Tuesday, 20 March 2012

More gluten free flours



gluten free flour review
Sourgum flour or millet flour starts
like this 
making gluten free flour bread
The finished product




Sorghum, also known as Jowar or milo, is growing in popularity in gluten free cooking. It's a high protein, cream-colored, smooth flour with a wheat-like taste. Sorghum doesn't have the gritty texture found in brown rice flour or the heavy bean-flavor of garfava or garbanzo bean flours. Use this nutritious gluten free flour as a portion- up to 25% of the total flour ratio, in all purpose gluten free flour mixes and bread, muffin, cookie, pancake and pizza  recipes.







Teff
Teff is an ancient seed grain that has been an important food source in Ethiopia for thousands of years. Teff is high in protein and has a nutty, sweet flavor. It is available in white, tan and brown varieties. Whole grain teff can be used alone, or combined with millet or rice in pilaf recipes. It can also be served as a hot, nutritious breakfast cereal. Add teff flour in small amounts to gluten free bread, muffin, cookie, pancake, pizza crust and cracker recipes to improve nutritional quality. Teff flour can also be used as a thickener in soups, stews and gravies.
Garbanzo
making gluten free flour breadGarbanzo (chickpea) bean flour is a high protein/fiber flour that adds moisture, good texture and nutritional quality to gluten free recipes. Garbanzo bean flour is also blended with fava bean flour to make "garfava" bean flour. These products can be used interchangeably in flour mixes and recipes. Bean flours are creamy-colored and have a sweet, bean flavor. Some manufacturers heat-treat bean flour during processing to make the flour more digestible, but some people do experience digestive distress when using bean flours. Use bean flours as a portion- about 25% of total flour ratio in all purpose gluten free flour mixes and recipes. Bean flours can also be used to replace brown rice in gluten free recipes.

making gluten free flour bread

Soy Flour


Soy flour is naturally high in protein and fats but it is available as a processed, low-fat defatted product. It is pale yellow and has a somewhat beany, strong flavor. It adds moisture and texture to baked goods and browns quickly. Soy is listed in the top eight food allergens, along with milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish. Amaranth or sorghum flours work well as a substitute for soy flour in most recipes.

making gluten free flour bread

Almond Meal Flour


Almond meal is made by grinding blanched (dark skin removed) almonds. It's a high fiber, high fat flour that adds moisture, flavor, texture and nutritional value to gluten free baked goods. Nut flours- including almond, pecan or hazelnut also make delicious coatings for chicken, fish or vegetables. Nut flours can also be used to replace powdered milk in most recipes, making them a useful, dairy-free alternative ingredient.


Coconut Flour


Coconut flour can be used in small quantities in gluten free recipes to increase fiber content. It is almost 60% fiber, is high in fats and lower in carbohydrates than other GF flours. Coconut flour works best in recipes that include eggs and has a short shelf life. Refrigerate baked goods made with coconut flour to prevent spoilage.



Find Out More
 
If your looking for allergy books, books on gluten free food and children's allergy books, head to the Gluten Free Bakehouse Book Store. They have a full range of books on food intolerance. 
making gluten free flour bread
Some great looking loaves
using some of these flours

Chestnut Flour


Chestnut flour is a light tan-colored flour made from ground whole chestnuts. It adds sweetness, moisture and texture to baked goods. Chestnut is traditionally used in rich Italian and French pastries.

Arrowroot


Arrowroot is a powdery white starch ground from the root of the tropical herb Maranta. It is an excellent thickener in sauces, adds body and texture to gluten free backed goods and works well as a batter coating or breading for chicken, fish and vegetables. It can be used in place of cornstarch in recipes.


Potato Flour


Potato flour, not to be confused with potato starch is ground from whole potatoes. It is cream-colored flour with a potato flavor. It is a moist, heavy flour- use it in small quantities in flour mixes and recipes for gluten free breads.

Potato Starch


Potato starch is a refined starch used to add moisture and texture in gluten free baked goods. Like other starches- including cornstarch, arrowroot and tapioca, potato is high in refined carbohydrates and low in fiber and nutrients. Use in all purpose gluten free flour mixes and recipes for light, fine texture.











The Gluten Free Bakehouse.net

Monday, 19 March 2012

Gluten Free Flour Review

What is Gluten


To begin with we should take a quick minute to find out what gluten actually is and what role it plays in bread baking. Gluten is not a protein itself but rather a protein composite, composed of the proteins glutenin and gliadin (in wheat), secalin (in rye) and hordein (in barley), which are elastic proteins in the protein family known as prolamins.Gluten is insoluble in water and comes from the endosperm within the seeds of grass-related grains. pic.


In standard bread baking Gluten is extremely important. Mixing a dough develops the proteins in Gluten    causing them to become elastic and allowing the dough to be moulded and rolled in to all sorts of different rolls and loaves. Gluten  is what gives dough it's strength and helps it rise in the proofer and oven. The strands trap the c02 produced by the yeast and hold up the dough once it has risen. So without it we could'nt make the bread that so many of us know and love.


Many people are now looking to avoid Gluten .Whether they are Gluten  intolerant or they suffer from celiac disease. I have also found that people that don't suffer from either of these are quite willing to avoid Gluten  if given a comparable substitution. If you think you may be Gluten  sensitive avoid Gluten  for a while and see if you feel better.
making  free bread recipes

Learning how to use combinations Gluten of -free flours is the secret to successful -free cooking. Gluten  free bread that looks and tastes like bread made with is achievable. Gluten-free flours have different tastes and  characteristics. The following descriptions will help you choose different flours for specific Gluten-free recipes and individual nutritional needs.






Free Flours

  • Any whole grain can be ground to fresh flour using an electric coffee bean grinder.
  • To prevent rancidity, always store whole grains and flours in the refrigerator or freezer, in sealed and labeled containers.

Amaranth


Amaranth tastes slightly sweet and nutty. It is a cream-colored flour, ground from the seed of the ancient amaranth plant. It has a high moisture content, browns quickly and forms thick crusts. Amaranth works well in recipes that do not contain large amounts of liquids. Use amaranth flour as a portion (up to 25%) of total flour ratio in all purpose free flour mixes and recipes for bread, pancakes, muffins, cookies and pizza dough. Amaranth is also an excellent thickener for roux, sauces and gravies.


Buckwheat


Buckwheat is a strong, earthy-flavored flour, available in light and dark varieties. Use light-colored flour for best results in free recipes. Despite its' name, buckwheat does not contain wheat- it's a relative of the rhubarb family.
 free flour blends
Even traditional French Baguettes are attainable
Buckwheat flour adds protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals to free recipes and can be used to make delicious pancakes. Kasha- not be be confused with kamut(wheat), is a whole grain cereal made from roasted whole buckwheat groats. Japanese soba noodles traditionally contain buckwheat flour. Read labels carefully when shopping for packaged buckwheat pancake mixes and boxed soba noodles- commercial products frequently contain .
If your looking for allergy books, books on gluten free food and children's allergy books, head to the Gluten Free Bakehouse Book Store. They have a full range of books on food intolerance. 

Corn Flour/Masa Harina


Corn flour/masa harina has a light corn flavor and is the main ingredient in corn tortillas and tamale dough. Masa harina, or dough flour is corn flour milled from whole corn soaked in limewater (water and calcium oxide). It has a unique, delicious flavor. Corn flour can be used to replace a portion of cornmeal in most recipes for a lighter, less crumbly texture.


Cornmeal


Cornmeal has a sweet flavor and crunchy texture. It is available in white, yellow and blue varieties. Blue cornmeal is especially high in antioxidants. Cornmeal is used to make cornbread, corn pancakes (Johnny Cakes), muffins, polenta and is a good breading ingredient for fried foods. Look for "stoneground" products which are more nutritious than steel milled meals.

The Gluten Free Bakehouse.net



how to make  free bread recipes
Results like this in your own home

Guar Gum
Guar gum comes from the seed of bean-like (legume) plant, sometimes referred to as the Indian tree. It is high in soluble fiber. Like xanthan gum, measure carefully when using guar gum in free recipes or you may end up with heavy, stringy baked goods.
Guar gum is a high fiber product and has been associated with gastrointestinal upset in some people.

Millet


This tiny grain is thought to be the oldest grain consumed by humans. Millet is an important source of easily digestible protein, vitamins and minerals for millions of people in Africa, Asia and India. Fresh ground millet looks like yellow cornmeal and adds a light, sweet flavor and somewhat crumbly texture to baked goods. Cook whole grain millet like rice, for a nutritious grit-like breakfast cereal or as a substitute for rice and barley in pilaf and tabbouleh recipes. Add small amounts of millet flour to free baking recipes to improve nutritional quality.


Montina®


Montina®, milled from Indian ricegrass, is a tan-colored flour with brown flecks, high in protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. It is a registered product, developed at the University of Montana. Indian ricegrass- not a true rice, can be used to replace a portion of other free flours in most recipes to improve texture and nutritional quality.


wheat free flour

Oats: Certified Free Only!


Oats, with nutty taste and chewy texture, add protein, soluble fiber, vitamins and minerals to free recipes. Use free oats and oat flour in bread, pancake, muffin, cookie, cake, granola and museli recipes. Museli is a hearty Swiss breakfast cereal. 




Quinoa (keen-wah




Quinoa is a high-quality source of protein. This ancient grain was a major food source for the Inca civilization thousands of years ago. Quinoa is available as a whole seed, flakes and flour. The seed can be used to replace rice and barley in pilaf, couscous and soup recipes. Quinoa flakes can be used as a substitute for rolled oats. Quinoa flour has a somewhat strong, bitter flavor, can be used in small amounts in free mixes and baking recipes to improve nutritional quality. Prior to cooking, whole seed quinoa should be thoroughly rinsed in cold water to remove bitter "saponins", a natural coating found on quinoa seed.


making wheat free bread
A typical basic free loaf
using rice flour.

Rice


White rice flour and sweet rice flour add lightness and texture to free baked goods. Brown rice and wild rice flours add fiber and nutritional quality. Wild rice flour is a light brown, flecked flour with a pleasant, nutty flavor. White and brown rice flours are neutral-flavored, are somewhat gritty and make dry, crumbly baked goods. Use rice flours in combination with other free flours for better texture and nutritional quality. Sweet rice flour, sometimes called “glutinous” rice, doesn’t contain . It has a unique, gelatinous quality. Add sweet rice flour in small amounts to improve the texture and ‘chew’ of free baked goods, as a thickener in sauce recipes and to dust baking pans to prevent sticking.


Find Out More If your looking for allergy books, books on gluten free food and children's allergy books, head to the Gluten Free Bakehouse Book Store. They have a full range of books on food intolerance.