Are you craving something strong and spicy? Horseradish is a zingy vegetable that you can find in any supermarket near you. It is spicy on its own, and even if you consume it with vinegar, it is still hot! But is horseradish gluten free? And what about the condiments and sauces made out of it?
Horseradish is gluten free. The condiments and sauces made out of it are gluten free as well. But when you go to the market to buy these sauces, you need to be extra cautious. After all, cross-contamination is always an issue with such ready-made products. Hence, it is necessary to check the labels.
Today, we will find out how safe horseradish is for people with celiac. If you are gluten-intolerant or on a gluten free diet, keep reading ahead!
Table of Contents
Is Horseradish Gluten Free?
When you talk about grated horseradish with vinegar, it is totally gluten free. The key ingredients are horseradish, vinegar, and salt. Gluten is the protein that you find in barley, wheat, rye, etc. None of the ingredients used in grated horseradish contain gluten.
But some readymade sauces might just have it. Manufacturers would often add gluten to improve the product’s texture and viscosity. Hence, you can’t be 100% sure if you don’t see a label. Even slight traces of gluten can cause severe reactions in celiacs.
If you are a celiac or on a gluten free diet, it is better to check the labels before you buy horseradish from the stores. The traditional ones often contain varied ingredients, including dairy. So, if you are allergic, you might want to rethink before consuming it.
Things to Consider While Starting a Gluten Free Diet?
These days, many people want to skip gluten from their diet. The reason can be medical or non-medical. Those who are gluten-sensitive are celiacs. In grains like barley, wheat, and rye, gluten is present in rich amounts. In other grains and products, cross-contamination can lead to gluten addition.
There are some simple ways to check whether a food item is gluten free or not. Firstly, you can check the labels on the article before buying it. Also, go through the ingredients list. If you want to dine out, it’s best to contact the restaurant and ask them the same.
Related Post:- Is Corned Beef Gluten Free?
What Is Horseradish?
Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) belongs to the Brassicaceae family. It is a perennial plant native to Western Asia and South-eastern Europe. It has been primarily used as a condiment and spice too. People have been cultivating this vegetable for ages. You can also find its reference in Cato’s treatises on agriculture.
You can find its reference in Greek mythology as well. In the middle ages, horseradish was, in fact, used for medicinal purposes. When the Europeans colonized North America, they introduced horseradish there.
How to Eat Horseradish?
Most people consume horseradish in the form of sauces and condiments. First, you can peel the vegetable and grate it. Now immediately add vinegar to it.
The taste of vinegar helps in balancing the spiciness of horseradish. You can consume horseradish sauce with many dishes. This list can be pretty long- deviled eggs, sushi, steak sandwiches, and other beef recipes. You can also add creamed horseradish to hummus and soups or eat it with salmon. It can also be used in bloody mary to enhance the taste.
People often serve horseradish sauce instead of wasabi. Both have a similar taste profile.
Gluten and Horseradish
Let’s now talk about the central factors in this article- gluten and horseradish. Before diving more profoundly, it is necessary to consider the following. There are sauces and prepared versions of horseradish.
Cross-contamination can be a significant issue. While storage, horseradish might come in contact with gluten. Thus, if you’re buying it raw, prefer cleaning and peeling it well before consumption.
Another controversy is about the usage of vinegar. Regular vinegar is gluten free. Now distilled vinegar can be tricky. Some bottles of distilled vinegar contain ingredients rich in gluten. Hence, you should be 100% safe and choose the ones without gluten-rich ingredients. So, check the ingredient list before buying.
Is Horseradish Good for You?
You already know that horseradish can be consumed even if you are gluten-sensitive. But you must be wondering if this root vegetable has actual health benefits or not. How much horseradish condiment can you consume?
First, we will check the nutrient content in ready-made horseradish sauce and freshly grounded one.
Readymade horseradish sauce (1 tsp):
- Calories: 2
- Sodium: 16 milligrams
- Carbohydrates: 1 gram
It does not contain fats, fiber, or sugar.
Freshly grounded horseradish (1 cup):
- Calories: 150
- Fat: 2 grams
- Sugars: 9 grams
- Protein: 6 grams
- Carbohydrates: 34 grams
- Fiber: 14 grams
- Sodium: 25 milligrams
Having this condiment daily in a limited amount can help with congestion. It also reduces inflammation. So, if you are okay with the heat, you should consider including horseradish in your diet. It is also rich in antioxidants.
New York Sinus Center has also claimed that horseradish helps with sinusitis too. It is because of high levels of sulfur in it. It also keeps your respiratory system healthy when you consume it in moderate amounts daily. It is often used as a diuretic (helpful for people with kidney stones).
Potential Risks of Horseradish:
Undoubtedly, horseradish has quite a few health benefits. But it would help if you do not consume it in larger quantities. It can cause an upset stomach and diarrhea. When applied to the skin, one might get allergies too.
It is also not very safe to consume children under the age of 4. It might harm their digestive tract. Since horseradish is a diuretic, it can increase urine flow, which can cause issues in people. Horseradish is high in sodium like most processed foods. Excessive sodium can lead to heart ailments. It can also lead to an abnormal increase in blood pressure.
Horseradish condiments are readily available in most grocery stores. The list includes Trader Joe’s, Meijer, and Publix. You can spot it along the condiments aisle. It is also available online. The gluten free ones should be available too. You can check for the gluten free label to spot the same.
Gluten Free Horseradish Condiments:
Whenever you buy anything readymade, especially a food item, is it better to check the label for gluten content. If you are allergic to gluten, even the slightest amount of it can cause massive health damage. Finding the best gluten free horseradish brands is a job better said than done.
While you can find plenty of gluten free horseradish condiments in the market, here are some of the most readily available ones:
- Annie’s Horseradish mustard
- Inglehoffer Cream Style Horseradish
- Judee’s Horseradish Powder
- Horseradish & Celery Bloody Mary Mix by Tabanero
- HungBloodies Horseradish Craft Bloody Mary Mix
- Beaver Deli Horseradish Sauce, and a lot more.
Conclusion:
Horseradish is a spicy condiment that you can pair with many dishes. It also has nutritional benefits, leading to better health conditions. Thus, you can include it in your daily diet, but in limited amounts. But, above all, it can be easily said that Horseradish is gluten free. However, you should still check the ingredients and labels to be 100% sure.
So, what are you waiting for? If you are ready to take the heat, horseradish is worth trying!
