The joyful gluten-free guide

Good food.
No second guessing.

A generous guide to dishes, ingredients and everyday swaps for people with coeliac disease—made to answer the question: can I eat this?

The Coeliac Table with gluten-free dal, lemon chicken and rice, vegetable frittata and roasted vegetables
243dish ideas
36ingredients decoded
4safety essentials

Remember: “gluten-free” describes gluten content. It does not necessarily mean wheat-free.

Cook something brilliant

Dishes for every day

Every idea is built from naturally gluten-free ingredients or calls out the exact swap to check.

Course

243 delicious ideas

Golden coconut dal, a gluten-free dish ideaNaturally GF
DinnerVeganDairy-free

Golden coconut dal

Red lentils, ginger and coconut simmered into a deeply comforting bowl.

30 min · serves 4Full recipe
Charred chicken & lemon rice, a gluten-free dish ideaNaturally GF
DinnerHigh proteinDairy-free

Charred chicken & lemon rice

Herby chicken thighs over golden rice with peas, lemon and crisp edges.

45 min · serves 4Full recipe
Herby tomato frittata, a gluten-free dish ideaNaturally GF
LunchVegetarianHigh protein

Herby tomato frittata

A soft-centred egg bake scattered with tomatoes, feta and garden herbs.

20 min · serves 4Full recipe
Crunchy quinoa tabbouleh, a gluten-free dish ideaNaturally GF
LunchVeganDairy-free

Crunchy quinoa tabbouleh

Quinoa, cucumber, herbs and pomegranate in a sharp lemon dressing.

25 min · serves 4Full recipe
Green goddess salmon bowl, a gluten-free dish ideaNaturally GF
LunchHigh proteinDairy-free

Green goddess salmon bowl

Flaky salmon, avocado, edamame and rice with a punchy herb dressing.

25 min · serves 4Full recipe
Crispy potato Caesar, a gluten-free dish ideaGF swap
LunchVegetarianCrowd pleaser

Crispy potato Caesar

Craggy roast potatoes replace croutons in this big, satisfying salad.

35 min · serves 4Full recipe
Weeknight vegetable biryani, a gluten-free dish ideaNaturally GF
DinnerVeganDairy-free

Weeknight vegetable biryani

Fragrant basmati, roast vegetables and cashews with cooling cucumber.

40 min · serves 4Full recipe
Sweetcorn socca wraps, a gluten-free dish ideaNaturally GF
LunchVeganDairy-free

Sweetcorn socca wraps

Lacy chickpea-flour wraps stuffed with smoky corn, slaw and lime.

30 min · serves 4Full recipe
Tamari ginger rice noodles, a gluten-free dish ideaGF swap
DinnerVeganDairy-free

Tamari ginger rice noodles

Slippery rice noodles with greens, sesame and a bright ginger sauce.

20 min · serves 4Full recipe
Mushroom polenta ragù, a gluten-free dish ideaNaturally GF
DinnerVegetarianComfort food

Mushroom polenta ragù

Creamy parmesan polenta under glossy, thyme-scented mushrooms.

45 min · serves 4Full recipe
Steak with chimichurri, a gluten-free dish ideaNaturally GF
DinnerHigh proteinDairy-free

Steak with chimichurri

Seared steak, peppery leaves and a vivid parsley-garlic sauce.

25 min · serves 4Full recipe
Buckwheat berry pancakes, a gluten-free dish ideaGF swap
BreakfastVegetarianUnder 30 min

Buckwheat berry pancakes

Nutty, tender pancakes with warm berries and thick yoghurt.

20 min · serves 4Full recipe

Gluten-free dishes around the world

Travel by table.

From Jamaican curry goat and Ghanaian jollof to Japanese oyakodon and Mexican pozole—each recipe includes the label checks needed for a coeliac kitchen.

Jamaican curry goat, a gluten-free Caribbean dish
Caribbean210 min

Jamaican curry goat

Slow-braised goat with Scotch bonnet, allspice, thyme and potatoes.

Jamaican jerk chicken, a gluten-free Caribbean dish
Caribbean70 min

Jamaican jerk chicken

Charred chicken in a fiery, aromatic jerk marinade.

Caribbean rice and peas, a gluten-free Caribbean dish
Caribbean45 min

Caribbean rice and peas

Coconut rice with kidney beans, thyme and gentle chilli.

Jamaican brown stew chicken, a gluten-free Caribbean dish
Caribbean80 min

Jamaican brown stew chicken

Deeply browned chicken simmered with peppers, thyme and tomatoes.

Escovitch fish, a gluten-free Caribbean dish
Caribbean40 min

Escovitch fish

Crisp whole fish topped with sharp, spicy pickled vegetables.

Trinidadian chana aloo, a gluten-free Caribbean dish
Caribbean45 min

Trinidadian chana aloo

Chickpeas and potatoes in a fragrant Trinidad-style curry.

Coconut callaloo, a gluten-free Caribbean dish
Caribbean35 min

Coconut callaloo

Silky greens cooked with coconut, okra, thyme and chilli.

Guyanese pepperpot beef, a gluten-free Caribbean dish
Caribbean210 min

Guyanese pepperpot beef

Slow beef with cassareep, orange, cinnamon and warming spice.

Know your cupboard

The ingredient
confidence checker.

Search common ingredients and see what is naturally safe, what needs a closer label check, and what contains gluten.

Naturally safe Check the label Avoid

Rice

Grains & starches

All plain varieties are naturally gluten-free.

Safe

Potatoes

Grains & starches

Fresh potatoes are safe; check seasoned or processed products.

Safe

Corn / maize

Grains & starches

Naturally gluten-free in its plain form.

Safe

Quinoa

Grains & starches

Rinse before cooking; choose labelled packs if cross-contact is a concern.

Safe

Buckwheat

Grains & starches

Despite its name, it is not wheat. Choose flour labelled gluten-free.

Safe

Millet

Grains & starches

A naturally gluten-free whole grain.

Safe

Sorghum

Grains & starches

Naturally gluten-free and useful in flour blends.

Safe

Teff

Grains & starches

A tiny naturally gluten-free grain.

Safe

Polenta

Grains & starches

Corn is safe, but check the pack for cross-contact warnings.

Check

Oats

Grains & starches

Only oats specifically labelled gluten-free; a small number of people react to avenin too.

Check

Wheat

Grains & starches

Contains gluten, including ordinary wheat flour and wheatberries.

Avoid

Barley

Grains & starches

Contains gluten; also look for barley malt and malt extract.

Avoid

Rye

Grains & starches

Contains gluten.

Avoid

Spelt

Grains & starches

A type of wheat; it is not gluten-free.

Avoid

Couscous

Grains & starches

Usually made from durum wheat unless explicitly labelled gluten-free.

Avoid

Bulgur

Grains & starches

Made from wheat and contains gluten.

Avoid

Plain meat & fish

Protein

Fresh, uncoated and unmarinated meat and fish are naturally gluten-free.

Safe

Eggs

Protein

Naturally gluten-free.

Safe

Beans & lentils

Protein

Plain pulses are naturally gluten-free; check added sauces.

Safe

Tofu

Protein

Plain tofu is usually safe; marinades often contain ordinary soy sauce.

Check

Sausages

Protein

Recipes vary and may contain rusk; choose products labelled gluten-free.

Check

Seitan

Protein

Made from concentrated wheat gluten.

Avoid

Milk & plain cream

Dairy

Naturally gluten-free without added flavours.

Safe

Plain cheese

Dairy

Cheese without added ingredients is naturally gluten-free.

Safe

Flavoured yoghurt

Dairy

Check cereal toppings, biscuit pieces and flavour additions.

Check

Tamari

Sauces & pantry

Some is wheat-free, some is not. Choose one labelled gluten-free.

Check

Soy sauce

Sauces & pantry

Standard soy sauce usually contains wheat; use gluten-free tamari instead.

Avoid

Stock cubes

Sauces & pantry

Ingredients vary widely; look for a gluten-free label.

Check

Mustard

Sauces & pantry

Check the label, especially flavoured varieties.

Check

Miso

Sauces & pantry

May include barley or wheat; choose a gluten-free-labelled product.

Check

Malt vinegar

Sauces & pantry

Made from barley and not suitable for a gluten-free diet.

Avoid

Distilled vinegar

Sauces & pantry

Plain distilled vinegars are gluten-free; malt vinegar is the exception.

Safe

Baking powder

Baking

Choose a product labelled gluten-free to rule out cross-contact.

Check

Cornflour

Baking

In the UK this usually means corn starch; still check the label.

Check

Chocolate

Treats

Plain chocolate may be suitable, but check additions and may-contain warnings.

Check

Crisps

Treats

Seasonings and factory cross-contact vary; read every packet.

Check

The non-negotiables

Four habits that keep food safe

Gluten-free food can become unsafe through crumbs, shared oil or unclear ingredients. Small routines make a real difference.

01Label

Read it again

In the UK, look for emphasised wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt and khorasan wheat. A gluten-free claim gives the clearest assurance.

02Prep

Start with clean

Wash surfaces, pans and utensils with hot soapy water. Keep gluten-free food away from loose flour and crumbs.

03Cook

Mind the shared kit

Use clean oil or a separate fryer. Toaster bags or a separate toaster help, and clean cutlery keeps crumbs out of spreads.

04Ask

Say “coeliac”

Explain that it is a medical necessity. Ask about separate preparation, fryers, grills, sauces and garnishes before ordering.

A tiny restaurant script

“I have coeliac disease, so my food needs to be gluten-free and protected from cross-contamination. Could I speak to the manager or chef about what is safe?”
Eating out

Three questions worth asking

  1. Is there a separate fryer?

    Shared oil can carry crumbs from battered or breaded foods.

  2. How is it prepared?

    Ask about clean pans, grills, utensils and preparation surfaces.

  3. What is in the sauce?

    Stocks, soy sauce, spice mixes and garnishes are easy places for gluten to hide.

Keep learning

Pair this guide with expert advice.

This site offers practical inspiration, not medical care. For diagnosis, symptoms or nutrition advice, speak with your clinician or registered dietitian.