Gluten Free Appetizers

I love to entertain. When I entertain, my entire menu is gluten free.  It is possible to keep your menu entirely gluten free so that you can enjoy it too and not worry about cross contamination. There are "naturally" gluten free choices that are delicious and your guests will never miss the gluten! And, now there are so many delicious gluten free cracker choices, even gluten free breadsticks, there is no need to risk including any of the wheat brands. This is a sampling of my "go to" gluten free appetizers.

Antipasto Tray

Antipasto  means "before the meal" in Italian. Traditional antipasto includes cured meats, cheeses, olives, & pickled vegetables. The choice is yours. Be sure to incorporate different colors, flavors and textures. Arrange them on a beautiful platter on a bed of lettuce. The platter pictured above includes:

Genoa Salami

Soppressata

Prosciutto wrapped asparagus spears (Spread a thin layer of goat cheese on a piece of prosciutto and wrap around an asparagus spear)

Sharp provolone

Marinated mozzarella balls

Jarred roasted red peppers 

Stuffed Medjool Dates (Make a slit on one side, take out the pit and fill with goat cheese or cream cheese.

Other items you might include are: Marinated artichoke hearts,marinated mushrooms,

Ricotta Salata (  a variation of ricotta that has been pressed, salted and dried), Smoked mozzarella, Olives.

Traditionally this is served with crusty Italian bread, but to avoid the possibility of contamination, I serve gluten free breadsticks and a variety of gluten free crackers.

Polenta Bruchetta

Polenta is made with cornmeal and is gluten free. I use it as a base for Bruschetta intead of Italian bread. Your guests will love it and won't miss the bread.Slice a polenta roll into 1/2 inch slices. Heat on a grill pan with a little olive oil. Serve topped with store bought bruchetta topping or make your own with tomatoes, garlic,  extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, chopped basil, salt and pepper to taste.



Cream Cheese with Pepper Jelly

My favorite! Simple, simple, simple! Tasty, tasty, tasty! 

Spread pepper jelly (my favorites are Stonewall Kitchen Apple Jalapeño and Trader Joe's Pepper Jelly) on top of a package of cream cheese. Serve with gluten free crackers to dip.

Guacomole and Salsa with Tortilla Chips
Do Not serve your guests store bought guacomole! Homemade Guacomole is very simple to make and so much better. If you make it once, you'll never buy it again.  Just be careful with your Tortilla chips, some sneak in the gluten. Always check the label.

Homemade Guacomole
3 ripe avocados
1/2 tomato, chopped into cubes
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
1/2 jalapeno, finely chopped
Handful of chopped fresh cilantro
Juice of 1 lime
Salt/pepper to taste
Mash avocados with fork, and the rest of the ingredinets and stir together.  (Make this the same day you are going to serve it, it tends to turn brown the next day)



No plastic for wine, please!

Surprise, these are plastic!
Don't they look real?

Enjoy!