The number of people who avoid gluten consumption due to personal preferences or compelling reasons is increasing day by day. Consumption needs in this direction also lead to increased research on which foods contain gluten and which do not. Well, do you think semolina, which has an important place in Turkish cuisine, contains gluten?
Celiac disease is a type of autoimmune disease that develops as a result of the body rejecting gluten consumption. Likewise, gluten intolerance and irritable bowel syndrome are among the diseases in which gluten consumption should be limited. So, what exactly is gluten, which can cause many diseases and disrupt almost all systems of the body?
Gluten refers to a type of protein group found in grain products. The inability of gluten, a plant protein, to be digested and absorbed in the intestine in some bodies can cause various health-threatening problems.
While celiac disease currently affects roughly 1.4 percent of the population worldwide, it has been revealed that 0.5-13 percent of individuals may have non-celiac gluten sensitivity. For this reason, determining which foods contain gluten or not is extremely important for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. So, can semolina, which delights everyone with its taste, also contain gluten? You can keep reading to find out!
Is There Gluten in Semolina?
Semolina is consumed fondly in many countries such as Greece, Iran, Pakistan and India, especially in Turkish cuisine. This food, which is mostly used in dessert making, also finds a place in some soups and recipes. Semolina, the size of the grains of which can vary depending on the method of production, has a yellow color in light or dark tones. At this point, the question naturally comes to mind: “What is semolina made of?” The question may arise.
What is semolina made of?
Semolina is obtained from Durum wheat, which is also used in making pasta. It gets its unique color from this grain. The information that semolina is obtained from durum wheat essentially means “Is semolina gluten-containing?” It also serves as an answer to the question. Because wheat, with approximately 80 percent of its protein content consisting of gluten, ranks first among the foods containing gluten. For this reason, although it is hoped otherwise, unfortunately semolina is among the foods containing gluten!
Is There Gluten in Semolina Halva?
“What is made from semolina?” The first answer to the question is, of course, semolina halva, with its flavor spreading from Turkish cuisine to the world. This recipe, which consists of mixing semolina with butter, water, sugar and optionally milk, is often served with clotted cream, ice cream or various nuts. So, does semolina halva contain gluten?
Semolina halva is among the foods containing gluten, as its main ingredient, semolina, contains gluten and other products used in the recipe, such as butter and milk, may contain additional ingredients. For this reason, semolina halva should not be consumed by people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. However, thanks to gluten-free products, which find more and more space on the market shelves every year, celiac patients can also enjoy this taste! Well, how?
Semolina halva, which is not suitable for a gluten-free diet, can also be prepared with gluten-free alternatives. For this purpose, millet semolina is used instead of wheat semolina. So, what is millet semolina? Millet semolina, also known as corn semolina, is obtained by passing the millet through certain stages and then turning it into fine powder. Optionally, a lactose-free herbal milk type can be added to the gluten-free semolina halva recipe, which can be made with millet semolina, water and sugar.
Does Semolina Flour Contain Gluten?
Semolina flour is obtained by crushing wheat grains with steel rollers and then grinding these pieces into smaller grains. “Semolina flour” is obtained by grinding once, and “semolina flour” is produced by grinding twice. “semolina”, the world-known name of semolina, is offered for sale as a different flour with this double milling process in our country. Semolina flour has a smoother structure than semolina flour.
Semolina flour is mostly used in making pasta. Thanks to the use of semolina flour, the shape of the pasta can be preserved without losing its shape during cooking. In addition to pasta, semolina flour is frequently used in making bread, pizza and cookies. Because semolina flour adds a unique crunchiness to recipes. In addition, it can also be used as a binder or thickener in soups.
Semolina flour is among the foods containing gluten because its main ingredient is semolina. While gluten-free semolina flour can be used on a gluten diet, millet semolina can also be preferred as an alternative to semolina flour.
Is There Gluten in Semolina Pudding?
Semolina is one of the leading roles in kitchens, especially when it comes to making desserts. Among the desserts made from semolina, there are many classic dessert types such as sugarpare, revani, semolina dessert with sherbet, kalburabastı, semolina pudding and sultan dessert. One of the most prominent among these is semolina pudding. Semolina pudding, made using semolina, milk, sugar, vanilla and butter, is among the most popular desserts of Turkish cuisine with its taste and presentation style!
But unfortunately, people with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease should stay away from all recipes that use this food, including semolina pudding. Because semolina is obtained from durum wheat, it is among the foods that directly contain gluten. Therefore, all foods in which semolina is converted into various product groups such as flour and powder or added alone to different recipes become gluten-containing. For this reason, people need to either completely eliminate semolina from their lives or turn to alternatives such as gluten-free semolina or millet semolina.
“Is There Gluten?” on our website. By visiting the category, you can find out which foods contain gluten or not. In this way, you can organize your list of gluten-free foods that you can consume and start trying brand new recipes that will crack your palate with their taste. Don’t forget to check it out!
*The explanations on this page do not constitute health advice or warning and are for informational purposes only. You should definitely consult your dietician about the foods you want to add to your daily diet.
MD, Prof. Sea South Duman Approved by
