Gluten Free Food Reviews

( I can’t believe this is my 200th post!)

Yum! Cali did it again- another tasty seasoning mix that is free from gluten! I am always wary of the seasoning packets at the grocery store that are supposed to be gluten free. I worry that the spices may not be pure or the formulation may have changed to contain new gluten ingredients. One thing I really like about the Cali seasoning mixes is that I can cook conveniently and eat with peace of mind that they won’t make me sick.

I used this versatile one ounce Spicy fiesta gluten free seasoning mix as a yummy variation on an old favorite- crunchy beef gluten free tacos.

I added the seasoning mix to one pound of cooked ground beef for a quick and easy Tex Mex dish. I found this mix to contain just the right amount of heat - a bit of a kick without burning your mouth. I loved the layered flavors of the chili pepper, garlic, leek and black pepper, supported by a touch of carrot, green pepper, cumin, cayenne and sea salt.

The packaging also provides a recipe for vegetarian tacos and use for this seasoning on veggies, as a marinade, chip and veggie dip, with pasta and beans, and on burgers. Let your imagination go wild- you can use this mix on just about anything!

PROS: great, high quality flavor, versatile, individual packets for ease of use

CONS: if you like really spicy foods, this may not be for you

Rating: 5 stars

Want to try this gluten free spice mix for yourself?

Click the link below to see packaging and purchase:

Cali Spicy Fiesta Seasoning from glutenfree.com

Ingredients: chilli pepper, garlic, onion, black pepper, celery, carrot, leek, green pepper, cumin, sea salt, spices, tapioca starch, brown rice flour, fructose, cayenne, citric acid

To check out more Cali product reviews, click HERE

Want to try making homemade taco seasoning? Click below for some recipes to get you started:

Stephen’s Recipes

All Easy Cookin’

Celiac.com

Pennythoughts

What is your favorite gluten free Tex Mex or Mexican food dish?

Ahh, another quality Cali seasoning for your cooking enjoyment!

Cali Fine Foods Herb Medley Gourmet Seasoning Mix ( Mild spice) boasts versatility and claims to be ideal for dips, marinades, meats, vegetables, pasta and rice. There are even four recipes as well as servings suggestions on the back of the packaging. Very handy! I decided to use this .9 ounce mix to make oven baked seasoned potatoes.

This seasoning mix is, indeed, very mild. The aroma of the spices is pure and strong and seems to be high quality. The flavor reminded me of their Garlic Gusto seasoning, minus the strong garlic and black pepper. The flavor in this gluten free seasoning is a nice combination of onion and garlic subtly complimented by carrot, parsley and leek. Don’t be shy with this seasoning- because the flavor is so mild, I preferred to use the whole packet with my potatoes to get the full flavor of the gluten free spice blend.

Personally, I was not disappointed with this seasoning mix and felt this flavor blend best complimened vegetables and chicken. It is great for saving time in the kitchen when you want a home cooked meal with minimal fuss.

PROS: high quality spices and seasonings, nice blend to have on hand to save time in the kitchen

CONS: almost too mild, use the entire packet for full flavor

Rating: 4 stars

Click HERE to purchase this mix from glutenfree.com

Ingredients: Parsley, onion, garlic, carrot, leek, green pepper, sea salt, tapioca starch, brown rice flour, celery, fructose, black pepper, spices, citric acid.

More Cali Reviews:

Cali Foods Garlic Gusto Gourmet Seasoning Mix

Cali Foods Swet & Spicy BBQ Seasoning Mix

Mmmm, grilled gluten free BBQ chicken. Quick, easy and super yummy!

Cali Fine Foods sent me this .9 ounce gluten free BBQ mix seasoning packet to try. I was quite intrigued by this dry seasoning packet. When I think of barbecue, instead of a dry rub of spices, a saucy slathering on my meat of choice comes to mind compliments of the years I lived in Houston. But hey, I thought it would be interesting to give it a try.

I dutifully followed the directions on the back of the package. I rubbed my chicken breast with the seasonings, let it marinate in my fridge for 40 minutes, and then grilled it on my George Foreman grill. Yes, I know this is cheating a bit since I dind’t use my “real” outdoor grill. But, there is still snow on the ground in may part of Pennsylvania. Outdoor grilling was out of the question. My chicken grilled nicely and looked really good.

With this seasoning mix, I should have used more on my chicken. I only used a few teaspoons since it is categorized as “spicy hot” on the packaging and I have a sensitive palate. However, I was surprised that the flavor and heat tasted much milder than I anticipated, I suspect if I really coated the chicken the spiciness would have been kicked up a notch or two.

The flavor of this gluten free BBQ seasoning packet is quite pleasant. The chili pepper, garlic, and black pepper take center stage, complimented by a dash of cayenne. I believe the carrot, cinnamon and fructose should have added a sweet kick to the seasoning ( according to the name of the product), but I did not taste much sweetness. I think this is indicative of a delicately balanced blend of ingredients. Overall, this is a tasty blend of spices for a quick meal idea that could kick up flavor on a variety of meats or seafood.

PROS: easy to use, balanced blend of seasonings, enough seasoning for 2 lbs of chicken

CONS: be careful to fully coat the chicken for maximum flavor, plan for time to marinate

Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Think you’d like to try this gluten free BBQ seasoning mix? Click the link below:

Cali Sweet & Spicy BBQ Mix from gluten free.com

Ingredients: Chili pepper, garlic, onion, black pepper, spices, celery, carrot, leek, green pepper, cumin, sea salt, fructose, tapioca starch, cayenne, brown rice flour, citric acid, cinnamon.

**Cali seasonings may also be purchased at califinefoods.com and glutenfreetradingcompany.com as well

Check out my other Cali reviews:

Cali Garlic Gusto Seasoning Mix

Cali Herb Medley Gourmet Seasoning Mix

Wow. These gluten free seasonings sure pack a punch! Cali Fine Foods sent me this one ounce Garlic Gusto Gourmet Seasoning packet to try out. When I cut open the packet I was shocked at how strong and pure the seasonings smelled. You can tell it is high quality, and a little goes a long way. The packaging boasts that this gluten free seasoning may be used for dips, marinades, meats, vegetables, pasta, rice, and more. Eight serving suggestions are even printed on the back of the envelope. No doubt this seasoning is versatile.

I decided to use the Chicken Rice Soup recipe with the Garlic Gusto seasoning packet since it was a cold, dreary day. Soup and a hot loaf of gluten free french bread sounded really good for dinner.

The recipe was a breeze to make, and I only used half of the seasoning packet. Because the flavor was so overpowering, I think even using 25% of the seasoning packet would have been more appropriate for a balanced and flavorful. soup. I immediately noticed the strong garlic and black pepper flavor and it complimented the chicken and rice nicely. The more I tasted, I noticed subtle layers of flavors of “seasonings” that helped make my soup very tasty. Because the seasoning packet contains brown rice flour and tapioca starch, it thickened my chicken broth to provide a thick and hearty soup. Overall, this is a flavorful product that would compliment a variety of gluten free meals.

PROS: high quality spices, a little goes a long way, cheerful packaging

CONS: very strong aroma and flavor, be careful not to over season

Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Where can I buy Cali Foods Garlic Gusto Seasonings?

Click HERE to purchase this gluten free seasoning product from glutenfree.com

Ingredients: Organic when available: garlic, opinion, celery, carrot, leek, green pepper, parsley, spices, sea salt, tapioca stratch, brown rice flour, black pepper, fructose, citric acid

*Cali seasoning mixes may also be pruchased at califinefoods.com and glutenfreetradingcompany.com

Check out my other Cali reviews:

Cali Sweet & Spicy BBQ Seasoning MixÂ

Cali Herb Medley Gourmet Seasoning MixÂ