Cooking with Grains

Cooking with grains has gained high honors in the culinary world. They are the mainstay of human sustenance. About half of the worlds arable land is devoted to the cultivation of grain. For centuries the people around the world have counted on various grains to live.


When cooking with grains you will need to know that grains are divided into two groups; whole grains and refined grains. Whole grains contain the entire grain kernel and are known to be the healthiest for you to eat. In the natural form, these grains are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, oils and protein. 


When cooking with grains, you may see some referred to as refined grains. These grains or grain flour are ones which have been modified from it natural stage. Through the processing many of the nutrients have been removed. Although some of the nutrients are added back in through processing, they are significantly lower in the refined grains than in the whole grains.

Cooking with GrainsCooking with Grains


Best Grain Mills for you depends on what you want to achieve. What and how much do you want to mill; do you want manual or electric.

COOKING with GRAINS

The following is a list of whole grains when cooking with grains:

How to Make Quaker Oats Recipes

Make the best recipes with Quaker oats. Try these recipes for giant raisin oat cookies, spicy tomato chicken, hot apple cereal, oat bran ginger waffles, herb baked chicken, pepper cheese bread, crispy lemon fish and potato oat rolls. 

What is Cornmeal

What is cornmeal? Cornmeal is a course flour made from corn. You can make tasty recipes like the following: cornmeal pancakes, Mexican cornbread, fruited cornmeal cookies, a cornmeal cake recipe, lemon cornmeal Madeleines cookies, grape cornmeal cake recipe, sesame cornmeal crackers, chili spoon bread, raised corn rolls, sausage pie and herb cornmeal, cornmeal ricotta cheese stuffing and apple cornmeal cake.

What are Rolled Oats

Learn all about rolled oats and making tasty recipes. Wonderful recipes such as granola, oatmeal pancakes, apple crisp and oatmeal bread. 

What is Rye

What is rye? Rye is a grass that is harvest as a grain. You make delicious and nutritious recipes like the following with rye: biscuit fans, German rye bread, muffins with rye, crusty rye rolls,  cheddar and rye bread pudding, rye salad, chicken breast salad, five grain muffins, rye biscuits for ham sandwiches and a bread machine buttermilk rye bread. 

How to Cook Grits

Prepare delicious grits recipes like the following: grits ans shrimp, sausage and grits, shrimp butter with grits, breakfast cheese grits, creamy baked grits, greens and grits, chicken and grits, rosemary mushroom grits, spinach and ham grits, grit bacon & tomatoes and sweet grits pudding.

How to Make Veggie Burgers

Learn how to make veggie burgers like the following recipes: dill chickpea burgers, black bean burgers, nutty veggie burger, lentil burgers, lentil portobello burgers, bean burgers, pinto bean burgers, corn and bean burgers, veggie burgers with walnuts and watercress lentil and nut burgers.

What is BUCKWHEAT really isn’t wheat at all but is used like other whole grains in pilafs and casseroles.

Cooking STEEL CUT OATS are chewy when steamed and make a good hot cereal.

WHOLE BARLEY is famous for barley soup. (My mom always threw a handful of barley in her large pots of soup) It is also used in salads and stuffing.

What is TEFF is an ancient grain with a sweet malty flavor; high in iron, calcium, magnesium, copper, boron, phosphorous and zinc.

What is SPELT is higher in protein than wheat and can be used by people who are sensitive to wheat; use as you would whole wheat.

TRITICALE is a fairly new hybrid developed crossing wheat with rye primarily produced in Poland, German, France, Belarus and Australia.

What is Quinoa?

Quinoa is one ingredient I cannot say enough about as I have written before. It is packed with protein and can be substituted for any rice recipe. It can easily be ground into flour and substituted for regular flour.

what is popcorn

WHAT IS POPCORN? It is a kind of maize which is capable of bursting because the kernel is sealed by moisture.

What is Bulgur?

WHAT IS BULGUR? A precooked form of wheat and a staple in the Middle Eastern diet.

What are Legumes?

WHAT ARE LEGUMES? Various types of beans to use in a wide range of culinary dishes.


SEVEN GRAIN CEREAL by Red Mill makes delicious and healthy recipes.

WHAT IS AMARANTH? A plant that looks and taste like spinach; the seeds have much more fiber than wheat.

WHAT IS CRACKED WHEAT? It is made from crushing raw kernels of whole wheat.

WHAT IS MILLET? It is considered one of the most important cereal grains of the world.

WHAT IS PSYLLIUM? It is a member of the plantain family and used as a supplement to flour and meal.

WHAT IS SORGHUM? It was at one time something that everyone ate either in grain or syrup.

WHAT IS KASHA? It is generally known as a cereal porridge with many health benefits.

WHAT IS KAMUT? What is Kamut? It is a very old grain once grown by the ancient Egyptians.

Black Eyed Pea Recipe

Make delicious recipes with black eyed peas: recipes with sausage, a hopping John, Mexican salsa or patties with spicy dipping sauce.

How to Make Wild Rice Recipes

Make wild rice for side dishes with shrimp, with fennel, mushrooms or one with Oriental ingredients.

Rice Meals

Make delicious meals with rice such as a recipe for dirty rice, Texas hash, the shipwreck recipe, shrimp and rice, a Spanish rice dish and beef tips with rice. 

Cooking Rice Recipes

When you learn to cook rice recipes you have to know the different types of rice to use in them.

Chicken and Rice Recipe

Try a Chicken and rice recipe one made with long grain rice, one with an Asian flair, a stir fry recipe, Crock pot recipe or a chicken supreme recipe.

Beef and Rice Recipes

Beef and rice recipes one is included for Spanish rice, steak, stir fry, pizza and zucchini.

Rice Pudding Recipe

Rice pudding recipe  including one with raisins, a fruit salad recipe, one butterscotch with pecan sauce or fruit with raspberry sauce.

Rice Casserole Recipe

Make easy rice casserole recipes made with minute rice, with chicken, stuffed peppers and sausage casserole.

How to Cook Rice

Learn how to cook rice and make delicious recipes.   Make a pizza casserole, a tasty risotto, a sausage rice casserole, rice cookies and a browned rice recipe.

How to Cook Spanish Rice

Learn how to make Spanish rice. You will find many great recipe for Spanish rice:zesty rice and beans, rice Ortega, simple Spanish rice recipe, Rio Grande rice recipe, Spanish rice with hamburger, hearty rice with shrimp, easy Mexican wild rice casserole, pork chops and Spanish rice, Mexican rice, flavorful Spanish rice, paella recipe and chile cheese rice.

Rice Recipes

Prepare delicious rice dishes like the following: red rice, broccoli and rice, rice pudding and pork chow mein.

What is Wild Rice?

Prepare tasty wild rice dishes like the following: wild rice with almonds, plain wild rice, spooky wild rice from Missouri, wild rice casserole, wild rice dessert, country wild rice with bacon and stir fry rice. 

Minute Rice Recipes make dinner quick and easy with rice pilaf, fish and lemon rice, rice noodle or broccoli rice.

BROWN RICE SALAD RECIPE

Try this salad when cooking with grains.

  • ½ Cup long grain brown rice
  • ½ Cup pearled barley
  • ½ Cup wheat berries
  • 3 ½ Cups water
  • ½ Cup cooked navy beans (any small cooked or canned beans-if canned rinse and drain before adding)
  • 2 Cups cooked corn (or canned whole kernel)
  • 4 Chopped green onions
  • 1 Diced green bell pepper
  • 2 Tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro

Bring water to a boil; add rice, barley and wheat berries.

Reduce heat and simmer about 40 minutes or until grains are tender and have absorbed water; set aside to cool 15 minutes.

Combine the beans, corn, green onions, bell pepper and cilantro in a large bowl; stir in the grains.

Prepare dressing and pour over grain and vegetable mixture; toss to blend and serve.

Dressing

  • ¼ Cup lemon juice
  • ¼ Cup olive oil
  • 1 Teaspoon curry powder
  • ½ Teaspoon cumin
  • ½ Teaspoon coriander
  • 1 Teaspoon salt
  • ¼ Teaspoon ground pepper
  • Cayenne pepper OPTIONAL

Combine all ingredients and blend well; pour over salad.

There have been many studies in recent years into the health benefits of whole grains. The United States government recommends that all adults eat at least three servings of whole grains a day. Cooking with grains has been shown to reduce heart disease by decreasing cholesterol levels, blood pressure and blood coagulation. They have also been shown to help regulate diabetes and reduce risks of many types of cancer.

WHOLE WHEAT BREAD RECIPE

  • 3 Cups whole wheat flour
  • 2/3 Cup sugar
  • ½ Teaspoon salt
  • 1 Teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 Cup raisins
  • 1 Cup chopped pecans
  • 1 Beaten egg
  • 1 ¾ Cups buttermilk
  • 3 Tablespoons molasses
  • 1 Tablespoon grated orange rind

Preheat oven to 325F degrees.

Combine and mix together whole wheat flour, sugar, salt and soda; mix in the raisins and pecans.

Add the egg, buttermilk, molasses and orange rind; stir as little as possible to blend.

Pour into 1 large or 2 small well greased loaf pans; bake 50 to 55 minutes or until pick comes out clean.

Has a dense and moist texture; slice and toast for breakfast.

Refined grains have been milled which removes the bran and germ. This process gives the grain a finer texture and improves their shelf life but also removes dietary fiber, iron and many of the B vitamins. Because of this, most refined grains are enriched (added back in) with B vitamins and iron but fiber is not when cooking with grains, some common refined grain products are cornbread, corn tortillas, noodles, grits, couscous, crackers, pastas, pitas, pretzels, breakfast cereals, white rice, breads and rolls.

BROCCOLI CORNBREAD CASSEROLE RECIPE

Broccoli Cornbread Casserole RecipeBroccoli Cornbread Casserole Recipe
  • 1 Cup butter
  • 1 Teaspoon dried onion
  • 2 Boxes (8 ½ ounces each) corn muffin mix
  • 4 Eggs
  • 1 Cup cottage cheese
  • 1 Box (10 ounces) frozen chopped broccoli thawed
  • 1 Teaspoon of salt
  • 1/4 Teaspoon pepper
  • 1 Cup milk

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

Melt butter in a 9 X 13 inch baking pan.

Mix all ingredients together and spoon into baking pan with butter.

Bake about 50 minutes. 

Try cooking with grains as part of your daily diet.

Cooking with GrainsBroccoli Cornbread Casserole