Any one who is living with allergies has a few staples in their diet - the building blocks for their meals. When I started on this journey my diet revolved around plain rice, which got a little boring and forced me to delve into my food heritage and find alternatives or new ways to jazz up or serve rice. So, in this blog, I would like to share some alternatives and substitutes that you may be able to add to your diet.
Obviously, rice is pretty important, but it doesn't have to be plain old rice, there is rice pulao, pilaff, risotto, fried rice etc. then there are rice noodles both the dry and fresh variety which can be found in all supermarkets or Asian grocery stores. There is rice pasta, rice cereal, rice porridge, rice bran, rice paper, puffed rice and flat rice not forgetting rice milk, rice syrup and rice powder; all of which lend to different preparations, thereby immensely increasing the variety of meals.
Another favourite of mine is chick pea flour or besan. It is full of antioxidants and is a healthier substitute to wheat flour. It is extremely versatile and I use it in both sweet and savoury preparations making cakes, pancakes and flat breads etc.
Then there are the other ancient grains, which are still extensively used in Indian kitchens like bajra (millet) and jowar ( sorghum) which are also very versatile. If you can tolerate corn, there is corn meal/ polenta or makki ka atta (maize flour).
If you can locate an Indian grocery store in your neighbourhood, you can find all these ingredients (at prices lower than the health food store) along with various lentils and beans either whole, hulled, split or in powdered forms. I also discovered ragi flour, chestnut flour, amaranth and quinoa amongst other things. If nuts are not a problem, they are a healthy and nutritious snack option and a great source of good cholesterol. I add them to sauces, meals and salads and use them ground up for delicious cakes.
The gluten free aisle at the supermarket is also a great help if you can tolerate corn as you can find everything from fresh bread, crackers to bread and cake mixes. One brand I have come to rely on is Orgran as their products are dairy, soy, egg and gluten free along with a few other things. You may also be able to buy certain products like plain potato chips or rice crackers and rice cakes from the regular section of your local supermarkets ( I find them more economical as gluten free or health food items often come at a premium) - just be sure to read the ingredient list and check for any allergen statements.
Hopefully, I have provided you with a few, new meal ideas... Will also post some of my recipes shortly...
No comments:
Post a Comment