Is Roasted Sweet Potato & Cauliflower Gluten Free?

The Ingredient Breakdown

When analyzing prepared foods, the name often highlights the healthy components while hiding the binding agents. In the case of Roasted Sweet Potato & Cauliflower, the primary issue for gluten-free dieters lies in the pasta shell and the filling binders.

The PASTA is the most obvious red flag. It is made from KAMUT® wheat flour. Kamut is an ancient grain, but it is absolutely a form of wheat and contains gluten. This makes the pasta shell unsafe for anyone with Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. Additionally, the filling contains bread crumbs made from wheat flour. Even if the pasta were swapped, these breadcrumbs would still introduce gluten into the dish.

Furthermore, the cashew bechamel sauce includes wheat flour as a thickener. This is a common practice in creamy sauces to achieve the right viscosity, but it renders the sauce gluten-containing. It is also important to note for those with other allergies that this product contains Tree Nuts (Cashew).

Nutritional Value

While this dish fails the gluten-free test, it is worth looking at the nutritional profile to see if it fits other dietary goals. The combination of sweet potato and cauliflower provides a solid base of vegetables, offering fiber and vitamins. However, the cashew bechamel and bread crumbs contribute to the overall calorie and fat count.

Because of the wheat flour pasta and sauce thickeners, the carbohydrate content is significant. For those monitoring blood sugar, the refined wheat flour may cause a sharper spike compared to whole vegetables. It is a calorie-dense meal, so portion control is key if you are watching your weight, though it does offer a sneaky way to get some extra vegetables into a picky eater's diet.