Learn how to cook gluten free pasta, so it is al dente every time! Avoid mushy pasta by following these simple tricks. You won’t believe how easy perfect al dente gluten free pasta is to make at home!!
Do you hate mushy gluten free pasta? This hack will help you learn how to cook gluten free pasta to tender perfection. Try it with this simple ground pork pasta sauce.
Over the years my kids have been brainwashed to accept “mushy” gluten free pasta. After a while, they forgot what real firm pasta was even like.”
Clare V.
The Story:
Being gluten free for medical reasons, I rely heavily on the restaurant staff to ensure our family doesn’t get sick when dining out from the waitperson who helped us muddle through the menu trying to find out what items were safe to eat to the chef who took a few minutes to leave his busy kitchen to answer my questions about cross-contamination.
My husband and I wanted to try a new Italian restaurant, Sorrelle Italian Bistro in Campbell, CA, that opened just a few minutes from our house. When I called to ask if they had gluten-free options, the owner told me they didn’t have gluten free pasta dishes.
The owner then offered something wonderful. She told us that if we brought a bag of our own gluten free pasta, they would create something special for us. (Note: they do not have gluten free pasta, so if you want it, you need to bring your own uncooked pasta.) They cook it in separate water.
When our pasta dishes came out, I couldn’t believe how delicious the pasta was. It was firm. It is the first gluten free pasta I could say was al dente! I usually had something a little mushy when I cooked gluten-free spaghetti and pasta.
The restaurant used the same brand of pasta that I use (obviously, since I brought the bag!), and I couldn’t figure out what they could have done differently. I was so curious to know how they cooked the pasta.
When I complimented the owner, I begged for her secret. She told me exactly how to cook gluten free pasta al dente.
How to Cook Gluten Free Pasta:
I am so excited to share this simple pasta hack with you!! It has put gluten free pasta back on the menu in our home. Even better, this works for every type of gluten free pasta!!
Try it with this Gluten Free Fettuccine Alfredo recipe!
The secret to firm pasta starts with an ice-water bath. This halts the cooking process immediately, so the pasta doesn’t continue to cook in the colander. Trust me; this works on all brands of gluten free pasta.
Chef Tips For Al Dente Gluten Free Pasta:
- Add ice and water to a medium-sized bowl to make an ice-water bath.
- Add your pasta.
- This will halt the cooking process, so your pasta doesn’t get mushy.
Now that you know how to cook gluten free pasta, you can use the method when you make your favorite gluten free pasta and spaghetti dishes!
Easy Gluten Free Pasta Sauces For Pasta:
- My whole family loves this three-meat pasta sauce. It is hearty and delicious.
- Why not try this homemade gluten free Alfredo sauce on that pasta?
- Are you looking for more? Here are some delicious gluten free green sauce recipes to try!
- If you love pesto but do not eat nuts, try this nut-free pesto sauce. There is also a great vegan option!
Tips & Recipe FAQ:
The secret to firm pasta starts with an ice-water bath. This halts the cooking process immediately so the pasta doesn’t continue to cook in the colander.
If you drain your pasta in a colander or drain it and leave it in the pot, the heat from the pasta continues cooking the pasta, and you can end up with mush.
All kinds of gluten free pasta have different cooking times because they are made with different ingredients. Some are made with rice, corn, legumes, and often a combination of ingredients. These all require different cooking times.
Several new kinds of pasta on the market are made with legumes like garbanzo beans and lentils. These are naturally gluten free, but just to be sure, always read the labels. Try this fun Mexican Pasta Salad recipe that features lentil penne pasta.
If you love pasta, try my homemade Gluten Free Ravioli recipe!
How to Cook Gluten Free Pasta and My Favorite Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 garlic cloves smashed
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil chopped
- 2 tablespoons capers
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 14 ounces tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- salt and pepper to taste
- 4 cups cooked gluten free pasta
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil on medium heat.
- Add garlic and saute until golden.
- Add fresh basil and saute another 2 minutes.
- Add tomato sauce, capers, oregano, salt and pepper.
- Reduce heat and simmer the sauce for 15-20 minutes.
- Toss with cooked gluten free pasta and top with freshly grated parmesan cheese.
- Serve hot.
Notes
- To halt the cooking process and avoid mushy pasta, give that pasta an ice bath! To make an ice water bath, add ice and water to a medium-sized bowl.
- I prefer to use Jovial or Tinkyada gluten free pasta brands, but Barilla is also delicious.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
This post was updated from an old January 2017 post with more information and photos.
Nice Tips and what a great restaurant!!
Thank you Diane…it is a great restaurant. Glad it is just down the street 🙂
Sounds like an awesome restaurant and an awesome tip! Thanks!
What a GENIUS tip!! Love this
Thank you Kristen 🙂
Thank you so much for this info and recipe. Tonight I am eating soggy gf pasta that I cooked last night (package claimed you can’t over cook their pasta, it was al dente when I drained it and put it into the sauce to heat up for few minutes-was soggy by time I ate it).
Next time I make gf pasta I will definitely try your tips.
Thank you and please thank that restaurant for me-by the way no restaurant has ever gone out of their way for me once they hear gluten free…
Kat
I hope it helps Kat…I have had so much mushy gluten free pasta over the years. This trick seems to work really well for us 🙂
This my friend is a post we all can use. Nobody likes to eat gf pasta mush! Its an art for sure!
Thank you Cindy 🙂
I’ve done the shock method for my veggies, but never GF pasta. Happy to give it a shot.
Let me know how it turns out 🙂
What a wonderful fresh recipe – perfect for an easy week night meal, yum! And secondly, a really good reminder….if you don’t ask, the answer will always be no, right? Good for you to even think to ask and yay for us for you to share your knowledge. Thanks for the great tip!
Thank you Debra 🙂
This is a such a wonderful recipe for pasta. I am a huge lover of pasta and I am always searching for great recipes like yours. I was at a steakhouse once and they didn’t have anything vegetarian on their menu except corn on the cob. The chef actually made me a wonderful sandwich and pasta dish. They didn’t have any pasta in their kitchen, so, he sent out a staff member to buy some pasta from a grocery store. He really went above and beyond.
Awesome story Rini…I bet you feel really comfortable recommending that restaurant to friends based on your great experience. It is the little things 🙂
Well, you learn something new everyday! What a great tip! I’ll be using it from now on. Thanks!
Enjoy Ali 🙂
Definitely going to have to try this! We recently found a brand of pasta that seems to be a cut above the others, but mushiness is still a very real problem.
I hope it helps Elise 🙂
This is awesome…you are lucky!
So… I’m calling that new restaurant a keeper!! And so is your tip. We occasionally have GF pasta, but my kids reject it due to the “mush”, so I just don’t do it all that often. I’m totally trying this!
My kids had a hard time with mush as well. Let me know how it turns out 🙂
what a great resource! I think this will help so many! I would love to add it to our resource page on Gluten Free Mama’s Gluten Free 101. Please Le me know if that is acceptable to you. Great job!
That would be great Rachel. Thank you 🙂
What a great tip! I normally use gluten-free Barilla pasta and I find the texture to be pretty good but I’ll have to try this next time 🙂
Thank you Sharon…I can’t believe the difference it made for rice pasta.
What a great tip. I’ve always seen that technique done for halting the cooking of various vegetables, but haven’t done it for gluten free pasta. Can’t wait to try!
It really works Kelly 🙂 I don’t know why it never occurred to me.
What?!? I’m definitely trying this! And I’m jealous that you have a restaurant that will cater to you like that… :p
Thank you Raia 🙂
Will the ice method work for keeping Alfredo pasta aldenti for party without going mushy.
Hi Sarah, That is such a good question. How long do you need the pasta to stay hot? I use this method with butter, parmesan, and salt for a pasta dish and I put it in my kids’ thermos for lunch. They said the pasta doesn’t get mushy. If you can give me more of an idea how you are doing this for your party, maybe we can test it out. Aka, my kids love alfredo and they want to test it out for you :-). PS I have an amazing alfredo recipe on my blog if you need one.