About Different Types of Grains

Many different types of grains are available in addition to wheat, barley, corn, rice, oats and others you probably are most familiar with. Some more uncommon grains you might like to try out--especially if you are dealing with gluten sensitivity--are fonio, montina, sorghum and teff.

Function

Fonio is a species of millet, a primary cereal in certain parts of Africa. Fonio makes good porridge and is an excellent flour to mix with others in baking bread. Nutritionally similar to whole wheat, fonio is a perfect substitute for couscous, so you can easily add it to vegetable casseroles for a different twist.

Types

Montina is a trademarked flour milled from Indian ricegrass, a grass which was a Native American diet staple for thousands of years. It has a nutty flavor and when baked in bread, produces only a slightly more crumbly texture than wheat flour. Montina flour was introduced by Amazing Grains of Ronan after years of research with scientists at Montana State University. The flour is high in protein and fiber, and makes an excellent addition to bread recipes even when it's not the principal flour used.

Geography

Nutritionally similar to corn, sorghum is one of the top five cultivated cereal crops in the world. It mainly is grown in tropical or sub-tropical regions and in the United States (although the this crop mostly goes to animal feed). Sorghum makes great porridge, quick bread, cookies and cakes, and often is used in brewing beer.

Identification

Teff is a tiny grain originating in Africa, and is now mainly grown there and in Australia and India. It makes an excellent addition to multigrain breads, and because of its sweet taste, it is perfect for baking pie crusts or including in cookies and cakes. Teff is one of the best plant sources of iron.

Potential

Since all these grains are gluten-free, they are perfect for people with gluten sensitivity, or celiac disease. Many cookbooks and websites now focus on gluten-free lifestyles and include an abundance of gluten-free recipes for different types of grains and flours.

Considerations

You may need to do a little research to find out where you can buy some of the more unusual grains locally, but typically they can be found in health food stores or online natural food shops. Stores catering to macrobiotic diets usually have a wide selection of grains.

Resources

• Gluten-free living
• Information about fonio
• Information about teff