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What should be considered when first trying alternative flours? Although oats are naturally gluten-free, if you follow a gluten-free diet for medical reasons, ensure that your oat flour is certified gluten-free. This means that the flour did not come into contact with gluten-containing grains during the harvesting, processing or packaging.
Try versatile and nutritious gluten-free flours in treats and more that everyone can enjoy BY SARA HAFFTEN
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aking and cooking together is a beloved tradition enjoyed by many families around the holidays. If anyone on your guest list follows a gluten-free diet due to celiac disease, or has food allergies or intolerances, this holiday season, try baking with alternative flours to have delicious goodies around everyone can enjoy. “Alternative flour is a real powerhouse in the kitchen,” writes Kim Lutz in her book, “The Alternative Flour Cookbook.” These flours are readily available and offer a variety of advantages for the home cook. They add both complex flavors and nutrients, including protein, fiber and minerals like iron and calcium. Alternative flours are also versatile, making it easy to create wheat-free quiches, frittatas, cakes, bread and more. Real Food reached out to Lutz to learn more about these flours and she shared her thoughts via email. (Answers edited for space and clarity.)
What are your top alternative flours available at grocery stores? Almond, oat, chickpea and spelt. How do you cook with these? Almond, chickpea and oat flour are gluten-free. For best results, use recipes that were developed using these flours, rather 18 real food winter 2021
than substituting for all-purpose flour. You can make a gluten-free flour that can be substituted one-for-one for all-purpose flour by combining equal parts oat flour and chickpea flour. Spelt flour (not gluten-free) is related to wheat flour and can be an equal substitute in any of your favorite recipes.
What alternative flours are best for what uses? Almond flour lends itself to delicious, delicate cookies. It can also be used to make instant almond milk, blended into flavorful almond butters, and integrated into nutty granola. It can be transformed into savory vegan, dairy-free cheeses, as well. Chickpea flour can be combined with oat flour for a versatile gluten-free all-purpose flour replacement. It also adds texture and structure to vegan main dishes like seitan and quiche. Chickpea flour also works well for vegan omelets and breakfast sandwiches. Oat flour has a delicious flavor and adds a moist texture to baked goods. Because its protein structure has binding properties similar to wheat flour, you can bake with it without needing an additional binder like xanthan gum. If you do need a binding agent for holiday baking, what do you recommend? Because gluten (the protein in wheat, barley, rye, and spelt) binds molecules
FLOURS ADOBE STOCK / DAARNAUTOVA
Alternative Flours
To mill or not to mill? And how do you prep and store alternative flours? I prefer to buy commercially milled flours rather than milling my own at home. The main reason being that the texture of commercially milled flour is consistently fine, which is exactly what you want for nicely textured baked goods during the holiday season. It is easy to find organic milled flour at your local grocery store as well. Also, it can be expensive to buy a grain mill, not to mention the problem of storing it. If you have unused flour in need of storage, keep it in a sealed container in a cool, dark place, where it will keep for up to six months. If you buy flour in bulk and need to store a portion of it for a longer period, simply seal it securely and keep it in the freezer for up to a year or more.
