Recipe Roundup: Gluten-Free Weeknight Dinners

Just because you give up gluten doesn’t mean you have to give up all your favorite foods in the process. In our new book Weeknight Gluten-Free, author Kristine Kidd shows how a few creative spins can turn classic wheat-based dishes into great-tasting gluten-free fare (think crushed tortilla chips coating crispy “fried” chicken). Here, we’ve rounded up some of the best quick, simple dishes from the book to please everyone at the table.

 

Polenta, Fried Eggs, Greens and Blistered Tomatoes This vegetarian dish starring creamy polenta and sweet cherry tomatoes proves that eggs can make a delicious and satisfying dinner.

Crisp Socca with Burrata, Greens and Olive Dressing Socca, a chickpea-based flatbread, makes a wonderful base for creamy burrata cheese in this impressive dish.

Penne with Walnut Pesto and Peas Give up pasta? No way. There are plenty of great gluten-free pastas available now, and topped with basil pesto and spring peas, this bright bowl doesn’t skimp on flavor.

Grilled Salmon and Red Onions with Nectarine Salsa A mix of fruits, vegetables, herbs and seafood needs little embellishment (or wheat) to shine. This dish shows off sweet, juicy nectarines and rich Alaskan salmon at their simplest.

Grilled Chicken Breasts with Salsa Verde and White Beans All-purpose salsa verde is wonderful on poultry, seafood and gluten-free pasta, so make an extra batch. You can also wrap this whole dish in a corn tortilla to create easy vegetarian tacos.

Oven “Fried” Chicken with Baby Spinach Salad In this genius recipe, finely ground gluten-free tortilla chips make a crunchy coating for chicken. Also, high-heat roasting produces moist, flavorful meat without the mess of frying.

Lamb Burgers with Mint Greek Salad Topping With a mild flavor and hearty texture, quinoa is a gluten-free cook’s secret weapon. Here, a mint-scented version stands in for a bun to absorb the yummy flavors of a lamb burger.

Chinese-Style Peanut Noodles with Seared Beef This quick noodle bowl uses gluten-free spaghetti and tamari for a mix of bold flavors. You an also substitute chicken for the beef, if you like.

Sauteed Pork Chops with Kale Salad A honey-mustard vinaigrette lends bright flavors to the meat and salad in this recipe. Serve with baked or mashed sweet potatoes, a healthy gluten-free starch.

 

Featured Recipe: Sauteed Scallops and Quinoa with Orange-Avocado Salsa