Don’t Rule Out Your Favorite Chinese Recipes Due to Dietary Restrictions

When I made the move to a gluten-free diet, ordering takeout became quite difficult. Well, I don’t believe in giving up your favorite foods. All that needs to be done is some re-learning. In this case, you have to familiarize yourself with some standard ingredients in the Asian kitchen that will need to be swapped out for gluten-free equivalents.

I wanted to try something new, so I took a plunge and found gluten-free recipes for some of my favorite Chinese favorites: fried rice, char siu pork, and dumplings.

My husband is Chinese-Vietnamese so for Easter this year I decided to try some more non-traditional Easter food. I’ve never made dumplings from scratch, so I knew I needed a more special occasion to try something completely out of my comfort zone. So, let me tell you this–if this amateur home cook can do it, then you can too.

In this review, I’ll break down each recipe and provide some links to the needed gluten-free ingredients.

Gluten-Free Chinese BBQ Char Siu Pork

This recipe for gluten-free Chinese BBQ pork comes from Becky Excell over at Gluten Free Cuppa Tea. The recipe can be found right -> here!

One of my absolute favorite things to order before going gluten-free was steamed bbq pork buns from local Asian bakeries. For our dinner, I knew I absolutely had to make delicious bbq pork, but I never knew how to go about it. This recipe was so easy to follow and the picture-perfect color made me so incredibly happy. If you’re looking for delicious home-cooked Char Siu pork? This is a winner in our books. The meat is so incredibly tender and that signature red color is spot-on. Plus, the leftovers are delicious in fried rice!

There is one ingredient that I had to order off Amazon and that was the black treacle. You can order it separately or get it in the bundle I have linked. This size is perfect as you do not need to use too much of it at all.

Gluten-Free Chinese Dumplings

One of my favorite appetizers to order when we order takeout or go to a restaurant is the dumplings. Now when you’re following a gluten-free diet you can’t order just as easily. So my option was to make some on my own. Now, you can try and find gluten-free dumpling wrappers, but nothing beats your dish when everything is homemade.

This very easy-to-follow recipe is by Tracy of Don’t Mess With Mama. The recipe can be found right -> here!

I tend to avoid anything that requires working with dough because any aspect of “baking” just stresses me out. I love trial and error type recipes, however, I really needed these to work out! I can tell you with confidence that this recipe really does work. The best part about the recipe for the dumpling wrappers is that it doesn’t require a handful of different gluten-free flours. Find your favorite all-purpose gluten-free flour and you’re good to go. The one I recommend is Cup 4 Cup Gluten-Free Flour. Use it just as you would regular all-purpose flour, truly.

Like with all doughs, make sure you keep kneading your dough until it comes together into a nice dough ball. I’ll be honest that I remade it once it didn’t come together as well as I wanted. Honestly, I just wasn’t patient at first. So, if you’re like me and feel that it isn’t working out–keep kneading. Follow the recipe and keep kneading. It will come together :).

Also, the filling in the recipe is excellent. It’s well-seasoned and works super well with gluten-free wrappers. I will highly recommend this. Maybe the next time I make these, the wrappers will be neater, but hey–I’m proud for these being my first ever dumplings!

Would I Make All Of This Again?

Before we cover the final verdict of these recipes, I’d like to add just a small bit about the fried rice. This recipe wasn’t anything out of the ordinary to make it gluten-free. The main ingredient that I would recommend you watch out for is soy sauce. Make sure you are using gluten-free soy sauce and you should be fine with any fried rice recipe that you follow.

Now would I make all of this again? Absolutely! I think the recipes I found allowed me not to stress out. I wasn’t juggling too many things at once, which allowed me to spend most of my time focusing on making the dumplings. The pork is prepped overnight and roasts comfortably. And the fried rice? The only recommendation that I would always provide is to use leftover rice or simply cook some the day before. Trust me, it makes such a difference.

The recipes that I have tested for this dinner absolutely get a full 5/5 from me. I was so incredibly happy with how everything turned out that I wondered when I should get this review up for you all. If you want to surprise your family with a delicious meal that includes a yummy gluten-free appetizer, then consider trying these out. Create a delicious Chinese dinner experience at home without having to order out and stress over potential cross-contamination.

If you decide to give these a try, please feel free to let me know in the comments below! Do you have some suggestions for recreating your takeout favorites, let me know as well! Always looking for recommendations here!

As always, explore and enjoy your food, and don’t forget to stay Grey-mazing!

Check Out My Other Reviews!

• Vietnamese Turmeric & Dill Fish “Cha Ca”
• Gluten-Free General Tso’s Chicken
• Vegan Red Curry Noodle Bowls

If you enjoyed my review, don’t forget to like the post and leave a comment. Want more content, check out my socials!

And if you’d like to support my reviews and future subscription box reviews, consider checking out my Ko-Fi page!

Want to work together? Contact me!