eat]

Has anyone ever found a gluten free rigatoni shaped pasta? I have a recipe that requires rigatoni and I've never been able to find it!

[MelindaLee]

I have to say Ancient Harvest Quinoa is my favorite. I am not fond of the rice noodles, but they are better than nothing. My DH who is not gluten-free, prefers the Ancient Harvest as well. I ordered some from Amazon in bulk and the case. I also found some at Whole Foods on sale when I ventured to Milwaukee.

Couldn't you use penne in place of rigatoni???

[Rowena]

I found that Ancient Harvest has some Quinoa rigatoni. (I dont like the Quinoa pastas as much though) I personally like rice pastas more. (I buy DeBoles, even though it does break apart easy. We dont mind that though because my husband likes his noodles chopped up really fine anyway.)

[GlutenFreeManna]

Trader Joes has a good brown rice pasta for around $2 a bag. I like the corn pastas for use with tomato sauces. For other things like casseroles or chicken noodle soup I like to get rice pasta from the Asian food store. I can get Asian Rice Pasta in different sizes and shapes (I even found one shaped liek macaroni) for around $1 a bag. It also doesn't require much to cook, just some hot water for about 5 minutes.

[Juliebove]

I use the Tinkyada for most things. For pasta salad I use a corn and quinoa blend. For tuna casserole, I use a quinoa pasta that I get from the health food store. All of the pasta is cheaper at my health food store. I did buy some shapes today that are different than what I can get at the health food store. I tend to buy those when they are on sale.

I have found cheap rice noodles in the Asian section but I didn't care for them. I have also found gluten-free pasta at some stores in the bulk section but was afraid of cross contamination so didn't use it.

[charling]

The Ancient Harvest corn/quinoa pasta is my favorite. I buy it on Amazon.

[Nor-TX]

Over last weekend, I had my first spaghetti dinner in years. I bought Ancient Harvest Quinoa spaghetti and Prego Traditional sauce (the huge bottle at Target). I had 2 pots going with pasta - 1 for me and regular pasta for DH. I browned the meat, added some fresh garlic and italian seasoning and salt and pepper and let it simmer for 1 hour. Served with with garlic bread for hubby and I toasted a Katz gluten free challah bun with dairy free marg and a sprinkle of garlic powder. We both chowed down and for several minutes all you could hear were munching and crunching and Mmmmm's. Had enough for leftovers the next day and lunch the following day. I had forgotten how much I love plain old spaghetti, although it did give me some major heartburn.. but it was worth it!

[BethJ]

I had Tinkyada brown rice fettucine this week and it was by far the best gluten-free pasta I've eaten. Up until recently, Tinkyada was only carried at a health food store but now our local Publix is stocking it. I plan to try the other Tinkyada pastas next.

I have been using DeBoles corn and quinoa spaghetti and linguine but like somebody said earlier, it tends to fall apart.

[Kath Urbahn]

  On 10/18/2010 at 8:08 PM, SayJay said:

What have you guys found to be your favorite pasta alternative? Im going to miss that more than bread! Good ol' spaghetti and sauce.. Anyways, please share what your favorite noodles are, I just picked up a white rice alternative, and a corn alternative. Havent tried them just yet, they are on the menu for tonight.

Also, are there any cost effective ways to get pasta noodles? I dont see any bulk packages. Or if a certain type (rice vs corn for eg) that is noticeably cheaper than others?

(ps, i tried to search for a thread already started, but didnt come up with anything)

My favourites are: HEB store brand gluten free pasta (HEB is only in Texas, as I recall), Heartland, Ronzoni, and Barilla. I'll try the Kroger brand gluten free pasta as soon as it stops costing more than the national brands. We used to eat pasta daily, until I got diagnosed three years ago with celiac.  I tried several gluten-free pastas, and didn't like them at ALL.  They tasted grainy and mushy to me, so I just did without pasta, and that was heartbreaking.  Like you, I missed it way more than bread.  I find that the pasta made from a blend of white rice, brown rice, corn and quinoa - in that order - seems to work VERY well.  It cooks up al dente, and still holds up to sauces as well as sitting all night in the fridge.  It maintains its shape and firmness to the tooth.  Good luck to you. xo

[Kath Urbahn]

  On 10/21/2010 at 5:45 PM, BethJ said:

I had Tinkyada brown rice fettucine this week and it was by far the best gluten-free pasta I've eaten. Up until recently, Tinkyada was only carried at a health food store but now our local Publix is stocking it. I plan to try the other Tinkyada pastas next.

I have been using DeBoles corn and quinoa spaghetti and linguine but like somebody said earlier, it tends to fall apart.

Yeah, deBoles was the first I tried.  I didn't care for it, at all.  As soon as it got sauced, it disintegrated.  Phooey.