Pasta is an Italian staple that is well-known and respected around the world, but what makes Italian pasta so fantastic is how chefs complement (or si sposano, ‘marry’ in Italian) their flavourful sauces with just the right pasta. Moreover, the dish should be accompanied by a fine wine that complements the richness of the sauce.

The problem with pasta, however, is that normal pasta is not exactly gluten-free. Nevertheless, pasta lovers – gluten-intolerant or not – can enjoy fresh gluten-free pasta and sauces from gluten-free food retailers such as Gluten Free 4 U.

 Whet your appetite with these three tasty gluten-free pasta dishes:

01. Fettucine Bolognese

One of the most famous dishes from the north-central Emilia-Romagna region in Italy is the Tagliatelle Ragù Bolognese, often simply called Bolognese in English (but not the same thing as the dog breed!). Tagliatelle essentially translates to ‘cut’ and these long, flat pieces of pasta are used to mop up the full rich flavour of the meaty sauce.

 Rather than tagliatelle, try another long and flat pasta, our gluten-free Fettucine Pasta. This pairing accomplishes the same goal of soaking up the full richness of the meaty sauce. Once you try this sauce with fettuccine, you won’t dare going back to round spaghetti pasta anytime soon.

 In order to make your own Bolognese sauce, you’ll need quite a few ingredients and a lot of time. Traditional Bolognese sauce can take hours of simmering so that all of the beef mince and other ingredients render and their flavours combine. If you simply want a great Bolognese sauce without waiting 8 or more hours by the hob, pick up our gluten-free Bolognese Sauce.

 Pair this dish with a glass of Shiraz/Syrah wine or any other crisp, dry red. Any light-bodied red (some whites pair well, too) should do.

02. Ravioli with Mushroom Sauce

Ravioli can be enjoyed with just about any sauce. Our gluten-free Ravioli – Veal does contain some tomato, but it’s quite nice when paired with a thick white sauce such as your very own homemade mushroom sauce.

 All you’ll need is a minced shallot and a few cloves of minced garlic, sauteed with mushrooms in butter. Sautee the mushrooms until brown and the moisture has mostly evaporated, then deglaze with a dash of white wine (or cognac, if you’re feeling fancy) and then add in heavy cream and thyme, reduce, then incorporate the boiled ravioli. Top off with sprinkled parmesan and a fresh sprig of thyme.

 Pair with a bottle of Pinot Grigio or another Italian white wine to bring out the full flavour of your sauce. The wine should be full-bodied and smooth.

03. Gnocchi with Tomato Sauce

Gnocchi should already be a fairly well-known staple pasta for those with gluten intolerance, since Gnocchi is often traditionally prepared with potato. Since gnocchi have a wide surface area (unlike spaghetti, for example), they do well with rich sauces that can completely cover every piece with their full flavour. Rich tomato sauces often do well, since their strong and acidic flavour profile pairs well with the otherwise bland flavour of the gnocchi.

 Boil the gnocchi until and incorporate our very own gluten-free Tomato Sauce for a hearty evening meal.

 Pair with a simple, bright glass of red wine such as a Pinot Noir. The rich tomato sauce will do most of the talking, so don’t overcomplicate your wine pairing with something too fancy or expensive.

Gluten Free 4 U

Enjoy your next meal, completely gluten-free from Gluten Free 4 U.