How to cook spelled correctly! Tips and simple recipes

Many people associate spelled with Russian fairy tales, but not with the diet of modern people. And in vain! This cereal is not just tasty, it is very healthy. If we include spelled dishes in our menu, we provide ourselves with iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and other minerals. Spelled also contains B vitamins, fiber and 15 grams of protein per 100 grams of cereal. The composition and calorie content of spelled is truly impressive – when cooked, it contains only 127 calories and 18 amino acids.

If you study a little history, it will become clear that spelled was eaten in Babylon and Egypt, and it appeared in Rus’ around the 18th century. Armenian spelled porridge is still practically a national dish. Not only porridges or first courses are prepared from this cereal, but also bread is baked. By the way, baked goods made from spelled flour are surprisingly tasty and incredibly healthy!

The benefits and harms of spelled for the body are not equal. Among the many benefits that consuming this product brings, there is only one significant nuance – gluten. Like wheat, spelled also contains it. So those who suffer from gluten intolerance need to be careful. Yes, gluten is different from what is found in wheat, so it may well not cause any reaction. Everyone else, both adults and children, should definitely eat spelled.

How to choose spelled, where to buy and how to store

If you are planning a purchase for the first time, you may have to search a little for spelled on store shelves. Despite the fact that it is now gaining popularity, it is not yet sold everywhere. As when choosing any other cereal, pay attention to the integrity of the packaging, make sure there is no debris or bugs inside. To get the most benefits, choose whole grains, but spelt is also an excellent choice. There are no special requirements for storing spelled; keep it in the same place where you store other cereals.

Cooking tips

When the treasured spelled is already in your home, it’s time to begin the process of preparing it. The ways to use spelled can be different – from sweet porridge for breakfast to soup or side dish. Depending on what exactly you plan to cook, choose a convenient cooking method.

The first and most important question that arises is whether it is necessary to soak spelled before cooking. If you bought whole grain and not parboiled cereal, then yes, you need to soak it in cold water for several hours (it is convenient to soak it overnight). If your cereal is steamed, then you can skip this step.

Next, be sure to rinse the spelt several times and, if necessary, remove debris. The only grains that do not require rinsing are those sold in portioned bags for cooking.

The next important nuance is how much liquid to take. Everything here is pretty standard – the proportion of water is 1 to 2. For one glass of cereal you will need two glasses of water.

Cook on the stove in a saucepan

So, first, let’s look in detail at how to cook whole spelled in water.

1. The cereal must first be soaked, then rinsed, placed in a saucepan and filled with the required amount of water (if you want to get a more viscous porridge rather than crumbly, add another 1/3 of the water).
2. After boiling, add salt to taste, stir and reduce heat to low.
3. Cooking time for spelled porridge is 20-25 minutes.
4. Remove from heat, cover and leave for another 10-15 minutes before serving. This side dish of whole grain spelled can be served with vegetables, meat or fish.

Separately, it is worth mentioning how to prepare crushed steamed spelt. There is no need to soak it, just rinse it. You can fill it with hot rather than cold water and cook for a couple of minutes less.

Another aspect is how to cook porridge from crushed spelled in milk. There are several options: you can take 1.5 glasses of water and milk, or use only milk. Yes, it is better to increase the liquid rate to 1 to 3 to make the porridge tastier.

Cooking in a slow cooker

If you decide to use the technique, then place the pre-soaked (if necessary) and washed cereals into a bowl. Pour in water, based on 1 cup of cereal – 2 cups of water. Add salt and, if desired, butter (spelt with raisins also turns out very well in a slow cooker). Cover with a lid, set to “Porridge” or “Grains” mode and cook for 30 minutes.

When using a pressure cooker, you can slightly reduce the amount of water. But it’s better not to cook in the microwave. Because cooking spelled quickly spoils the taste. Slow simmering will still give a much more worthy result.

What to cook

Be sure to try these simple and delicious recipes!

Spelled with meat in a slow cooker

This dish is a complete and delicious lunch or dinner for the whole family. You can cook it with pork, chicken or beef, for example. Experiment with spices to find your perfect match.

What ingredients will you need:

• Whole grain spelled – 200 grams;
• Meat – 500 grams;
• Carrots – 1 pc.;
• Onion – 1 pc.;
• Vegetable oil – 2 tbsp. l.;
• Salt, garlic, spices – to taste.

Soak and rinse the spelled in advance. Pour oil into the bowl and turn on the “Fry” mode. Place pieces of meat (or chicken) and fry on both sides until golden brown. Meanwhile, peel and chop the onion and carrots. You can also add sweet peppers, eggplant and even pumpkin, since you can cook spelled with almost any vegetables. Add the vegetables to the bowl and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Salt and season with your favorite spices. Lay out the spelled, add water. Cover with a lid and set the “Pilaf” mode. Simmer the dish for about 40 minutes (it’s difficult to specify the exact time, because it all depends on the power of your equipment). After cooking, leave to heat for another 10 minutes and serve.

Another good idea is spelled with mushrooms in a slow cooker. Just replace the meat with your favorite mushrooms and you will have an excellent lean spelled porridge for lunch or dinner.

Vegetable soup with spelled

You can cook a light and satisfying soup for lunch for the whole family.

Ingredients:

• Spelled – 80 grams;
• Onion – 1 pc.;
• Carrots – 1 pc.;
• Zucchini – 1 pc.;
• Mushrooms – 3 pcs.;
• Vegetable oil – 2 tbsp. l.;
• Water (meat broth) – 2 liters;
• Salt and spices – to taste.

Rinse the spelled, add hot water and leave for about half an hour. Meanwhile, peel and wash the vegetables. Chop the onion, grate the carrots on a medium grater, cut the zucchini into cubes, and the mushrooms into thin slices. Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan, add onion and fry for a couple of minutes. Then add the carrots and after 3-4 minutes remove from the heat. Bring the water (broth) to a boil, add spelled and put on fire. After boiling, cook for 20 minutes over medium heat. Add onions and carrots, and after 5 minutes add mushrooms and zucchini. Cook for about 10-15 minutes until fully cooked.

Spelled cutlets

These original cutlets can be prepared even from the porridge left over from yesterday.

We will need:

• Spelled – 100 grams;
• Onion – 1 pc.;
• Egg – 1 pc.;
• Salt and spices – to taste;
• Vegetable oil – for frying.

Soak the spelled overnight, then dry and grind in a blender. Peel the onion, chop finely and fry in a frying pan until lightly browned. Combine spelled with onion, egg, salt and spices and chop again. With wet hands, form into patties. Place in a frying pan with heated oil and fry until golden brown on both sides. Then pour in about 100 ml. water, cover with a lid and simmer until the liquid has completely evaporated.

And a few more words about the second “coming” of spelt. It’s great that cereal, which contains so many useful things, is slowly returning to our tables. This may have been due to an interest in healthy eating and organic products. In a world where there is so much chemistry, it is great to diversify the diet with a crop that was grown by our ancient ancestors, and which has not changed at all since then.