How to Replace Pasta Water When Cooking Gluten-Free Pasta

Question

Hello,
I love the pasta recipes on Milk Street, and how they advise using the starchy  water in making a sauce that thickens and clings well to the pasta. My curiosity is in what gluten free pasta would have this same effect as traditional pasta. There are so many options out there, such as quinoa, lentil, and chickpea pasta, and I want to know which one works best for these type of recipes.
-Kim

Lynn Clark · Accepted Answer

Hi Kim - Depending on what your gluten-free pasta is made from (rice, corn, chickpea, buckwheat, etc.), the starch content could vary. There is also the issue of using the pasta water from rice noodles due to the reported levels of arsenic in rice. We found a great alternative that will work with all gluten-free pastas (and whole-wheat pasta which doesn't produce enough starch either). Hope that helps! Best, Lynn C.

How to Replace Pasta Water When Cooking Gluten-Free Pasta

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