A few months ago, you may recall that I participated in a “gluten-free feast” as part of my medical nutrition therapy class. While some of the products we tasted were pretty terrible in terms of taste and texture, others seemed almost identical to their wheat-based counterparts. In particular, the corn-based pasta was almost indistinguishable from the whole wheat pasta.

In light of that experience, I decided to buy a bag of corn fusilli for myself, just for the sake of experimentation. Plus, it didn’t hurt that it was only $1.39 per bag

As you can see from the label, the main differences between corn pasta and regular ol’ wheat pasta are:

• Corn flour instead of wheat flour
• Less protein per serving (3 grams vs. the 7 or 8 in whole wheat pastas)
• No iron (which can be a problem for those with celiac disease, as they are often anemic)

I have neither celiac disease nor gluten sensitivity…just a curiosity for new foods! So here’s the first gluten-free pasta creation to come out of my kitchen.

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Creamy Corn Pasta with Kale (vegan, gluten-free)

Serves 1

Ingredients

• 2 oz dry corn fusilli
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 3/4 cup cooked white beans (I used Great Northern beans)
• 1 tablespoon tahini
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• juice from 1 small lemon
• 1/4 cup unsweetened soymilk (or other milk of choice)
• salt, to taste
• 2 cups kale, chopped

Method

1. Boil water for pasta, and cook 9-10 minutes. The package says 9 minutes, but I found the pasta to be too al dente at that point.

2. Meanwhile, place garlic, white beans, tahini, lemon zest & juice, and milk in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth, taste, and add salt according to taste. Set aside.

3. Place kale in a steamer basket over boiling water and steam. Alternatively, place it in a bowl and cook on high in the microwave for 1 minute.

4. Combine the pasta, sauce, and kale in a large bowl. Toss to coat evenly, and serve.

Bon appétit!

Nutrition per recipe: 478 Cal, 11.6g fat, 396mg sodium, 14.5g fiber, 19g protein

Have you ever tried gluten-free products? What are your favorites?

Filed under: Recipe