Easy dinner recipes: Three great pasta ideas for Gluten-free Wednesday

So what if it’s Gluten-Free Wednesday! If you’re like so many who crave pasta but need to stay away from wheat, fret no more. Enjoy with these tempting pasta ideas:

Cashew cream fettuccine Alfredo: With its rich flavor, you might not guess this dish is both gluten-free and vegan. Rice fettuccine is tossed with sauteed spinach and a rich cashew cream sauce, then garnished with delicate (vegan) parmesan crisps, making for a dramatic presentation.

Rice noodles with Chinese chives, shrimp and pork: Larger than their Western counterparts, Chinese chives lend a fresh yet delicate garlic flavor to Asian rice noodles with their full, flat leaves. In this quick recipe, the chives are cooked along with shrimp, pork and flat rice noodles, making for a lightly sweet dish, brightened with a squeeze of fresh lime at the end. You can find Chinese chives and noodles at Chinese and Southeast Asian markets.

Rice noodle bowl with stir-fried beef: You can’t go wrong here when you’re craving a great noodle bowl. A fresh, crunchy salad is topped with a mound of noodles and richly flavored stir-fried beef. Garnish with fried shallots and peanuts and serve alongside a dipping sauce for a simple one-dish meal that comes together in about an hour. Note that the recipe contains soy sauce, which may be an issue for certain gluten-sensitive individuals; be sure to use gluten-free soy sauce or substitute tamari sauce.You can find the recipe below.

If you are sensitive to gluten, check all ingredients to make sure they are gluten-free before using, as many may contain trace gluten (such as spices, a number of which include flour as an anti-caking agent), and/or are produced in facilities that also process gluten-based products.

RICE NOODLE BOWL WITH STIR-FRIED BEEF (BUN THIT BO XAO)

Total time: 1 hour | Serves 4

Basic dipping sauce (nuoc cham)

1/3 cup fresh lime juice (2 to 3 limes)
1 tablespoon unseasoned Japanese rice vinegar (optional)
3 tablespoons sugar
2/3 cup lukewarm water
5 to 6 tablespoons fish sauce, or to taste
2 or 3 Thai or serrano chiles, thinly sliced

1. In a small bowl, combine the lime juice, vinegar, sugar and water and stir to dissolve the sugar. Taste and adjust the flavors to balance the sweet and sour as needed.

2. Add the fish sauce, starting with 5 tablespoons and then adding more as your palate dictates, balancing the sour, sweet and salty. How much you use depends on the brand and your own taste. Aim for a light honey or amber color and a bold, forward finish. Keep in mind that this sauce is typically used to dress dishes that include unsalted ingredients such as lettuce and herbs -- ingredients that will need an extra flavor lift. When you’re satisfied, add the chile. (If diners are sensitive to chile heat, serve the chiles on the side.) The sauce may be prepared early in the day and left at room temperature until serving. This makes about 1 1/2 cups dipping sauce.

Crispy caramelized shallot (hanh phi)

1/2 cup thinly sliced shallot, from 1 very large or 2 to 3 smaller shallots
3 tablespoons canola or other neutral oil

1. To ensure the shallot slices crisp up, you must first remove some excess moisture. Using your fingers, separate the slices into individual layers, depositing them on a paper towel. Gather up the paper towel and gently blot away the moisture.

2. In a 10-inch skillet, heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the sliced shallot and fry gently, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking. After 5 to 6 minutes, when the shallot is fragrant and lightly golden, watch the progress closely, moving the slices frequently by stirring them or swirling the pan. During frying, the shallot slices will soften into a mass and then stiffen as they caramelize and crisp. When most of the slices are a rich golden brown, remove the pan from the heat. The total cooking time should be about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the shallot slices to a paper towel-lined plate, spreading them out in a single layer. Discard the fragrant oil or reserve it for other uses.

3. When the shallot slices have cooled, crisped and darkened slightly, transfer them to a small bowl or plate. Left uncovered at room temperature, they will retain their crispiness for a good 8 hours. Even if they no longer rustle when you shake them, they are still tasty.

Noodle bowl and assembly

1 teaspoon cornstarch
3/4 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon fish sauce
2 tablespoons light (regular) soy sauce
1 pound flank steak, cut across the grain into strips about 3 inches long and a scant 1/4 inch thick
Leaves from 1/2 small head red or green leaf lettuce, cut crosswise into 1/4 -inch wide ribbons (about 2 packed cups)
1 pickling (Kirby) cucumber or 1/2 small English cucumber, halved lengthwise, seeded and cut into matchsticks
2 cups bean sprouts (about 1/3 pound)
1/3 cup roughly chopped assorted fresh herbs such as cilantro, mint, red perilla (tia to), Thai basil (hung que) and Vietnamese balm (kinh gioi)
2/3 pound small dried round rice noodles (bun), cooked in boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes, drained and flushed with cold water
3 tablespoons canola or other neutral oil, divided
1 small yellow onion, halved and sliced lengthwise 1/4 -inch thick (aim for a moon-sliver shape and the onion will look really nice)
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup unsalted roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup crispy caramelized shallot
1 1/2 cups basic dipping sauce

1. Marinate the beef: In a shallow bowl large enough to accommodate the beef, whisk together the cornstarch, sugar, salt, pepper, fish sauce and soy sauce until thoroughly combined. Add the beef and use chopsticks or your fingers to coat evenly. Set the mixture aside to marinate while you ready the bowls.

2. Make the salad mix: In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, cucumber, bean sprouts and herbs and toss well. Divide the salad among 4 noodle soup-sized bowls and top with a layer of noodles. Set the bowls aside while you stir-fry the beef.

3. To stir-fry a large quantity of meat successfully on a home kitchen stove, it is best to work in batches and then bring them together at the end. In a wok or large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and stir-fry until slightly soft and fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the garlic and stir-fry for about 15 seconds, or until aromatic. Transfer to a plate with a slotted spoon.

4. Increase the heat to high and add another tablespoon of oil. Add half of the marinated beef, spreading it out into a single layer. Cook the beef, undisturbed, until it begins to brown, about 1 minute, then flip and stir-fry it for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, or until it is still slightly rare. Transfer to the plate holding the onions and garlic. Repeat with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and the second half of the beef. When the second batch is just about done, return the onion and garlic, the first batch of beef and any accumulated juices to the pan. Stir-fry for about 2 minutes to heat through and finish cooking the beef.

5. Remove from the heat and divide evenly among the bowls. Top with the peanuts and shallot. Serve immediately with the sauce for diners to dress and toss their own bowls.

Each of 4 servings: 745 calories; 32 grams protein; 85 grams carbohydrates; 4 grams fiber; 32 grams fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 48 mg. cholesterol; 1,131 mg. sodium.

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