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I used to absolutely love a Chinese takeaway but with coeliac disease it can be pretty difficult to find gluten free Chinese dishes which are safe to enjoy.
That’s why I’ve brought together a collection of my favourite gluten free Chinese recipes for you to make at home.
These gluten free Chinese food recipes are all easy to recreate at home. And they taste as good as getting a takeaway.
From sweet and sour chicken to gluten free prawn toast, here are my favourite Chinese food recipes – without the gluten.
What Chinese food is gluten free?
Typically most dishes from a Chinese take-away are not gluten free or safe for people with coeliac disease.
This is largely because soy sauce is used in the majority of Chinese cuisine, which contains wheat flour.
Many of the meat dishes are also battered which in the UK generally includes the use of wheat flour.
Which sucks, because finding gluten free food to take-away can be really tough. And people with coeliac disease often end up missing out.
However, with a few tweaks it is easy to make Chinese food gluten free. I have some great recipes to get you started!
For example, using naturally gluten free tamari instead of soy sauce has a very similar taste but none of the gluten.
You can also find some other recipes, including Salt and Pepper Squid, Sweet and Sour Pork, Egg Fried Rice and Spring Rolls in my book, Delicious Gluten Free Meals.
Chicken with Cashew Nuts
It’s always been my mission to make my favourite Chinese foods gluten free Chicken with Cashew Nuts is my ultimate favourite.
The tender chicken is cooked with onions and green peppers, in a sauce with sesame oil and tamari (gluten free soy sauce).
I then add cashew nuts for the perfect crunchy texture – it’s delicious with fried rice.
Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Chicken
Finding a gluten free sweet and sour chicken is the Holy Grail of fake-aways. I just love the crispy battered chicken and a tangy sweet and sour sauce.
My gluten free sweet and sour chicken recipe is easy to make and big on flavour.
The chicken has a light and crunchy gluten free batter. The sauce is super sweet and tangy with pineapple chunks and peppers.
Gluten Free Salt and Pepper Chicken
Salt and Pepper Chicken was always one of my favourite starters at a Chinese restaurant. So I just had to perfect my own version.
With a crunchy, salty exterior, the chicken is cooked with onions and chilli and Chinese 5 Spice for a unique taste.
Gluten free salt and pepper chicken is the perfect gluten free dish to serve as part of a sharing platter or as a starter.
Gluten Free Prawn Toast
When it comes to side dishes and starters my Gluten Free Prawn Toast is the ultimate indulgence. It’s also so simple to make!
You can make this using any gluten free bread, topped with mince prawns and fried until golden.
Sesame seeds finish this off beautifully. I like to have mine as part of a big Chinese feast or alongside some of my other dishes.
Gluten free egg noodles
The problem with making Chinese food on a gluten free diet is that often recipes will substitute egg noodles for gluten free rice noodles.
But these don’t have the same, deliciously chewy texture as egg noodles! Which is why I make my own gluten free egg noodles.
They are actually really easy to make with only a few ingredients needed and no fancy equipment necessary!
Gluten Free Chow Mein
And once you’ve made gluten free egg noodles, you simply have to try making a Gluten Free Chow Mein!
Usually chow mein recipes include Shaoxing, a Chinese rice wine, which usually contains wheat flour.
Instead I use dry sherry to get the same delicious flavour but none of the gluten. It works an absolute treat.
Chinese Chicken Curry
I do love a good curry but there’s something about a Chinese Chicken Curry with it’s salty sweetness that always hit the spot.
This gluten free version is very easy to make and is naturally dairy free as well.
It uses tamari instead of soy sauce for a curry which is big on flavour but mild enough for everyone.
Satay Chicken Curry
In contrast to the often quick, flash-fried Chinese dishes above, this Satay Chicken Curry is actually made in the slow cooker.
It’s a complete hands-off approach for a Chinese-style, peanut butter curry which is just delicious.
I love cooking a big batch of this and it’s great served with egg fried rice on its own or as part of a Chinese fake-away feast.
Chicken Fried Rice
When I need a really quick and easy meal I always turn to my Gluten Free Chicken Fried Rice recipe.
This next-level egg fried rice is a great one to use up leftover cooked chicken from a roast dinner, into a tasty dish.
Flavoured with tamari and chilli, this chicken fried rice is great as both a main course or as a side-dish to a saucier recipe.
Want more gluten free Chinese recipes?
I really hope I’ve shown that Chinese cooking can be accessible on a gluten free diet – you just need a few simple tweaks.
If there are any Chinese dishes you’re really missing, please let me know in the comments below so I can try and recreate them.
I do love a challenge and it’s my mission that nobody should miss out on a gluten free diet so I always love to take requests.
Like these gluten free Chinese dishes?
Follow me on Pinterest and pin these recipe cards for when you need some inspiration.
