Quick and Easy Gluten Free Bread

Gluten free recipes are becoming more popular as people realize the benefits of eliminating this ingredient from their diets. You don’t need an official diagnosis of Celiac to realize how good your gut feels after removing gluten containing grains. Gluten is found in grains like wheat, rye, kamut, barley, spelt, couscous and oats. It is also found in many prepared foods (like veggie dogs and hamburgers) and sauces (like soya sauce & salad dressings). The potential benefits are better digestion (less bloating and gas), regular and healthy bowel movements, increased energy, improved skin and, of course, weight loss. There are many delicious gluten free grains out there like quinoa, millet, amaranth and brown rice. Visit the natural food section of your local grocery store to find many delicious gluten-free options or visit http://www.celiac.ca/ to better understand gluten.

If you are thinking that you don’t have time to bake your own bread. (as I was before I actually tried it)  Trust me, this is a simple bread to make if you are around the house for one morning on the weekend.  Try it before you have guests over because your house will smell amazing.  I have never made bread before and this actually turned out!  Give it a try and let us know what you think.

This recipe is inspired from Joyous Health.

Easy Gluten-Free Bread

Ingredients

• 3 cups brown rice flour
• 1 cup potato starch
• 1/2 cup tapioca flour/starch
• 3 tbsp sucanat sugar
• 2 tsp instant yeast
• 1 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/4 tsp xanthan gum
• 1 cup warm almond milk
• 4 tbsp coconut oil (or butter)
• 3 large organic eggs
• 1/4 cup sesame seeds

Directions:

Combine the flour, sugar, yeast, salt, and xanthan gum in a bowl. Mix until combined. Using a mixer, drizzle in the milk, beating all the time; the mixture will be crumbly at first, but once all the milk is added, it will come together.

Add the oil and beat until thoroughly blended. Beat in the eggs one at a time, beating each in thoroughly before adding the next. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl, then beat at high speed for 3 minutes, to make a very smooth, thick batter.  Cover the bowl, and let the thick batter rise for one hour. Scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl, gently deflating the batter in the process.

Grease an 8 1/2″ by 41/2″ loaf pan. Scoop the dough into the pan. Press it level, using a spatula or your wet fingers and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Cover with greased plastic wrap, and set in a warm place to rise until the loaf barely crowns above the rim of the pan. This should take about 45 to 60minutes.

Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 350°F.  Bake the bread for 38 to 42 minutes, until golden brown. Remove the bread from the oven, turn it out of the pan, and cool on a rack.

Linda Ljucovic, Holistic Nutritionist, Oakville, 289-291-0254