What do we know about spelled? Philologists and bookworms will immediately remember the lines from Pushkin’s fairy tale about the cunning Balda about “boiled spelt.” Gourmets and experimenters admit that they have come across an inconspicuous grain with an ancient Russian name on store shelves with fashionable quinoa and bulgur. And nutritionists will joyfully exclaim: “What are you doing, friends? This is the food pride of Russia - in Europe, spelled dishes are considered a real delicacy!”
And while fashionable import substitution praises buckwheat as the main national product, it’s time for us to take a closer look at spelled. If Alexander Sergeich himself wrote about it, the cereal is clearly not simple...
Spelled, Spelled or Einkorn?
Spelled has been called as many names as spelled, and emmer, and emmer... But all these intriguing names are simply late varieties of spelled wheat, which first grew in the Mediterranean almost 7-8 thousand years ago.
Spelled was mentioned in the Old Testament, in Homer's Odyssey, and in the works of the historian Herodotus. And after several centuries, spelled fields smoothly migrated to the territory of Rus', and since then spelled has forever remained a “Russian” grain for the whole world. Why, even in the USA they learned about spelled thanks to the fertile soil of the Yaroslavl province - from there the seeds of our native cereal were brought to America.
Spelled peak in Rus' came in the 18th century - in those days, cereals were fried, steamed, porridge was cooked, put in soups, and baked flatbreads. Our peasants especially liked the harsh and independent character of spelled - the grain did not accept any fertilizers or any processing. Only natural conditions! Collecting such wild grains was problematic; hard grains were difficult to grind into flour, but no pest would take spelt. But over time, when the price and availability of bread became more important than its usefulness, they practically stopped growing spelled.
Return of the King
Black caviar of cereals - this is how spelled wheat was nicknamed for its unusual brown hue and extremely healthy composition. Spelled - what is it? The photos will show an ordinary-looking cereal, very similar to whole oats, only more elegant and a spectacular brick-red color.
In the modern world, they started talking about the half-forgotten spelt - no, they practically screamed! – a few years ago, when the fashion for everything natural quickly returned. Red wheat turned out to be almost ideal in this matter, because the main condition for its cultivation is exceptional naturalness. No GMOs for you, no fertilizers - on “dirty” soil, cereals will simply refuse to grow. No radiation and heavy metals - the hard wheat shell will not let them through, no pests - the beetle and harmful turtle (yes, yes, this happens!), insects will not gnaw through these grains.
Will this beautiful spelt pass the hypoallergenic test? Does it contain gluten or not? This is wheat, albeit red. But compared to ordinary soft wheat, there is practically no dangerous gluten in spelled, but there are much more healthy plant proteins. Therefore, for both gluten allergies and intolerances, spelled porridge and spelled flour bread will be an excellent solution.
How to choose the right cereal
This product has not yet become widely known in our country, so difficulties and errors may arise when purchasing. Most often, cereals are sold in dietary departments. You stand at the rack and don’t see spelled on it, although the desired product is right in front of your eyes. Sometimes manufacturers write a different name on the packaging:
- spelled;
- kamut;
- emmer;
- Einkorn.
We've sorted out the names, now you need to carefully read the contents of the package. There should be only spelled without any impurities or additives. Check the seal of the package: moisture can enter through a small hole and the product will be spoiled. Don't forget to look at the expiration date too.
Advice
The shelf life of spelled cannot exceed 9 months. If the manufacturer writes that the product can be used for a year, do not purchase products from this company, such companies may deceive buyers.
Depending on what you are going to cook, choose the form of the product. On the shelves you can see spelled in the form of:
- cereals;
- grains for germination;
- sprouted seeds;
- flour.
Health is a good gift
Each cereal is unique in its own way - any nutritionist will tell you about this, and scientific research will prove it, and the certificate on the package of porridge will notify you. Oatmeal, barley, couscous, millet, quinoa, brown rice - all this is the basis of a healthy diet. But even against such a bright grain background, spelled is not lost - its beneficial properties only expand over the years.
- Spelled is a real record holder for the content of vitamin PP - nicotinic acid. It helps remove bad cholesterol and prevents fatty plaques from clogging our blood vessels.
- Magnesium, potassium and phosphorus are the main mineral trinity of red wheat. Magnesium and phosphorus strengthen bones and nerves, potassium protects the heart and relieves swelling.
- Slow carbohydrates and vegetable proteins make spelled porridge one of the most nutritious, and this with a minimum calorie content of 127 kcal. Spelled salads and casseroles will instantly relieve you of hunger and allow you to do without unnecessary snacks.
- It is no coincidence that Pushkin's Balda begged his employer for boiled spelled as a main dish. Cereals improve immunity, help you think faster, and give you strength and endurance. Truly, health is a good gift, as the classic said in another work.
- Spelled is also a universal culinary product; its delicate nutty taste goes well with any ingredients. Do you want Mediterranean exoticism? Add Italian herbs and simmer the risotto. Preparing a vegetarian lunch? Cauliflower or broccoli casserole couldn't be easier! And if you love your native cuisine, you can cook ancient Russian spelled porridge - with milk, butter and berries and fruits.
Beneficial and harmful properties of spelled porridge
Spelled is a storehouse of useful substances and has almost no contraindications.
See also: When to add garlic to pilaf and how much
✅ Useful
Positive properties:
- contains B vitamins, vitamins E and PP, micro- and macroelements (manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, selenium, potassium);
- rich in protein (19% of the daily value in 100 grams);
- environmentally friendly;
- improves digestion;
- reduces the level of “bad” cholesterol;
- strengthens the immune system;
- stimulates the functioning of the adrenal glands and, as a result, the production of sex hormones;
- stabilizes the emotional background, reduces anxiety;
- prevents the formation of kidney stones;
- prevents cancer;
- accelerates the recovery process after illness, etc.
Spelled is especially recommended for older people, as it slows down aging and also prevents a decrease in bone density, and accordingly reduces the risk of fractures.
Spelled for weight loss
Tired of diet oatmeal? There is a great alternative - spelled! The benefits and harms of red wheat for weight loss have been discussed by healthy eating enthusiasts for a long time. And it has been unequivocally proven that spelled does not harm the figure.
The main weight-loss advantage of spelled wheat is its low calorie content. Cereals saturate the body with proteins and vitamins, make the intestines work, and even out metabolic processes. As a result, the kilograms evaporate slowly but surely.
One caveat - spelled cereal for weight loss must be cooked in a special way. Only on water, add less oil to the porridge, and better than vegetable oil. And as a bonus, just add nuts, dried fruits and apples and pears to your breakfast plate - in the morning your body will only thank you for it.
The benefits and harms of spelled for the body
Fiber, contained in large quantities, has a beneficial effect on the human body. Spelled is especially beneficial in its positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract and endocrine system. If you regularly eat spelled, you can achieve excellent results.
Thanks to cereals, blood pressure is normalized, blood sugar levels are reduced, the functioning of the cardiovascular and nervous systems is improved, and the level of resistance to stressful situations increases.
An indispensable benefit of spelled is that it can be consumed by allergy sufferers, since it does not contain gluten. Therefore, if you cannot tolerate this substance, you should find out detailed recipes with spelled. Scientists have proven that this cereal has a positive effect on human reproductive function, so couples who want to give birth to a healthy baby are recommended to eat it daily.
Cooking spelled correctly
We lied a little with the title - it’s almost impossible to cook spelled incorrectly. There are several basic recipes for spelled porridge, the main ones being the dietary version with water and the Old Russian version. And based on them, you can create your own signature recipes, adding all those delicacies that you are used to putting in oatmeal, baked goods, and even omelettes.
Porridge for weight loss
How to cook spelled depends entirely on the type of cereal you found in the store - regular or steamed.
First, wash the spelled – regardless of the variety. Pour it into boiling water (proportion 1:2), add salt and wait for the water to boil along with the red wheat. And then we cook it like regular porridge: steamed for 15-20 minutes, regular porridge for 35-40.
Old Russian porridge
We stock up on the necessary products - a glass of spelt, a glass of milk, yogurt and cold water. First, soak the spelled in yogurt and water. The proportions may be different - some recommend half a glass of water per glass of yogurt, others claim that you need 2 times more water. Our advice to you is to try both options and decide which porridge tastes better.
Soak the porridge for 5 hours, then rinse it to remove all traces of curdled milk, and cook it in a mixture of milk and water (proportions with cereal, as in the dietary recipe). Cooking time – 20-30 minutes, or until the milk and water are absorbed. Then add butter, salt and simmer under the lid (or you can wrap it in a towel) for about an hour.
Spelled recipes for lunch and dinner
If you have spelled lurking in your kitchen cabinet, you can look for recipes for more than just breakfast. Lunch, afternoon snack, light dinner - red wheat is good everywhere.
Corsican spelled soup
You will need: 1.5 liters of broth - chicken or vegetable, one glass each of spelled and small red beans, an onion, a couple of cloves of garlic and 2-3 sprigs of mint, 100 grams of hard cheese (for piquancy, can be replaced with goat cheese), salt, spices, 2 tablespoons olive oil.
- To get hot French soup for lunch, we start culinary activities in the morning. Soak the beans for 6-8 hours, spelled for 4. The beans are boiled in two waters, so we prepare them in advance - fill them with cold water, and when it boils, cook for an hour over low heat. Then put it in a colander and let it rest for now.
- Heat the oil in a large saucepan, fry the onion until golden brown, add the garlic. After 30 seconds, pour in the broth, when it boils, add the spelled. After 15 minutes, throw in the beans and wait another half hour.
- Meanwhile, put the kettle on, grate the cheese and chop the mint (set aside 8 leaves for decoration). When the soup is ready, add cheese and mint, add half a glass of boiling water - and you can pour it into plates. Each one contains 2 mint leaves for beauty.
Spelled salad with tomatoes
You will need: a glass of spelled (preferably steamed), a head of red onion, 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, 4 tomatoes, one cucumber, a handful of arugula (parsley, lettuce, etc.), salt and pepper and olive oil.
Pour vinegar over the chopped onions and leave to marinate. At this time, cook the spelled in water and let it cool. We cut vegetables and herbs, mix with onions, butter and spelled. Ready!
Imagine, in one of the bakeries in Wales, in Britain, whole grain spelled bread is sold 4 times more expensive than usual! And we were incredibly lucky - almost every large supermarket sells both flour and spelled at a reasonable price - how to cook, the imagination of the housewife and culinary forums will tell you. Not just buckwheat...
How to cook and how long to cook
The most popular dish made from this grain is porridge. However, not everyone knows how to cook spelled at home in order to preserve all the beneficial substances and get a tasty, nutritious dish.
So, the product can be prepared with water or milk. To prepare spelled deliciously, you should add nuts, dried fruits, candied fruits, honey, raisins, apples, oranges. Those with a sweet tooth can add chocolate or condensed milk.
But not only porridge can be cooked from spelled; it is known that this grain is excellent for soups. Spelled is also combined with fish, meat, vegetables, and casseroles are prepared from it. Recently, it has been popular to use spelled as a base for stuffing for cabbage rolls. Athletes are recommended recipes with spelled and beans and other legumes, since these products are rich in protein and can saturate the body with energy.
