Is gnocchi gluten-free?

If gnocchi are made based on the classic recipe using potatoes, wheat flour and eggs, then sadly the answer to this question is NO, gnocchi are not gluten-free. But don’t worry, we give you a homemade gluten-free gnocchi recipe as well as a list of gluten-free brands you can choose from. So, read on.

Usual ingredients of gnocchi

Gnocchi are Italian potato dumplings that are cooked and served like pasta. The main ingredients of a classic recipe are potato, wheat flour, and eggs.

There are also other variations, but sadly all classic recipes are using wheat flour in one form or another.

• cavatelli (made with durum wheat semolina flour),
• gnudi (made with wheat flour and ricotta),
• malfatti (made with wheat flour, ricotta and spinach),
• malloreddus (aka Sardinian gnocchi with durum wheat semolina flour and saffron),
• strangolapreti (made with breadcrumbs and spinach).

Is gnocchi gluten-free then?

The short answer to this question is sadly NO(!) If you order a gnocchi dish in a restaurant, you should always assume that they make gnocchi based on the classic recipe. Which means they used wheat flour.

But don’t worry, here comes the good news. We will give you an easy recipe to make gluten-free gnocchi at home as well as a list of gluten-free gnocchi brands to choose from.

Is gnocchi vegan?

There is a real chance that if you comes across gnocchi on a restaurant menu, they will be following the classic recipe of potatoes, wheat flour and eggs. So make sure to ask before ordering. On the positive note, it seems that the gluten-free gnocchi brands I found are (accidentally or not) all vegan.

Making gluten-free gnocchi at home

Yes, you can absolutely make gluten-free gnocchi at home. It is not that hard as you would imagine. We have a delicious, homemade Sweet Potato Gnocchi recipe that is actually vegan and gluten-free as well. You can use either sweet potato or potatoes of course. (See below picture). And we also have you 20 Delicious Sauces for Gnocchi that will knock your socks off.

Where can you buy gluten-free gnocchi?

Here is a list of gnocchi brands we found that are explicitly states gluten-free on the packaging and it seems they are all (accidentally or not) vegan as well (Links with * are pointing to Amazon.)

1. Caesar’s (in Wal-Mart) – Water, potato flakes, rice flour, corn flour, corn starch, tapioca starch, potato starch, xanthan gum, olive oil
2. CoraBella* – Rice flour (60%), water, potato starch, salt, lactic acid, sorbic acid, potassium sorbate (preservative)
3. Cucina & Amore* – Rehydrated potatoes 80% (water, potato flakes (emulsifiers: mono and diglycerides of fatty acids, antioxidant: sodium metabisulphite, natural flavourings)), corn flower, potato starch, corn starch, rice flour, salt, acidity regulator: lactic acid, preservative: sorbic acid, natural flavouring. 
4. De Cecco – Potato puree 75%, (fresh potatoes 27% of total, water, potato starch 13.3% of total, potato flakes 8% of total, corn flour, corn starch, rice flour, salt, acidity regulator: lactic acid, preservative: potassium sorbate
5. Dellalo* – Rehydrated potatoes 85% (water, potato flakes), rice flour, potato starch, salt, lactic acid, sorbic acid
6. Difatti* – Rehydrated potato [water, potato flakes] (70%), potato starch, corn flour (12%), corn starch, salt, rice flour (3%), acidity regulator: lactic acid, preservative: sorbic acid, turmeric
7. Farabella (in Sainsbury’s UK) – Rehydrated potato flakes (85%), rice flour (11%), potato starch, salt, acidity regulator: lactic acid, preservative: sorbic acid
8. Le Veneziane* – Rehydrated potatoes 70% (water, potato flakes, emulsifier: mono and di-glycerides of fatty acids, antioxidant: sodium metabisulphite, flavourings), maize flour, potato starch, rice flour, acidity regulator: lactic acid, preservative: sorbic acid, flavouring
9. Nocca* – Mashed potatoes (water, potato flakes, [potatoes, emulsifier: mono and di-glycerides of fatty acids, natural flavours]), rice flour, potato starch, lactic acid, potassium sorbate (preservative)
10. Nuovo Pasta* – Water, dehydrated potatoes, canola oil, salt
11. Racconto – Rehydrated potato flakes (70%), corn flour, potato starch, rice flour, salt, lactic acid, sorbic acid, flavor.
12. Rosa* – Potato puree 70%, (water, dehydrated potato flakes 14% (potatoes, emulsifier: mono and diglycerides of fatty acids, antioxidants: sodium metabisulphite, natural flavorings)), corn flour, corn starch, rice flour, salt, acidity regulator: lactic acid, preservative: sorbic acid, flavor.
13. San Remo (in Australia) –  Potato puree (98%) (water, potato flakes, potato starch), salt, natural flavouring, rice flour, food acid (270), preservative (200)
14. Schar (in Europe) – Potatoes 68%, water, potato starch, corn flour, potato flakes (flaked dehydrated potatoes, emulsifiers: mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids), corn starch, vegetable fibre, rice flour, salt
15. Simply Wize* – Rehydrated potatoes (70%) (water, potato flakes, emulsifiers: mono and diglycerides of fatty acids, antioxidant: sodium metabisulfite, flavours), corn flour, potato starch, rice flour, salt, acidity regulator: lactic acid, preservative: sorbic acid, flavor.
16. Vita Sana (in Canada) – Mashed potatoes, (water, potato flakes (potatoes, mono diglycerides, natural flavourings)) corn flour, potato starch, corn starch, rice flour, salt, lactic acid, sorbic acid, flavour
17. Whole Foods Cauliflower Gnocchi* – Cauliflower puree (cauliflower, salt), potato flakes, cornstarch, lactic acid, natural flavor, rice flour

Need to pay attention to these

• Alessi* – Apparently the front of the packaging clearly states gluten-free, but the ingredients list contains wheat flour. Always be cautious and read the full info on the packaging before buying anything.
• Capello’s* – It is gluten-free and grain-free, but not vegan with ingredients like organic potato, almond flour, cage-free eggs, tapioca flour, sea salt