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Does kataifi contain gluten?

The short and simple answer is yes, traditional kataifi pastry contains gluten.

Kataifi, also known as kadaif or konafa in some regions, is a staple of Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern baking. Its main ingredient is wheat flour, which is a cereal that, by definition, contains gluten. The production process involves creating a liquid dough (a sort of batter or slurry) using wheat flour and water, which is poured in thin streams onto a hot plate or a rotating drum. Upon contact with the hot surface, the liquid instantly solidifies into those characteristic strands of pastry, which are then used fresh or frozen.

Implications for gluten-free diets

As wheat flour is the main ingredient, standard kataifi pastry is not suitable for people with coeliac disease or non-coeliac gluten sensitivity. Gluten is a protein that provides the necessary elasticity to the dough during cooking and contributes to the final crispy, golden texture of baked or fried kataifi. Therefore, any product labelled simply as ‘kataifi pastry’ or ‘kadaif’ should be considered to contain gluten.

kataifi

Gluten-free alternatives

There has been a rise in demand for gluten-free products. As a result, gluten-free kataifi pastry alternatives have emerged both on the market and for home use. There are an increasing number of options available for easily preparing meals at home using gluten-free flours and starches. For example, rice flour, cornflour or potato starch.

When buying gluten-free kataifi pastry, it is essential to check the label carefully. It must clearly state “Gluten-Free” and ensure that the product has been manufactured in facilities that prevent cross-contamination with wheat or other cereals. Furthermore, some manufacturers include official certification seals.

Finally, it is important to note that there are different formats of kataifi pastry tailored to the needs of professionals and individual customers. At Codina, for example, several options are available:

A 500g chilled pack from JR, ideal for immediate use, and various frozen formats from the Kanaki brand, available in 450g packs, 5kg bags and also toasted versions in 5.5kg packs. This variety caters for everything from one-off preparations to larger-scale production, offering versatile solutions for the professional sector and the catering industry.