Gluten Free Lefse | Gluten Free Recipes | Gluten Free Recipe Box (2024)

Posted on January 8, 2014May 22, 2021 by Gluten Free Recipes Admin

Lefseis a soft flatbread, similar to a tortilla. This gluten free lefse recipe is no different. It is often made of potatoes, however you may use gluten-free potato buds (see link below for a gluten free brand). There are many different versions of lefse. The Norwegian version is made offlour, usually potato,cream, sometimeslard, and cooked on agriddle. Special tools are usually used to make lefse, even gluten free lefse. Most people use a griddle, a rolling pin cover, and a lefse stick to turn them over.However, if you get creative you can make them with other tools and pans (see Tips section below.) When using fresh potatoes, you need to use a ricer. However, this recipe calls for Potato Buds instead of fresh potatoes. I know not everyone owns a ricer. I will publish a recipe for lefse made with fresh potatoes another day. Meanwhile, enjoy this recipe!

For a similar recipe, not calling for boxed potatoes, see my Soft Gluten Free Naan (Indian Flat Bread).It has received many raved reviews.

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Gluten Free Lefse (Scandinavian or Norwegian Flatbread)

5

Yield: Makes approximately twenty 10-inch lefse

Gluten Free Lefse | Gluten Free Recipes | Gluten Free Recipe Box (1)

A gluten free lefse recipe using gluten free potato buds. Roll them thin and they will be soft enough to fold. The use of instant potatoes is a great solution if you do not own a potato ricer.

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups boiling water
  • 4 Tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
  • 3 cups gluten-free instant potatoes such as Betty Crocker Potato Buds
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 cup Carla's All-Purpose Gluten Free, plus more for rolling

Instructions:

  1. Bring water and butter to a boil in a medium-size saucepan.
  2. Add potato flakes and stir.
  3. Once incorporated, add cream and mix until well combined. Remove from heat and stir until creamy.
  4. Transfer the mixture into a large bowl and knead until smooth. Cover and allow to cool. (You may refrigerate the dough to speed up this process.)
  5. Add flour blend a little at a time and knead or mix until smooth. (It may be a bit difficult to mix. Using a Danish Dough Whisk may make it easier.
  6. Pinch off an egg-size piece of dough (or larger if you have a large lefse griddle) and roll into a smooth ball and repeat with remaining dough. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
  7. When you are ready to make the lefse, spray two large dish towels with water, lay them on top each other, flat, on a counter or kitchen table.
  8. Place a rolling pin sock/cover over your rolling pin and heavily dust a rolling surface with flour.
  9. Dust your rolling pin cover with plenty of flour, and roll each dough ball out as thin as possible into your desired shape. Ideally, you want the dough to be sheer.
  10. Preheat grilling pan to 475°F.
  11. Using a lefse stick or other stick, slide it under the center of a lefse and transfer to the grilling pin, by laying half of the lefse onto the grill and rotate the stick to unroll the the other half of the lefse onto the grill.
  12. Just like homemade tortillas they will form brown areas on the bottom. If you have rolled your lefse thin enough you may be able to see these brown areas through the dough. Once brown areas show up, using the lefse stick carefully turn the lefse over. Use the same method as above to turn the lefse over. Lift it from the entire center using the stick and allow half to lay on the grill and rotate the stick until the entire lefse is on the grill. Cook for about 30 seconds.
  13. Lift the lefse using the stick and transfer it to between the two moistened towels to keep moist.
  14. Repeat the grilling process until you have about 4 lefse cooked. Then fold them in quarters (2 folds), stack them on top of each other, wrap them in wax paper or parchment paper, and set them aside. If you enjoy thicker lefse, you may not be able to fold them. Instead, layer them between sheets of wax or parchment paper slightly fold the stack in half and store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.
  15. Continue the above steps all of the dough is used. Refrigerate the wrapped packages until ready to serve. Serve buttered and add cinnamon and sugar to the inside, jam, or whatever you desire.

Tips

You may use an electric skillet instead of griddle, a frosting spatula wrapped in masking tape instead of lefse stick (be careful not touch the grill with it, though), and a clean child's knee-high sock with the foot cut off instead of a pie cover/sock. These are just some ideas in case you need them.

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  1. I tired this recipe and it didn’t work at all! Crumbly dough that didn’t stick. How did you make it work?

    Reply
    1. Hannah,

      I can only assume that you didn’t make my homemade flour blend that calls for xanthan gum. The gum keeps it all together.

      Carla

      Reply
  2. Good Recipe!
    Rolling each lefse pieces between 2 pieces of parchment paper works great!
    I am GF and I shop only the perimeter of grocery stores, it’s easy.

    Reply
  3. Just had a friendcteach me how to make lefse. She is true Norwegien and recipe is from her mom. I would love to figure out how to make this gluten free using real russet potatoes. If you have tried it thiscway can you send me a link how to make it. Thanks so much

    Reply
  4. Have you tried to freeze these after they are made? I made some last year and the taste was great but they crumbled very easy after freezing.

    Reply
  5. You state you roll with flour. Do you mean the gluten free mix? Flour would make it not gluten free :) Thanks!

    Reply
    1. LeAnn,

      Of course I mean gluten free flour. I either use superfine rice flour or my homemade blend: http://glutenfreerecipebox.com/gluten-free-all-purpose-flour-blend/.

      Reply
  6. I’m seeing a lot for gluten free. That’s great. Is there a recipe for corn, soy, gluten, and lactose free?

    Reply
    1. Jackie,

      Please see the Index for allergen-free categories such as corn-free, dairy-free, and soy-free. All of my recipes are gluten free. However, this is the only lefse recipe I currently have.

      Carla

      Reply
  7. Can you use potato flour or real potato instead of the buds?

    Reply
    1. Anne,

      You can use fresh mashed potatoes, but you’ll need to find a different recipe that uses them. I plan on experimenting with mashed potatoes in the near future.

      Carla

      Reply
  8. Comment left on a giveaway post – Jan. 14, 2014:

    “You posted a recipe for GF lefse. Being Scandinavian and having been diagnosed with celiac following a year of hospitalizations and medical nightmares, being able to make lefse was amazing. I often cook beans and rice for evening dinners. It’s simple. It’s easy. It’s cheap. I’m a teacher, and somehow, I’ve abandoned care for myself, and it’s a horrible example for the kids. I want to cook again…”

    ~ Lori

    Reply
  9. Excited about gf lefse, ya you betcha.

    Reply
  10. I was wondering if you could use a tortilla press for them?

    Reply
    1. Hi Maureen,

      No. A tortilla press would not work for lefse. The only way to prevent them from sticking is to roll them out in plenty of flour. Sorry!

      Carla

      Reply

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Gluten Free Lefse | Gluten Free Recipes | Gluten Free Recipe Box (2024)

FAQs

What can you use as a substitute for a lefse stick? ›

Lefse Stick (substitute long wooden handle of spoon or even better, an unused wooden paint can stirrer). Grooved Lefse Rolling Pin (regular pin can work).

How do you make gluten-free dough elastic? ›

Psyllium husk is the crucial ingredient in gluten free bread baking. It acts as a binder, and it gives gluten free bread dough the elasticity, flexibility and extensibility it needs so you can actually knead and shape it without any problems.

Can you use a tortilla press for lefse? ›

You can even use a tortilla press instead of a rolling pin if you're somewhat intimidated in the kitchen. I won't judge! Although lefse is a classic Christmastime dish loved throughout Norway, I think you could make it for a variety of occasions.

What is lefse in English? ›

a round Norwegian flatbread resembling a tortilla, made with mashed potatoes and flour.

What is the difference between lefse and Lomper? ›

A GUIDE TO NORWEGIAN LEFSE:

Tykklefse – A thicker version of the sweet lefse with butter, cinnamon and sugar. Kjøttlefse – Lefse with meat, similar to taco. Potetlefse – Lefse made with potatoes. Lomper – Another word for potetlefse, often associated with the small version served with hot dogs.

What holds gluten free dough together? ›

The three most common binders are xanthan gum, guar gum and psyllium husk powder. Each one works in a slightly different way to help create the structure we need to hold baked goods together.

What can I use to replace gluten? ›

SUBSTITUTES FOR GLUTEN IN BAKING
  • Corn Flour/Starch. Corn flour (or starch as they say in the US) is made from removing and purifying the starch from the centre of sweetcorn kernels. ...
  • Maize Flour. ...
  • Polenta. ...
  • Potato Flour. ...
  • Ground Nuts. ...
  • Buckwheat Flour. ...
  • Oats. ...
  • Tapioca Flour.

Which yeast is best for gluten free bread? ›

What type of yeast should be used to bake Gluten Free Bread? Active dry yeast and instant yeast both work well and are often interchangeable. Be on the lookout for any Rapid Rise yeast that is best for one rise. For most of us that's the way gluten free bread is baked, a single rise in the tin.

What else can you use a lefse griddle for? ›

This grill makes great lefse but also can make pancakes, grilled sandwiches or fry a burger.

What can I use instead of a tortilla press? ›

We found that for shaping the soft dough for corn tortillas, a plastic zipper-lock bag cut down the seam on both sides will give your tortillas a better release than parchment paper will. Pressing the dough flat using a glass pie plate gives you control over the process.

What is the trick to baking with gluten-free flour? ›

Gluten-free flours often contain fine starches, so they absorb more liquid than conventional flour. To address this, gluten-free recipes usually call for more liquid and produce looser batters. They may also call for a larger quantity of leavening, like baking powder, to help add volume and lighten the texture.

Does oatmeal have gluten? ›

Yes, pure, uncontaminated oats are gluten-free. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration considers oats a gluten-free grain under its gluten-free labeling regulations and only requires that packaged products with oats as an ingredient contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten overall.

What flower has the least amount of gluten? ›

The flour with the lowest amount of gluten in it is cake flour containing only 7-9% gluten. It is of course used in cake, but also muffins and delicate cookies. All-purpose flour has 8-11% gluten in it. It can be used to make things like waffles, pie crusts, pastries, and cookies.

Do you have to use a lefse rolling pin? ›

Corrugated rolling pin, preferably with cloth cover. If you try a regular rolling pin, your lefse will stick, and again you'll wonder why !

What are lefse sticks made of? ›

My object is a lefse stick given to my family four years ago by my paternal grandmother. Lefse is a traditional Norwegian flatbread made from a base of potato dough. It is commonly eaten with jam, sugar and butter, or lingonberries.

Is lefse the same as flour tortillas? ›

It looks like a flour tortilla. It rolls like a flour tortilla. It folds like a flour tortilla. But it's lefse (pronounced LEF-sah), a Norwegian flatbread often made with mashed potatoes.

Why is lefse rolling pin corrugated? ›

At Lefse Time we like the markings a corrugated rolling pin leaves on a rolled sheet of lefse so we skip the covers. However, I know plenty of people who wouldn't dream of rolling lefse without rolling pin covers. They are easy to use.

References

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