BULGUR: Don’t worry about trying to
pronounce it. Just know that this mildly
flavored wheat product is easy to work
with and easy to blend in with a ton of
the whole truth:
different recipes. If you’ve experienced
it before, it was probably as part of a
Middle Eastern dish like tabbouleh salad.
KNOWING
It’s a quicker cook than some of the
other grains, making it easy to toss it
in with salads, in rice pilaf or meatballs
YOUR
for a bit of texture, flavor and fiber. Its
simplicity makes it a good place to start
with whole grains — it won’t scare
anyone off.
GRAINS BUCKWHEAT: This one is a distant
cousin of rhubarb and not technically a
grain at all. It turns up in Japanese soba
noodles, savory French crêpes and Eastern
European kasha cereal. Buckwheat has a
distinct yet very strong earthy, nutty flavor
that can be a great flavor addition to a
variety of foods. If you find the taste too
It’s easy to say you want to cook with whole grains, but for the strong on its own, use a combination of
uninitiated, it’s not always that easy to do. Knowing which grains buckwheat flour and regular all-purpose
to try and how to incorporate them into your diet can be a flour in muffins, breads or other baked
goods — you’ll get the benefits of its
challenge. Let our brief field guide to some of our favorite whole whole-grain goodness (plenty of
grains be the first step in demystifying these healthy ingredients. antioxidants and a ton of fiber) while
By the time you try our whole grain recipes, you’ll be an expert. minimizing its strong flavor.
FARRO: Known as emmer, this high-protein
relative of wheat has a distinguished history
dating back to ancient Rome. It’s a popular
choice in various regions of Italy and more
recently, turning up as a gourmet ingredient
in various dishes and restaurants here in
the U.S. It can be milled into flour, making
it a wonderful nutty-tasting pasta. Cooked
whole, it makes an excellent addition to
soups, salads and baked goods. And good
news for those with gluten sensitivities:
The gluten in farro can be more easily
digested, meaning that they can often
enjoy it without difficulty.
This veggie-packed Exotic
Tabbouleh recipe uses bulgur
as its base for a healthy and
delightful dish. Courtesy of
Food Network TV.
Life in Balance