Thanksgiving Gluten & Dairy Free Recipes

[Salt]

One of my guests for Thanksgiving can’t have Gluten or Dairy. I’m in search of some tasty recipes for side dishes that are gluten and dairy free.

Any suggestions

[Vanessa]

You could make a pilaf rice or wilde rice, fresh cranberries with citrus, green beans with almonds and a touch of balsamic vinegar, a grren salad (ask the person to bring their salad dressing )to be on the safe side. If you want you could run to the health store or grocery and they have amazing French rolls frozen you can put in microwave and they are a treat (check labels for gluten & dairy). In your grocery store they have gluten free gravy mixes too. Or when making gravy omit flour and use cornstarch.
For desserts Bette Crocker has some wonderful mixes (cookies cakes brownies)

[PattiA]

What do you usually like to make for Thanksgiving sides?

[JanetB]

Keep it simple - -

First of all - make sure your Turkey does not contain gluten - meaning a lot of them contain broth that has wheat/rye or barley in it - or MSG.

Many sides that usually have dairy can be made with chicken broth or soy milk. (Though do check with others if they have a soy allergy - it is a common one and people will not expect soy milk in their mashed spuds)

Gravy can be thickened with rice flour or other g/f blend.

Ask the person with the allergies to bring their own condiments - these are expensive - and cross contamination (using a glutened knife in a jar can put wheat in it!) can be an issue (i.e. butter alternative, salad dressing, or other sauces.)

One thing we like to make is this Quinoa stuffing from CL

Use sweet or tart dried cherries, or you can substitute dried cranberries.

Yield: 8 servings (serving size: about 1/2 cup)
Ingredients

* 2 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
* 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
* 1 cup uncooked quinoa
* 1 tablespoon butter alternative like Earth's Balance
* Cooking spray
* 2 cups thinly sliced leek (about 3/4 pound)
* 1/2 cup chopped celery
* 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 1/2 teaspoon dried rubbed sage
* 4 garlic cloves, minced
* 3/4 cup dried cherries, coarsely chopped
* 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

Preparation

Bring broth and 1/4 teaspoon salt to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add quinoa. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Let stand 5 minutes; fluff with a fork.

Melt butter in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat. Add leek, celery, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, pepper, and sage; cook 10 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Add garlic; cook 1 minute. Stir in cooked quinoa, cherries, and walnuts; cook until thoroughly heated.

[JanetB]

Oh - and I know it sounds silly - but don't cook your regular stuffing inside the bird - again cross contamination - (you touch your bird when you stuff it - spreading wheat everywhere - and again when you carve it. And watch your butter use - my MIL likes to use butter to brown the skin of her bird -but my kid is allergic to dairy! She thought that would be OK as it was just a little. Not really.

Both my DS and DH are celiac - we couldn't figure out one Christmas why both of them were in agony after eating just plain turkey @ the gathering - - - umm - maybe because the stuffing that they didn't eat - touched the skin and meat that they did. Yeah, that was great. Now, I either volunteer to cook or I bring every morsel of food they consume on paper plates - and even bring their utensils. It is just easier.

[Salt]

What do you usually like to make for Thanksgiving sides?

I'm pretty much a Paula Deen when it comes to sides for Thanksgiving. There is always butter or cream involved.

[memartha]

Here are a couple of blogs devoted to gluten-free cooking; they often cook dairy-free as well, you might get some ideas here:

http://www.gingerlemongirl.blogspot.com/
http://iamglutenfree.blogspot.com/

My suggestions:

- Steamed Green Beans w/Walnuts
- Glazed Carrots (use a non-dairy spread instead of butter)
- Rice Pilaf (homemade)
- Baked Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Sauteed Spinach with Garlic

[PattiA]

If the guest can have soy, Earth Balance Buttery Sticks are a good butter replacement.

For my money, plain unsweetened MimiCreme is the best non-dairy cream.