Discover Gluten-Free Tortillas for Every Palate

Tortillas are one of the most versatile tools in our gluten-free tool box. They make fantastic substitutes for almost any gluten-free baked product.

You can wrap them around a hot dog instead of using a bun, or you can use them instead of gluten-free bread to make a deli sandwich or a quick PB&J. And for those of you who enjoy Mexican cuisine, tortillas are an absolute necessity.

Well, since being able to find good gluten-free tortillas is such an important aspect of the gluten-free diet, we did some research for you. Here are some gluten-free tortillas available on the market today…

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You may find these at your local health food store, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, or via mail order. In some cases you may even find them in the deli section (near other wraps) or frozen section of your chain grocery store.

• La Tortilla Factory Smart & Delicious Gluten-Free Teff Softwraps: Made in part from nutrient-rich ancient grain teff, these tortillas are edible without heating them up, though they’re much tastier and more pliable when they’ve been microwaved or heated on a griddle or pan. They contain a reasonable amount of fiber and are better purchased fresh rather than frozen.

• Toufayan Gluten-Free Wraps: This company just rolled out its gluten-free wrap, and it tastes by far the most similar to a typical white wheat flour tortilla! We found these at a ShopRite in the Northeast and hope we’ll be seeing these more widely since their taste and texture just can’t be beat.

• Rudi’s Gluten-Free Tortillas: This is the only brand we found that has different colors and flavors of tortilla. They have three flavors: plain, spinach, and fiesta tortillas. Each contains 5g of fiber per serving, which blows all the other brands out of the water nutritionally. Most people report these to be some of the more pliable gluten-free tortillas out there.

• French Meadows Gluten-Free Tortillas: These are less nutritious and more processed than some of the other options, but look and taste more like white flour tortillas. French Meadows suggests that the tortillas be microwaved for 15-20 seconds before consuming.

• Mission Corn Tortillas: These are made with entirely gluten-free ingredients in a plant that also processes wheat tortillas. Many other brands are similarly gluten-free but may have some risk for cross-contamination. These tortillas are small in size and more ideal for tacos or fajitas than for burritos.

• Maria & Ricardo’s Gluten-Free Tortillas: These gluten-free tortillas are made to resemble white flour tortillas and are found in the frozen section and have a bit of a tendency to break. They must be warmed before serving. They have limited availability but can be purchased in some Whole Foods.

As with gluten-free bread, many gluten-free tortillas and wraps are somewhat tough and crumbly in texture until heated up. We’ve found the most effective methods of heating most of these tortillas are either microwaving for 15-20 seconds or warming on a non-stick pan or griddle. If you only have a pan or griddle that’s not non-stick, first spray it with an extremely light layer of oil, especially if you’re heating a frozen tortilla.

Here are a few ways we suggest using your gluten-free tortillas:

• Make a burrito with stewed chicken, avocado and rice.

• Layer jack cheese in between two tortillas with a handful of arugula and melt in a pan or on a griddle to make a quesadilla.

• Serve a warm stack of tortillas with beef or vegetable fajitas.

• Cut into triangles, dust with a little oil and some chili powder, and bake until you have crisp chips to serve with sour cream, guacamole, or dip.

What’s your favorite use for a gluten-free tortilla?