How to Make Your Own Gluten-Free Lasagna Noodles

Regular lasagna is a good source of protein and vitamin C, but it also contains gluten.


A gluten intolerance or celiac disease makes it necessary to avoid foods that contain gluten, including wheat, rye and barley. That's tough if you enjoy pasta recipes, such as lasagna. You can, however, make alternatives to traditional pasta recipes that are gluten-free, tasty and nutritious.

Alternatives to Wheat Flour

One of the simplest ways to make gluten-free lasagna noodles is to use a gluten-free flour blend. Using gluten-free flour, such as sorghum, brown rice or tapioca flour, is another alternative, according to Marlisa Brown, author of "Gluten-Free, Hassle Free." The catch is that most of the time you'll also need to add xanthan gum, which replaces the gluten to help "glue" the noodles together.

Making the Noodles

Mix 2 cups of alternative flour with an egg, 1 or 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a teaspoon of xanthan gum, and knead into dough. Run the pasta through a pasta machine or roll it by hand with a rolling pin. Enhance the flavor of your noodles by adding gluten-free ingredients such as herbs like thyme, oregano or parsley. A sprinkle of black pepper is another gluten-free seasoning. Blend finely chopped spinach leaves into your gluten-free pasta dough as another way to enhance the taste and add a bit of fiber and vitamin A.

Go Beyond Grains

Nothing says that your lasagna noodles need to be made from a flour alternative. Replacing grain-based noodles with vegetables is another way to make gluten-free lasagna. Slice eggplant or zucchini into thin strips and use them just as you would use regular noodles. Not only does this eliminate the gluten from the lasagna noodles, but it also adds fiber and vitamin A to the meal. Bell pepper halves are another vegetable "noodle" alternative.

Gluten-Free Lasagna -- Beyond the Noodles

When you make your own lasagna, you can be sure it's truly gluten-free. When you rely on store-bought products, it's much more difficult to ensure you're not going to eat any gluten. For example, wheat is found in many types of sauces, which means that jarred spaghetti sauce might not be gluten-free. Making your own sauce with fresh tomatoes is a better idea that's also lower in sugar and salt than store-bought sauces. Read ingredient labels on any items, such as cheese, because traces of gluten can be lurking in many conventional products.

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