One of the things I miss most about my life before diagnosis was pasta. It was definitely the food I ate most often and luckily, over the years, more and more gluten-free options have become available. While there used to be very limited varieties – now you can find gluten-free variants of almost any pasta! My favorite pasta has always been conchiglie, but the large pasta shells are even better, and that’s what we’re going to be looking at today—but first, my favorite Large Pasta Shells with Spinach and Cheese recipe.
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Ingredients In Large Pasta Shells
Pasta requires very few ingredients at all. Traditional dried pasta is made from just two ingredients: durum wheat semolina and water. Wheat contains gluten, so regular large pasta shells are not gluten-free. However, there are plenty of gluten-free options (see list after the recipe).
Gluten-Free Stuffed Pasta Shells
Large gluten-free pasta shells are ideal for filling with cheese, vegetables, and your favorite sauce.
If you’d like to make stuffed shells at home, Judy Purcell of Savoring Today shares a Gluten-Free Cheese and Spinach Stuffed Pasta Shells Recipe.
Choose large shells specifically labeled gluten-free and follow the package’s cooking instructions, as gluten-free pasta can cook differently from traditional wheat pasta.
Gluten Free Large Pasta Shells Brands
Let’s take a look at some of the best gluten-free conchiglioni that are currently on offer to those following a gluten-free diet.
Farabella
Farabella is an Italian gluten-free pasta brand. It’s more common in UK stores, so in the US you may need to look for it online. Not only is this pasta gluten-free, but its only ingredients are corn and rice, so it’s also wheat-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and vegan.
It’s made in Italy and comes in two different sized packets: 250g and 500g. The only ingredients in this pasta are:
- Corn flour
- Rice flour
- Corn starch
Tinkyada
If you’re in the US and looking for a gluten-free pasta brand – Tinkyada is the brand to choose! They have a huge selection of gluten-free products, including jumbo shells. Their pasta is certified gluten-free, certified vegan, COR kosher, and Non-GMO Project Verified. For stuffing, look for Tinkyada Grand Shells, which come in an 8 oz bag.
The only ingredient in this pasta is brown rice. What’s great about this brand is that it doesn’t go mushy – no one likes mushy pasta!
Where To Buy Gluten Free Large Pasta Shells
You may be able to find gluten-free large pasta shells in your local grocery stores, such as Walmart. If not, try online stores like Amazon, or order directly from the brand. Prices and shipping offers vary, so it’s worth comparing.
Conclusion
I hope this post has helped with where to buy gluten-free large pasta shells and the best brands to choose from. While there aren’t too many options available at the moment, hopefully in the future – that will change. Gluten-free is becoming an increasingly popular dietary lifestyle to follow, so I’m optimistic for plenty more jumbo shells in the future!
FAQs
Does Anyone Make Gluten-Free Pasta Shells?
Of course! Nowadays, you can find gluten free varieties of almost anything. As large pasta shells aren't quite as common as varieties like macaroni or penne, it's slightly more difficult to source - but there's a few options available online.
What Are Large Pasta Shells Called?
Most people just call them large pasta shells - but their name is in fact, conchiglioni. They're given this name because their shell-like shape make them look like conch shells. There's two more varieties: conchiglie, which is the standard sized pasta shells and conchigliette, which are tiny pasta shells. Shell pasta is great as when you add sauce, it fills every shell and leaves them bursting with flavor.
Club Gluten Free shares practical, well-researched guides to gluten-free ingredients, products, restaurants and recipes. We check manufacturer statements and celiac organization guidance, and update our guides when products change.