It is most likely you know of at least one person who for one reason or another cannot eat wheat or gluten containing products. As for myself, life without semolina pasta is something I try not to think about. It’s just too painful.
This is all fine and dandy – until someone we know who has these dietary restrictions is coming over for dinner. What to make? What to prepare? Is there such thing as a wheat free cake or dessert?
It is safe to say that many of us pasta junkies probably do not have a single gluten free cookbook
If you are not used to preparing dishes to accommodate such dietary needs, it can become a challenging task to figure out what to cook when it is up to you to prepare the meal. Sure a nice meat platter is a good main dish but what about sides? Raw fruit and veggies can get old after awhile.
Roasted Potatoes
So here is one amazingly simple and easy Italian recipe you can use as a side dish. It will happily satisfy anyone regardless of their dietary needs.
Simple Roasted Rosemary Potatoes
- Simply chop the potatoes in 1 inch cubes.
- Boil in boiling water with a little bit of white wine vinegar. Do not over cook. Cook them about 1/2 the time you normally would.
- Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Add potatoes to a baking dish and drizzle liberally with olive oil.
- Next, sprinkle some salt, pepper and some rosemary leaves on top – about 2 sprigs worth.
- Throw in some crushed garlic and bake for 20-25 minutes or until they are done.
- Serve warm.
My mother recently used this recipe for a side dish for dinner when my sister and her husband (who fits most of the above dietary restrictions) were visiting. The dish was a wonderful success and the recipe was definitely noted. Everyone at the table loved the recipe.
A Few Notes
If you do not boil the potatoes, it will take longer in the oven to bake. I mentioned the white wine vinegar, because it is supposed to help coat the potatoes which help them get a crisper texture while baking in the oven. Also, the amount of oil drizzled on top will effect this as well.
Be Prepared
If you find you have a number of friends who are on such diets, you might want to consider purchasing a cookbook or two to keep on hand which feature various gluten and wheat free recipes. There are even gluten free Italian cookbooks
Trust me, it will make your life easier when it comes time to plan out an appropriate and enjoyable meal for everyone at the table.
Liz
www.simpleitaliancooking.com
Simple Italian Recipes
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