I recently got hold of a range of “free from” products by Orgran. The three products I sampled – Buckwheat Pancake Mix, Buckwheat Pasta Spirals and Spaghetti in Tomato Sauce – were gluten free, wheat free, dairy free, egg free, yeast free, soy free and vegan … and still right flavourful too. Nice thing is, all those missing ingredients hadn’t been replaced with a lot of unpronounceable crap created in a lab. Instead the products provided me with a few back-to-basics meals that left me satiated without feeling bogged down.
Orgran’s Spaghetti in Tomato Sauce, the only gluten free canned spaghetti on the market, is made from “a superior blend of rice and protein rich yellow split peas with a tasty, appetizing tomato sauce”. Ready to eat in minutes, a 220g can is priced at £1.29 and available from Sainsbury’s and Morrisons, Amazon and local independent health food stores. I liked it and found it to be a lot better than comparable products I’ve tasted.
I liked the Buckwheat Pasta Spirals too. The only pasta widely available in the UK that is made from buckwheat, it was just as good as regular wheat pasta but didn’t leave me bloated and in need of a nap after my meal. I thought the texture and taste were decent. I should point out that the pasta is somewhat grey in colour and that such a look might be a bit off putting for some people or come as a surprise if you’re serving it to guests – good conversation starter though.
I especially liked the brand’s Buckwheat Pancake Mix and can easily imagine myself seeking it out again. If you’re not familiar with buckwheat flour, it has an earthy robust flavour. As with the Pasta Spirals, the plate o’ pancakes I made for myself didn’t slow me down. Easy to make with minimal mess, the meal filled me up and gave me an almost immediate burst of energy that lasted a good while.
Both the spirals (£2.95) and the pancake mix (£2.09) are available from Ocado, Amazon and local independent health food stores.
Find out more about Orgran’s full range of products at orgran.com.
