Gluten Free Calamari Rings

I love calamari. And I am not a huge lover of seafood or deep fried foods. I am the person who only orders fries from certain restaurants and only if I feel like it. I can resist and usually do. With my gall bladder- its actually necessary that I do. But if there is a place that offers calamari my taste buds start to produce copious amounts of saliva and the story changes. I would make detours in to the food court to have them. But going Gluten-free meant giving them up for good.

I am not sure I can express the joy I felt the first time I saw frozen, unbreaded calamari rings in the freezer section of my local grocery store. I didn't even check the price, into my cart they went. I was up for the challenge and work to make them for myself.

So I conscripted my mother to help me try a few recipes to find the best one. This one won the collective vote of my family members. We are a little loose on our measuring technique so eyeball it and have some fun.

Deep-fried Calamari Rings

1/2 cup Brown rice flour
1/4 cup Tapioca starch
1/2 Tbsp total Dried spices of your choice

3/4 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp pepper

1 Egg

1/4 cup Milk or substitute

1/2 lb Calamari rings, thawed

Cocktail sauce

 

First, combine the dry ingredients. I used about 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp onion salt, 3/4 tsp paprika, and 1/4 tsp chili powder for my seasoning. Paprika was my heaviest flavour since it was suggested by most of the recipes I found.

 

Then, mix the egg and milk together. I used a lactose-free milk. Put the thawed calamari in the milk mix and let it soak for at least half an hour. You could omit the egg, but we discovered that it made the rings plump up and stay tender. It also helped make a better crusting.

 

In small batches transfer some of the calamari into the flour mix. Use a Ziploc or container so you can shake well. Place the pieces into a fryer basket and fry until golden brown. We found that they brown quickly and placing the pieces in the oil one at a time caused uneven browning of the batch.

 

Remove from oil. Drain on a paper towel. Serve warm with a side of shrimp cocktail sauce (and lemon wedges if that is your thing). This should be a light appetizer for about 2 to 3 people?

 

I am open to trying a few more recipes if you have one you think is better...

 

Christmas Squares

This recipe isn't actually mine. A very dear friend shared it with me years ago. I have never been  fruit cake lover, but these squares converted me. My family agrees, even people who hate those dry Christmas fruit cakes will enjoy these squares.

Christmas Squares

This is a double batch suitable for a large cookie sheet.

1-1/2 c. unsifted flour (for GF 1/2 c. each Tapioca, White Bean, White Rice plus 1-1/2 tsp xanthan gum)

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp salt

½ c. butter

1-1/2 c. granulated sugar

4 eggs

2 c. chopped pecans or walnuts

2 c. chopped dates

1-1/2 c. mixed candied fruit

Glaze:  1-1/2 c. sifted icing sugar

             2 tbsp. milk

             ¼ tsp. almond flavouring

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Sift flour, baking powder and salt together.

Grease pan, put waxed paper on it , and grease this. (Parchment paper also works.)

In large bowl, beat butter, sugar, eggs.

Stir in nuts, dates, fruit.

Stir in dry ingredients.

Spread mixture in pan.

Bake 35 min. or until golden brown.

Put on wire rack, cool a bit, remove from pan and peel off waxed paper.

Drizzle with glaze.

Cool and enjoy!

Crusty Sub Buns

These buns have great texture. They are light enough to remind you of regular gluten filled baguettes, but still sturdy and crunchy enough considering that they are gluten-free. I usually bake in small quantities- so they don't last long on my counter. They are great toasted the next day too! These make wonderful TBLC sandwiches. (Turkey Bacon, Lettuce and Cheese)

Crusty Sub Buns

1 cup white rice flour
1/4 cup tapioca flour
1/4 cup potato starch
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup white bean flour
1-1/2 tsp yeast
1-3/4 tsp xanthan gum
2 Tbsp sugar
1/2 cup plus 2-3 Tbsp warm water
1 egg, room temperature

First, combine the flours, starches, xanthan gum, yeast and sugar in your mixer bowl or food processor. Set the mixer onto a low setting. Pour the warm water into the flour mix in a steady, slow stream. Scrape the sides if necessary. Add the egg. Turn the mixer up and mix until the batter is smooth and shiny.

Prepare a cookie sheet with parchment or a french loaf pan with tin foil. Lightly grease where the loaves will sit and sprinkle liberally with cornmeal.
Knead the batter with a spatula, adding 2-4 tsp of rice flour as needed until the dough forms a ball and the dough is workable with your hands. Divide the dough into two or three balls. Form the ball into a long sub bun, flatten slightly so that it is wider than it is tall. Grease a piece of plastic wrap and cover the dough. Repeat for the remaining balls.

Let the dough rise in a warm place for one hour. Lightly brush the buns with egg white and sprinkle with course salt just before baking. This is optional- it helps to brown the bread.

Bake at 350F for 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack. Enjoy.

Eating Out Gluten-Free in Edmonton, Alberta

When I started this Gluten-free journey, eating out scared me to death. Not because I was worried about getting gluten-ed, but because didn't think it would be possible. I was reluctant to become the person sitting at the table with a glass of water while everyone else feasted. Or the person eating a pathetically small side salad while everyone has gourmet plates. Being accommodated almost makes it worse. While I am thankful for the people who choose to do something because I can too, it also makes me feel singled out. And not in a "it's my party" kind of way.

What I have discovered in the months since making this lifestyle choice is that with a little creativity I can eat out with family and friends. (You also need a server that is willing to work with you.) It is much easier than I would have thought. Sure it helps that gluten allergies and celiacs is more popular. And by popular, when I mention to wait staff that I need gluten-free they more often than not know what I am talking about. I have thrown out the words 'intolerant' and 'sensitive' since they come across as passive, and go straight to the heart of the matter. I tell them, "I can't eat wheat or gluten- I have food allergies." That stops the suggestions that just have 'a little bit of gluten' in them.

Don't worry, I know it's not an allergy. But 'gluten sensitivity' doesn't express that feeding me wheat/gluten will leave me with anxiety, headaches, overheating, frequent urination for days, possible dehydration, general soreness, stomach pain, nausea, gas, bloating or other neurological symptom. I have discovered in 7 months of being gluten-free that my reactions have shifted primarily to neurological. I have always been the A-typical sufferer but this doesn't mean that my gluten intolerance isn't legitimate. Experience has made firm in this: gluten does awful things to my system. I can eat it, but it is not worth the 3 or 4 days afterwards.

And now to the part you actually wanted to read...

Eating Out in Edmonton

• Mucho Burrito - I usually go with the Taco Salad Bowl minus the bowl. their website lists the allergens in food so I pick based on that. Add an extra scoop of beans and it's a large meal.
• Mongolie Grill - Again, website for GF sauces- and ask your server for GF soy sauce. Down side is the communal flat top, but you can ask the chef to clean it first and watch for cross-contamination.
• Backstreet Bistro - The owner can make you a GF Vermicelli bowl if you ask. This place is one of my favs. It's hidden in the back of the HSBC Building on 106 Street and Jasper Ave. No website.
• Boston Pizza - Although, they only have pizza and it is usually too soft crusted. Still, options are good if you are with a group.
• High Level Diner - Truly a find. They have a Celiacs Menu and their food is phenomenal! Wish it was closer to my work so I could eat there for lunch today...
• Grandma Lee's Bakery - Haven't eaten here myself but I am told that they have some good options.
• Blue Plate Diner - Another place that lists the GF options on the menu. Was not a fan of the food, but others have really enjoyed going there. It's Hippie, Trendy, Organic type foods.
• Blue Chair Restaurant - Another I haven't tried but my Celiac friend highly recommends I do so.
• Tony Roma - This one was a surprise, but they have a gluten-free menu.
• Sicilian Pasta Kitchen - They can do almost any pasta dish with GF pasta. When I went- there was only one noodle option, fuscilli, so really it's any sauce you want, but yum!
• Allegro Italian Kitchen - They will charge you $3 for GF but it is an option if you want Italian downtown. As with any pasta place, remember to ask your server about the water that the pasta is boiled in.
• Mikado - Sushi restaurant with a GF menu. I need to try this one soon- because really, it's the soy sauce that makes or breaks the sushi experience.
• Red Robin's - How can I forget RR? Burgers. Yum. Their GF bun is pretty good but it gets soggy fast. You can also opt for a lettuce wrap.
• deLux Burger Bar - Burgers, obviously. They were great and they have a dedicated GF fryer too.
• Remedy Cafe - This one has two locations and they make the best Kashmere Chai Latte I have ever had. I tried their gluten-free cake. I was tasty, but exceptionally dense. I can make a better cake for $6.50 a slice, but if you ever want to go out for dessert at least with Remedy, you can.

I will continue to add as I find new places.

Disclaimer: I do not know if and cannot guarantee that any of these places are truly 100% gluten free or that they will take care to ensure that cross-contamination does not occur. If you suffer with Celiacs disease and you cannot eat even 20 ppm, then judge these options for yourself and always make the best decision for your health!