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Elaine Cooks

Recommended Every-day Gluten Free Pantry Staples and Kitchen Tools and Gadgets

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Pantry Staples

Gluten Free Pasta

Any gluten free diner who enjoys pasta is well aware of the challenge finding good pasta! Many brands of gluten free pasta, once cooked, can become too mushy for my taste (the prevalently available Barilla and Banza brands come to mind). During my recent trip to Sicily, I tasted Combino gluten free pasta which, once cooked, held up as well as semolina pasta; however, sadly, this brand of pasta is limited to Italy, and so I’ve identified below my recommended brands available in the U.S. (which, no surprise, happen to be crafted in Italy!)

Jovial, all varieties

Garofalo, all varieties

  • This gluten free pasta is made with a blend of corn flour, brown rice, potatoes, and quinoa that maintains its texture through the cooking process to hold up to sauces. Available on Amazon (and also at Eataly); this link is to purchase 4 boxes of spaghetti, $23.74, but different varieties are available: (https://www.amazon.com/Garofalo-Gluten-Free-Spaghetti-Pack).

Pignoli Nuts (pine nuts)

  • Pine nuts are best recognized for its use in pesto, but they offer many alternatives to contribute crunch into meals.
  • Pine nuts have a shorter shelf life than other nuts (and can be pricey, so it is important to understand how best to properly store them). As such, pine nuts should not necessarily be considered a “staple”, but I’ve added here, because of their prolific use in many gluten free italian recipes.
  • If sealed in an airtight container in the refrigerator, pine nuts can last for one to two months. If you can’t use them, however, in this timeframe, you can extend their shelf-life if sealed in a freezer bag in the freezer for up to three to six months. For this reason, it is a good idea not to “stock up” on these nuts, as they contribute a lot of flavor and crunch in minimal quantities (which is valuable in certain dishes), but once pine nuts turn rancid, they can give off an unpleasant odor and develop a bitter taste, which if nonetheless used, can taint the flavor of an entire dish.
  • Pine nuts are generally available in specialty markets and also on Amazon. Sunbest is a popular brand and offers a reasonably priced product: (https://www.amazon.com/Sunbest-Shelled-Pignolia-Resealable-Gmo-Vegan).

Olive Oil, varieties

  • Extra virgin olive oil. This variety is the highest quality of olive oils, and the priciest, so therefore, I like to reserve its use for dressings, marinades, drizzling over pasta and other dishes, and poured into a dipping bowl for bread.
  • Cooking oil. This mild, all-purpose, variety is perfect for imparting a delicious nuance to all foods. Highly versatile, used for grilling, roasting, soups, and pasta sauces.
  • Extra light tasting olive oil. This variety can be used in place of butter or another type of oil when baking. It tolerates high-heat cooking, for example, when searing, sauteing, browning or pan frying. It also is a tasty and lighter flavor as a dressing for salads.

Balsamic Vinegar

  • Balsamic is a key ingredient for marinades and salad dressings. It has a good shelf life, and therefore, good to buy with the intention to have on hand in your pantry. I recently purchased on Amazon Pompeian’s balsamic vinegar, which is very reasonably priced at $3.99 (16 fl.oz.).
  • (https://www.amazon.com/Pompeian-Balsamic-Vinegar-16-Ounce).
  • Note: Balsamic can be purchased as a pricey specialty or cost effectively, as I recommend here. Which option you prefer depends upon your preference.

Balsamic Vinegar Glaze

Sardines

  • Sardines provide an excellent source of omega 3, protein, calcium, and iron, and they are delicious and a staple of Sicily’s cuisine.
  • I recommend Wild Planet which offers sardines, sustainably caught in the North Pacific, and are available for a reasonable price on Amazon (pack of 12, 4.4 oz. each, $32.68): (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw).

Sherry Vinegar

Tuna in Oil

  • Tuna in oil is delicious on salads (and I use the oil for the dressing, seasoned (by me) with balsamic vinegar and seasonings). Genova offers wild caught, hand filleted tuna in cans, and is reasonably priced.
  • Available on Amazon, pack of 8 5 oz. cans, $13.17: (https://www.amazon.com/Genova-Yellowfin-Tuna-Olive-ounce).

Tomatoes (canned)

  • Tomatoes in a can are, in my opinion, overly snubbed in favor of fresh tomatoes, but underrated. I think the primary reason for this underappreciation is misuse (i.e., not reserving sufficient time to cook down, and remove any of its “tinny” flavor). Notwithstanding, tomatoes in a can offer a valuable alternative when tomatoes are not in season (i.e., generally, winter, although tomatoes can otherwise grow year-round in greenhouses).
  • I like buying in bulk (Cento is a readily available and reasonably priced brand), to always have on hand: (https://www.amazon.com/Cento-Marzano-Organic-Peeled-Tomatoes).

Tomato Paste (tubed or canned)

  • Tomato paste, used appropriately, offers tasty richness and thickness to any sauce or stew. Typically, 1-2 TB. is recommended for any pasta sauce. If more is used, broth, water or wine should be added to ensure your sauce or stew does not become too thick while retaining the umami flavor tomato paste adds to any dish.
  • Anyone who uses tomato paste knows too well how any unused portion, despite efforts to seal the can, in the refrigerator can quickly become old, and sometimes moldy…. but, here is a tip to extend the life of leftover tomato paste and avoid spoliage. Drop “balls” of tomato paste (of any size you choose, generally 1-2 tbsp., depending upon your preference of how much you use in your dishes) onto parchment paper on a tray and place the tray in your freezer for a few hours. Once frozen, put the balls into a plastic baggie for future individual use when needed. Tomato paste can keep for up to 3 months in the freezer.
  • Tomato paste is generally available in any market but also on Amazon. Contadina is a very good, reasonably priced option: (https://www.amazon.com/CONTADINA-Tomato-Paste-Pack-Cans).

Parmesan Cheese (various uses)

  • I typically have on hand at any given time a wedge of good parmagiana reggiano and a grated version for easy sprinkling over pasta, and parmesan and other dishes.
  • A good tip: Don’t throw away the rinds of utilized parmesan! The rind of a wedge is good to to freeze for future use to flavor and richen stocks, stews and soups.

Cheese (other various varieties)

  • There are the basic cheeses (for italian cooking, as there are many others!): mozzarella, ricotta and parmesan reggiano. There are also cheeses which, during my recent trip to Sicily, are favored in many popular dishes; for example, cacciocavallo ragusano, featured above, is a cheese frequently used to complement Palermo’s “street food”, including its popular Sfinzione, and in appetizers and dips.

Sun-dried Tomatoes

  • Sun-dried tomatoes offer tasty options in salad dressings and cheese plates. You should not buy in bulk, however. Unopened, sun-dried tomatoes are good for up to one year. But once opened (and refrigerated), they can turn after one month. Amazon offers options in bulk. and so I recommend buying in small qualities, when needed, from your local market.

Gluten-free Bread Crumbs and Panko (plain preferred)

  • Amazon offers gluten free plain and panko varieties by 4C for a reasonable price of $6.99 (in 12 ounce canisters). I have used this brand in many recipes and I think they hold up against the more expensive brands. Seasoned bread crumbs and panko are available for an additional price tag, but I prefer using the plain varieties to control the level and intensity of seasoning that is added to any dish.
  • Plain (40 oz/$6.69): (https://www.amazon.com/4C-Crumbs-Gluten-Container-Choose).
  • Panko (8 oz, 6 -pack/$26.69): (https://www.amazon.com/4C-6-Pack-Plain-Panko).

Beans (dried varieties – chickpeas and cannellini)

  • For dried beans, while there are, in markets, amazing, beautifully packaged, italian products, I tend to purchase less expensive brands at my local market. I recommend having chickpeas and cannellini beans always on hand.

Beans (canned varieties – chickpeas and cannellini)

  • While not something I normally recommend, sometimes canned beans offer value, for its time-saving use. Canned chickpeas work the best among other canned beans (less tendency to become mushy). For cannellini beans, I would use only in salads, as in any cooked dish, their already fragile texture can break down in any heating process. Make sure to drain and rinse the canned beans before adding them to any dish.

Castelvetrano Olives

  • Named after the town in which these olives are grown, Castelvetrano is a town and commune in the province of Trapani, Sicily, located in southern Italy. The olives are green and quite tasty, and also versatile for use in various dishes.
  • There is a reasonably priced option available on Amazon through Whole Foods: (https://www.amazon.com/organic-olives-castelvetrano).

Capers

  • Capers offer a tasty, umami flavor in certain dishes. I enjoy using them in my Puttanesca Sauce and Acqua Pazza recipes. (note: capers should be drained and rinsed before adding to dishes to control salt content). Salted capers are readily available as an alternative to crisp for seasoning, perhaps for example, in tuna or egg salad or with lox. To prepare, salted capers should be soaked and rinsed, just rinsed or simply wiped of excess salt.
  • As capers can be refrigerated for an extended period of time (up to two years), before use, always check for spoliage (i.e., unpleasant smell or mold).
  • I personally prefer buying a large jar of capers, which is cost effective. The design of the jars offer a wide jar top facilitating spooning the capers out. The small narrow jars that smaller amounts of capers are sold in make getting the capers out without anything larger than a miniature spoon impossible. Sometimes I’ve resorted to draining the entire small bottle (just to get the capers out).
  • Amazon offers organic non-pareil capers in 32 ounce jars from Paesana for $18.84 (https://www.amazon.com/Paesana-Organic-Non-Pariel-Capers), and they last a long time!
  • Capers are available in two sizes, large and small, and it is a good idea to have both varieties on hand, depending upon the flavor and texture you are focused on for any meal you are preparing:
  • My recommendation: Use large capers in sauces and stews for a more intense flavor (and less concerned about texture). Small capers, on the other hand, offer texture in the form of a delicate crunch and garnish with their milder flavor and firmer texture.

Walnuts

  • Walnuts offer a less expensive and more readily available alternative for a nutty crunch to any meal (for example, an affordable and quite tasty option to replace pignoli nuts in pesto). Before adding, walnuts should be toasted to enhance their flavor. To toast, crumble the walnuts (I just squeeze them in my hand so that the walnuts retain a chunky mixture), and add to a non-stick saute pan over medium high heat, stirring constantly until browned and toasty. Be sure to keep a careful eye on the pan, as the nuts can quickly burn.
  • I like to order walnuts, halved and in pieces, in bulk (22 ounces/$11.47) on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw). The large plastic jar that stores the walnuts allows for proper sealing and minimizing risk of becoming rancid (which can happen if not sealed against warm temperatures, air, or moisture).

Pistachios

  • Pistacchios are delicious nuts that offer an addictively salty and tangy flavor to pestos (see my Goat Cheese, Pistacchio Pesto with Fresh Herbs recipe) or main courses such as chicken or fish.
  • Pistacchios are available roasted and salted (which is best used for snacking), lightly salted (same) or plain (which I recommend for cooking, to control salt content).
  • Pistacchios tend to be pricey, but Amazon offers a reasonably priced Wonderful brand, and Whole Foods does as well under its 365 brand. I recommend buying these nuts in small sizes, as they can go rancid if not properly stored. Once open, pistacchios can last in a sealed container in the refrigerator (up to 1 year) or in the freezer (up to two years).
  • Available on Amazon (16 oz./$9.49): (https://www.amazon.com/WONDERFUL-PISTACHIO-No-Salt-Pistachios).

Kosher Salt

  • Kosher salt is the go-to salt for chefs. Reasons include its ease to control seasoning and to dissolve quickly.
  • The primary brand used, and which I use, is Diamond Crystal, available in supermarkets. I also regularly have on hand iodized table salt for certain purposes, for example, salting pasta water (note: gluten free pasta water should be well-salted) and water to thaw unseasoned frozen vegetables.

Black Peppercorns

  • Black peppercorns offer two key benefits to cooking:
    • As a seasoning to be ground in a pepper grinder, which I recommend, in lieu of already purchased ground pepper.
    • As an aromatic in broths (do not grind), to be strained before use in dishes.

Bay Leaves

  • While fresh bay leaves are available in local Italian specialty markets, more common are dried bay leaves which offer a long shelf life (versus one week, if fresh) and acts as a subtle aromatic to any broth, stew or sauce. Dried bay leaves are readily available in markets, and also on Amazon (2oz./$7.99). Above are Soeos dried bay leaves which I appreciate having on hand, as they last for a few years. Once the aroma is gone, it is time to replace.
  • Available on Amazon: (https://www.amazon.com/Soeos-Non-GMO-Verified-Natural-Freshly).

Italian Seasonings

  • I don’t normally rely on a dried italian seasoning mix. However, on occasion, and when in a pinch, this versatile seasoning can come in handy.
  • Examples of how to use – in a dry rub for meats, in a bouquet of aromatics wrapped in a cheese cloth to enhance flavors in a broth, or in certain tomato sauces, generally those that require a long simmer time. Dried seasonings should generally not be used, if there is not a sufficient cooking time to allow the spices to soften. Also, and important to note, but when choosing fresh versus dried herbs, the amount of dried herbs to use would be a mere fraction of the amount of fresh herbs to use, and dried herbs would be added early into the cooking process, whereas fresh herbs would be added at the end.

Broths (chicken, vegetable, beef and fish)

  • I generally prefer low-sodium broths in cartons; however, it is nice to have bouillon cubes on hand in a pinch! Not to diminish the importance of beef and fish broths, chicken and vegetable broths are the most versatile. Broths tend to have fairly long shelf lives, but be sure to check the expiration dates prior to purchase.
  • I also enjoy making a homemade broth following a roasted chicken dinner using the bones and any extra vegetables on hand, plus some citrus, salt, ground black pepper and kosher salt (see my Homemade Chicken Broth recipe). After any broth prepared fully cools, the broth can frozen for approximately 3 months.

Kitchen Tools and Gadgets

The kitchen gadgets I’ve highlighted in this post are in addition to the many essentials you should otherwise have in your kitchen, for example, saute and sauce pans (I like le creuset and all clad), cheese grater and zester, and good butcher knives

Fat Separator

  • I like the Cuisipro Fat Separator, available on Amazon for $33.39. Cuisipro is a reliable brand for many kitchen gadgets. A bit pricier, but I believe worth it for its attention to detail and easy use. This fat separator easily separates fat to offer lighter, less greasy, gravies, soups and sauces. The strainer to drain the fat is at the bottom of the fat separator with a built-in strainer and silicone shut-off valve. (https://www.amazon.com/Cuisipro-4-Cup-Fat-Separator)

Grater for Hard and Soft Cheeses, and also Potatoes, Carrots and other Vegetables

Olive Pitter

  • I used my mother’s olive pitter for the last twenty years, and so I thought it was a good time for an upgrade! An olive pitter offers an ease to removing pits in your prepared dishes (and without the pits, no one risks inadvertently cracking a tooth!)
  • Above, Amazon offers a very good dishwasher safe cherry/olive pitter from Cuisipro. It is a bit more expensive than other pitters, retailing at $22.99, but worth the investment (https://www.amazon.com/Cuisipro-Olive-cherry-Pitter).

Microplane Zester

  • While this recommended zester from Microplane is great for zesting citrus, it is a versatile kitchen gadget! This zester and grater, available on Amazon for $17.95 , is dishwasher safe, and can also grate ginger and garlic into minced pastes or grate spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg to enhance flavors in many italian recipes.
  • (https://www.amazon.com/Microplane-46020-Grater-Made-Cheese-Soft-Handle-Black).

Mortar and Pestle

  • I purchased this ChefSofi 1.5 Cup-Capacity Mortar and Pestle Set on Amazon for $19.98 back in November 2024 (for Thanksgiving), and it works great. This product comes in other sizes and so you can pick whichever size is best for you. It is made of unpolished heavy granite for enhanced performance and offers an appealingly rustic appearance.
  • (https://www.amazon.com/ChefSofi-1-5-Cup-Capacity-Mortar-Pestle).

Garlic Press? Are they back in favor?

  • I remember my mother had a garlic press in her kitchen growing up. From my experience, the garlic press grew out of favor, and to me, seemed old-fashioned, with current recipes instructing slicing and mincing garlic cloves by hand. However, a garlic press can still offer benefit, in particular, to crush a clove or two to add to olive oil while in a saute pan as an aromatic (the crushed cloves would be removed before adding ingredients). Using this method to incorporate garlic adds a subtle, light flavor to any dish you prepare!
  • I like the garlic press above, which is dishwasher safe and available on Amazon for $12.99. A larger size is available for $24.99. Both sizes are available in multiple colors.
  • (https://www.amazon.com/Garlic-Press-Easy-Squeeze-Ergonomic-Professional).

Quality Sharp Knives

Knife Sharpener

  • My husband gifted me a knife sharpener this past Christmas. Reluctant to add an additional task for myself in my kitchen, I nonethless started using it, and it is so worth it! A knife sharpener grinds down rough edges of your knives, allowing for more precise and fine cuts of your ingredients.
  • Available on Amazon: (https://www.amazon.com).

Good cutting boards

  • I have 3 types of cutting boards: dishwasher safe plastic, thin-ish wooden (their smaller frame allows for easier storage when not using), both available on Amazon and Target, and fancy cutting boards to use for my cheese plates.
  • This Amazon set of plastic boards are featured for its multiple set, which is helpful when preparing a meal of various dishes (so you don’t need to constantly wash and re-wash…) (https://www.amazon.com/Fotouzy-Flexible-BPA-Free-Non-Porous-Dishwasher)

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Hello,

I’m Elaine

Welcome to Elaine Cooks! This site is dedicated to sharing healthy and delicious gluten-free Italian recipes. As an Italian-American diagnosed with celiac disease in 2003, I’ve removed wheat, barley, rye and oats from my diet, and since then have developed a number of recipes enjoyed by my family and friends that I would like to share!

I live in New York City with my husband, Todd, our dog Dash, a border collie mix from Idaho, and cat, Luna. I have 3 children, Jack, a graduate student, and Ella and Gwynnie, both in college. We enjoy skiing, traveling and cooking together!

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