Imagine a world where you had to constantly avoid any and every form of wheat and rye. No pastries, no pizza, no pasta. Especially no bread. For many, a world without gluten feels unimaginable. But for people both around the world and around Palo Alto High School, this is merely an everyday reality.
Gluten is a type of protein found in certain grains, which gives dough its stretchy texture and helps baked goods hold their shape in the oven. However, it doesn’t only lurk in the obvious culprits of wheat and rye. Danger can loom in the sneakiest of places, from salad dressings to dipping sauces. Because of this, people who are gluten-free must be constantly vigilant about the ingredients making up even the smallest side dishes. While this lifestyle is hardly desirable, there is one delicious silver lining: a world of inventive and mouthwatering recipes.
Gluten restrictions stem from many different sources. Some people have a gluten sensitivity, which results in an unpleasant but overall non-threatening reaction to the protein. More seriously, there is Celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that requires a completely gluten-free diet in the face of the fatal risk of intestinal damage, which can occur. Furthermore, some choose to embrace a gluten-free diet for perceived health benefits, including weight loss and reduced inflammation. Overall, an estimated 25% of Americans reported adopting a gluten-free diet for these various reasons.
An issue many people face when adopting this diet is the perceived lack of recipes out there which are both gluten-free and tasty. As a matter of fact, there is an abundance of stigma around gluten-free recipes because of the presumption that any alternatives will be bland, boring, or just simply unappetizing. But with the right ingredients, gluten-free recipes can be just as indulgent and delicious as any other.
One example would be Hawaiian Butter Mochi. Because this recipe calls for sweet rice flour instead of regular flour, it is gluten-free, requiring no murky substitution of ingredients.
Recipe:
Dry ingredients
- 1 box (16oz) mochiko flour (sweet rice flour, glutinous rice flour)
- 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Wet ingredients
- 2 cups milk, any fat percentage
- 4 large eggs
- 1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 can of coconut milk (can replace with a cup of milk)
Preheat oven to 350°F
Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl
Melt the butter in a separate bowl and mix in the rest of the wet ingredients
Mix the wet and dry mixture together
Pour into a baking dish of your choice and bake for 45-60 minutes
Enjoy!
