Living without lactose can be so easy and delicious that you will not even think about it! There are a myriad of ideas and recipes to choose from, and we have them all for you! We will make cooking lactose-free meals, snacks, and soups a fun game, allowing you to experiment with everything lactose-free cuisine has to offer, so you can impress yourself, your family and your guests with a delicious dinner or snacks completely without lactose!
Classic family favourite dinner recipes without lactose
Family dinners must be easy to make and taste great without lactose – and if they make for good leftovers for packed lunches, that is only a plus!
Lasagna, pizza, and pasta
The easy and delicious taste is what makes lactose-free lasagne such a popular choice. This classic Italian dish has it all: tender pasta, delicious meat sauce, and a rich and cheesy sauce without lactose to tie it all together. The same goes for another Italian classic that also has a place in lactose-free cuisine: pizza! Lactose-free pizza tastes just as great as the regular kind and is just as easy to vary to cater to everyone in the family. It invites a lot of creativity and is simple to prepare, meaning you can include any young or inexperienced family members in the cooking process. Another cheesy favourite is lactose-free spaghetti carbonara. This Italian classic tastes equally wonderful when made with well-selected dairy products without lactose. The rich sauce and delectable cheese are perfectly balanced with the smoky bacon to ensure a well-balanced meal that keeps you returning for just one more bite.
Hamburgers
Hamburgers with lactose-free yogurt garlic sauce are also sure to be a hit with friends and family. The combination of humble but high-quality ingredients perfectly shows how lactose-free still means full of flavour and savoury goodness. The vibrant taste of the garlic sauce brightens the dish and ensures a hamburger meal that stands out!
Mac and cheese
Of course, we cannot make this list without lactose-free mac and cheese. This creamy dish is popular with children and adults alike and is just as cheesy and creamy in this lactose-less version as you would expect. Made with delectable cheddar and mozzarella without lactose it is filled with savoury goodness.
Quiche
A great lactose-free dinner recipe that can also be used as a lunch dish is our lactose-free quiche. This delicious quiche is made with salty and smoky ham, tasty cheese, and creamy crème fraiche, resulting in a meal that is rich without being heavy. Enjoy it hot or cold, any time of day.
Creamy, indulgent soups without lactose
Soups can easily be a low-lactose meal as they do not necessarily contain much dairy. Now, you may be thinking to yourself; that is all fine and well but the kinds of soup I like are the rich and creamy ones that usually have cream or cooking cream in them. In that case, we have good news: It is perfectly possible to make delicious lactose-free cream soups too! It is possible to make any kind of soup without lactose. So, whether you usually go for vegetable-based ones, ones with savoury meat, or prefer to indulge in seafood soups, you can enjoy them just as much – just without the lactose. Simply, use dairy products without lactose to make them.
If you are intrigued, why not try our lactose-free cauliflower soup with turmeric ? This vegetable soup is wonderfully filling and warming. To ensure plenty of vibrant taste and an enticing look, turmeric and paprika are used to flavour the beautiful yellow soup. Our tasty lactose-free chowder soup with fish also has bold turmeric in it. Made with different flavourful vegetables like onions, leeks, and corn and topped with tender white fish and crispy bacon, this decadent surf and turf soup is a sure winner without any lactose!
Sweet and savoury lactose-free snacks
For that mid-day snack craving, we have several ideas for you to try out that are completely free from lactose! In the savoury lane, try fresh, crunchy vegetable sticks, crunchy nuts, and delectable olives as well as chips, popcorn, rice cakes, and crispbread. They are all lactose-free and dairy-free snacks! For an extra scrumptious snack, pair them with creamy dips like our lactose-free artichoke dip, lactose-free tzatziki, or lactose-free yogurt dip with kale and pesto. They make the perfect accompaniment to savoury, often crispy, snacks.
If you have a sweet tooth, you can opt for fruit and berries, chocolate without lactose , or different topped yogurt snacks. Find your favourite lactose-free yogurt , grab your favourite bowl, and think of the sweetest toppings. You can, for example, make a bowl of yogurt with granola, coconut shavings, nuts, and juicy, fresh berries. You can also use fresh fruits, crispy chia seeds, and what else you have of sweet, soft, juicy, crispy, or chewy toppings at home.
Questions about lactose-free meals, snacks, and soups
While we hope that our dinner and snack ideas have inspired you to whip up some delicious dishes, we still have a lot more for you. So, keep reading below to have a look at some of the most frequently asked questions about lactose-free meals, snacks, and soups.
How can you make lactose-free meals?
Cooking meals without lactose is just as easy as dishing up regular ones – it simply requires paying more attention to detail when shopping. Firstly, opt for versions of milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter that does not contain lactose, which is readily available in many grocery stores. Secondly, check ingredient labels to ensure there are no hidden sources of lactose, such as whey or casein. You can also go for food that is naturally free from or low in lactose, for example, vegetable oils, meat, fruit and vegetables, extra-mature cheeses, etc.
Are lactose-free meals dairy-free?
In short, something can be lactose-free without being dairy-free but not vice versa. So, lactose-free meals are not necessarily dairy-free, though they can be, but dairy-free meals will always be lactose-free. Whether something contains lactose or dairy is two different questions. Lactose-free milk, cheese, or cream, for example, obviously does not contain lactose. However, it is still considered dairy. If dairy alternatives like almond, oat, or hemp 'milk' is used, though, it is both free from dairy and lactose.
What snacks are lactose-free?
When you are trying to mind your lactose intake, there are many great snacks to choose from. Some treats are naturally free from lactose, and some are purposely made without lactose. This means you can snack on naturally lactose-less fruits, berries, some dark chocolates, and nuts, or enjoy crispy snacks like popcorn, chips, and crispbread. Pair these with delightful dips made without lactose. Or make a yogurt snack with a lactose-free yogurt topped with your favourite toppings. In conclusion, there are plenty of sweet and savoury options for you to choose between when you are feeling snackish in between meals.
Does soup have lactose?
Some soups contain lactose. It all depends on its ingredients, most often its base. You can find lactose in soups in the shape of, most often, milk or cream, but also sometimes yogurt or cheese – often as a topping! For instance, cream-based soups like chowders or bisques usually contain lactose unless it is labelled as lactose-free or made with lactose-free dairy, but other soups like vegetable soups and broths often do not necessarily contain lactose. If you are using pre-made soups it is important to read the ingredient labels to ensure everything is lactose-free.
