| Ok. I never thought that the day would come | | | | 6 anchovy fillets in olive oil (drained and |
| when I would sing the praises of a rice | | | | finely chopped) |
| noodle. Let alone consider it a valid, | | | | |
| gluten-free alternative to pasta. But I've | | | | 4 tbs tomato paste/puree |
| come to understand and love the little | | | | |
| blighters.In olden times (that is until about | | | | 125ml/ 4 fl oz/ 1/2 cup dry white wine (good |
| 4 months ago) I thought I couldn't live | | | | enough to drink) |
| without pasta; then I tried - and discovered | | | | |
| how much better I felt. My body certainly is | | | | 250g/ 8 oz cherry, or mini plum tomatoes cut |
| a happier creature on rice noodles.But pasta | | | | into quarters |
| is a fantastic vehicle for carrying flavours, | | | | |
| and rice noodles, truth to tell, are not. | | | | salt and freshly ground black pepper to |
| Still rice noodles have the edge in that you | | | | taste |
| can get them from packet to table, sauced, | | | | |
| within about 15 minutes flat.There's no need | | | | 200g/ 7 oz can tuna in olive oil (drained) |
| to bring huge vats of water to the boil, salt | | | | |
| humungously and then drain off a veritable | | | | 3-4 tbs diced black olives (stones removed) |
| sea of potentially lethal, scalding water. | | | | Method Place the rice noodles in a bowl and, |
| (Never a good idea with small children and | | | | as directed above, pour approximately 2 |
| furry companions in the kitchen.) All you | | | | litres of boiling water over. (If it's |
| have to do is boil a kettle full of water, | | | | slightly less or slightly more, it really |
| throw the noodles into a bowl, pour the | | | | doesn't matter, provided the noodles are |
| contents of the kettle over and leave to sit | | | | fully covered. Give them a quick stir around |
| for a few minutes while you prepare the | | | | with a wooden spoon, so you don't get the odd |
| sauce.(Oops! That's my English heritage | | | | gummy clump that has not absorbed the water |
| revealed. If you live without the joy of a | | | | evenly.)Now ignore the noodles for a few |
| kettle for boiling the water for your daily | | | | minutes while you deal with the other |
| 'fix' of tea, then you'll have to bring a | | | | ingredients. Place the garlic and chilli |
| couple of litres of water to the boil as you | | | | flakes with the olive oil in a medium-large |
| normally do and then proceed as above.)Now | | | | frying pan over medium-high heat. ( Adjust |
| the sauce is, of course, the interesting | | | | the heat, as necessary, to prevent |
| part. The trick is to build up layers of | | | | burning.)As soon as the mixture becomes |
| flavour and then cook the noodles in the | | | | fragrant and the garlic starts to turn |
| sauce for a couple of minutes, so that the | | | | golden, add the anchovies and stir well.Now |
| noodles really absorb the sauce. But this | | | | add the tomato paste/puree and stir |
| takes chutzpah (aka barefaced cheek) and | | | | furiously, to dissolve it.Add the wine and |
| flies in the face of received wisdom about | | | | leave to bubble away for a couple of minutes |
| what you do, when and how.So be it, I say. | | | | while you drain the noodles and hack them |
| The end result is delicious. It's filling, | | | | into smaller lengths with a pair of kitchen |
| but light enough on the digestion for a picky | | | | scissors. (Sure, you're not meant to do this |
| maiden aunt.Leftovers, if you have any, are | | | | for Oriental dishes; it's meant to bring bad |
| great at room temperature. And it showcases | | | | luck, but it makes eating them easier, andit |
| lots of great Italian flavours in a slightly | | | | will protect your shirt.) |
| unconventional way.Oh, and if you ever need | | | | |
| to, you could probably keep a self-respecting | | | | Add the sliced tomatoes, turn the heat up to |
| vampire away with this one. But, hey, | | | | high and give them a minute to soften. |
| everyone's got to live and garlic's health | | | | Season well with salt and freshly ground |
| giving properties are not to be sneered | | | | black pepper. Bearing in mind that rice |
| at.("Gloriously Gluten Free", the cookbook, | | | | noodles are naturally flavour vampires, this |
| boasts a number of more conventional | | | | is no time to go light on the salt.Break the |
| conventional recipes for corn pasta and | | | | tuna into flakes as you add it to the pan and |
| polenta.) Rice noodles with tomatoes and tuna | | | | stir. Quickly add the noodles and toss for a |
| Makes 6 appetizer portions, 3-4 main course | | | | minute or two until all the noodles are well |
| servings1 x 250 g/ 8 oz packet medium rice | | | | coated.Finally add the chopped olives, stir |
| noodles | | | | again, transfer to a serving dish and serve |
| | | | hot, warm or at room temperature.Buon |
| 4 tbs extra virgin olive oil | | | | appetito.(C) 2005 Annie KaszinaAnnie Kaszina, |
| | | | Coach, writer and 'foodie'is not a Celiac, |
| 3 or 4 plump garlic cloves (crushed, peeled, | | | | but has foresworn wheat in the interest of |
| green germ removed and | | | | 'caring for a delicate digestion'. She |
| | | | works with Celiac Gina Gardiner to provide |
| minced ) | | | | great information and recipes to restore the |
| | | | confidence and zest for eating of Celiacs who |
| 1 good pinch, or as much as 1/4 tsp, dried | | | | have had their easy enjoyment of food taken |
| chilli flakes | | | | away from them by their disease. |
| | | | |