Is that gluten-free? This phrase is becoming more used with people becoming more conscious of their eating habits due to celebrity culture, health reasons or none of the above.  

You might be thinking ‘what is gluten?,’ as it is not something that we would immediately consider when grabbing food from the supermarket or ordering at a restaurant. Gluten is the general term for the proteins found in wheat, rye, barley, and triticale. Gluten is in a lot of products even things that we would not expect such as beer, as it commonly known as the ‘glue’ that holds food together.  

Now the question that we have all been waiting for ‘is gluten bad for you?’ The quick answer is no. Gluten is not directly bad for you, however just like everything in life balance is key. However, there is an exception such as people who have coeliac disease. This is when an individual’s immune system does not like gluten and attacks its own tissues when gluten is eaten. The condition is common and affects 1 in 100 people, however, this number may be higher as only 36% of people who have the condition have been diagnosed.  

Living a gluten-free lifestyle is not the end of tasty treats it just means a little more thought Is needed into food prep. There are countless gluten-free recipes and simple swaps, but we have picked a nice quick and easy mid-week recipe to get you into the gluten-free life! 

Gluten-free Tomato Gnocchi Bake

Ingredients:

Gnocchi (Gluten-free) 500g  

1 large onion (chopped) 

Frozen peas 250g 

Tinned tomatoes (one large can) 

Half garlic clove (crushed) 

4 tablespoons of grated cheddar cheese 

4 tablespoons of mozzarella  

Salt and pepper to taste  

Cooking mist or olive oil  

Method:

Preheat oven to 200C, 180C, gas mark 3. Cook the gnocchi according to pack instructions, drain and then place in baking tray.

Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add cooking spray or olive oil. Add onions, garlic, salt and pepper to taste and cook until soft and slightly brown.

Once soft and slightly brown add chopped tomatoes and peas and reduce heat. 

Pour the sauce over the gnocchi, sprinkle the 2 grated cheeses over the top, bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes and serve!