What is Non-Wheat Flour?

I wondered how they made pasta gluten-free. They must use some of this non wheat flour as a flour substitute to make their non wheat pasta! I just didn't think flour was possible without the wheat.

I have tried several gluten-free pastas and found you really have to try a couple, don't just try one and give up thinking it will never taste as good as the regular pasta! There are quite a few tasty ones out there and the type of pasta, whether you get penne or spaghetti seems to make a difference in my opinion.

Just don't get me started on gluten-free beer! I haven't found one that is a good substitute yet!

My friend is not a huge eater of baked goods, as she has read some anecdotal stories that gluten which of course is found in flour can exacerbate narcolepsy.

So while she is not convinced that the gluten is the total cause of her difficulty staying awake at times, she says she has felt more energetic since she has reduced her gluten intake.

When she does do some baking, she finds it easy to do gluten free baking of staples such as cornbread, muffins, and cookies. She has shown me that there is sometimes not only at least one gluten-free choice for those staples, but sometimes there is a whole section in the organic section of stores that will have a gluten-free section.

I had her gluten-free cornbread once and it wasn't half bad, it was of the sweet cornbread variety, which is my favorite!

I am unable to tolerate wheat flour. I like to use tapioca flour in desserts.

This flour is derived from the cassava root. It contains no grains whatsoever. It makes a great thickening agent for puddings and pies.

My husband’s favorite dessert is butterscotch pie. I add tapioca flour to the batter to thicken it up and make it more pudding-like. It gives it a good flavor, too.

I have heard of people using tapioca flour to thicken soups. My cousin said she used it in her butternut squash soup. This soup had a slightly sweet flavor to it, so I can see where tapioca flour might fit into the mixture.

@OeKc05 - I love cornbread! I like the kind without the sugar in it, though. I find it goes better with savory foods like meat and vegetables if it doesn’t have that sweetness to it.

I normally don’t like pork chops, but if I have a large slice of cornbread to split open and insert them into, I will eat them. They are even better with a thin slice of tomato inside to give the pork some juiciness.

I love fried okra with tomatoes and cornbread. I use cornmeal to bread the okra, so the texture matches that of the cornbread, and they go together so well. The slick texture and juice of the tomatoes provides excellent contrast to the okra and cornbread. I like to eat a bite of tomato after a bite of the other two.

Here in the South, we call corn flour “cornmeal.” We use it to make cornbread. Some people who cook a big dinner every night have cornbread every night.

Recipes vary, but basically it contains cornmeal, milk, an egg, and sometimes a pinch of sugar. It is cooked in either muffin tins or a round pan or skillet in the oven. I have even seen special cornbread tins that have corn cob-shaped molds that you pour the batter into for baking.

The cornmeal gives cornbread its distinctive gritty texture. It is very good when served with a touch of butter and black-eyed peas, lima beans, or green beans. Some people like to soak up the vegetable juices with the cornbread and eat it that way. My dad even dunks it into a glass of milk.

I have a friend who is allergic to wheat gluten. He cannot eat the cupcakes or cookies that we always have at work when someone has a birthday. He also has to stay away from the doughnuts the boss brings every Friday morning.

He had to learn how to make his own bread from non-wheat flour. I don't know the specifics, but it is some type of rice flour. He also uses it to make rice cakes for snacks.

When he goes to a restaurant, which isn't that often, he usually is stuck with ordering a salad. Sometimes he can find just meat and vegetable dishes that don't include pasta or bread on the menu, but usually he just eats at home to play it safe.

Interesting. I've never heard of keeping flour in the fridge or the freezer. It sounds like a great way to keep it fresher and bug free if those are problems.

I always keep my flour in the refrigerator, however, I have found out that you can also keep the flour in the freezer, and in microwave, when not in use. Those places will keep the flour from absorbing moisture, and also bugs will have no chance to infest it.