A Tribute to Teff

Let's play the guessing game!

Is Teff a fabric?  The stuffing that goes in pillows?  A smug remark? The noise one makes when coughing?

How about the tiniest grain in the WORLD! Thanks to a friend that I met at NYC, who came all the way from Israel to run the race, I have recently been enlightened about this powerhouse of nutrition.  Food is just one of those things you get to talking about when waiting 5 hours for a race to start :).

Packing the Nutrients

From my quick reading of labels, I learned that Teff is very high in protein, as well as phosphorous, fiber, calcium, and iron.  For the vegan diet, that is good, good, and great! This whole grain is an excellent plant-based source of protein (who says you can't get protein from plants !?)  The high iron content is crucial, because it can be tricky to get enough iron on a vegan diet.   Not impossible, but having enough fresh greens and whole grain is necessary!

Here's a link to the brand of Teff that I purchased, for your own nutritional analysis :

http://www.bobsredmill.com/whole-grain-teff.html

Preparation

The second awesome thing about Teff is that it's super easy to prepare!  I chose a breakfast-oriented preparation, but it also can be eaten as a side for lunch dinner.

Cooking the grain is very similar to how you'd make oatmeal.  There is a simple recipe on the side of the bag that I followed, making substitutes where necessary.



Teff Porridge with Dates and Honey:

(Kristen's Vegan Version)

1 cup Teff
1 Tbsp Earth Balance
1/4 tsp ground Cloves
3 cups water
3/4 cup prunes/raisins/dates
1/3 tsp sea salt
3 Tbsp agave nectar / syrup
1/4 cup walnuts
Soy/Almond milk (optional)

Heat a saucepan over medium heat, add teff grains and toast 3-6 minutes.  When grains begin to pop, add water, Earth Balance, and cloves. Stir.  Bring to gentle boil, cover and cook for 10 minutes stirring occasionally.

Stir in the dried fruit, salt, and agave nectar.  Cover and continue cooking until grains are soft, about 5-10 more minutes. Add more water if porridge becomes too thick.

Serve topped with walnuts and/or almond/soy milk.

Enjoy!