Spelt

Spelt is a type of grain that was long forgotten, but is now very popular again. People with various types of food intolerance usually tolerate spelled very well. It is a very healthy alternative to wheat.

What you should know about spelled

There were already various forms of wheat in the Stone Age and it can be assumed that spelled was made from them. Spelled is therefore related to wheat. Emmer and Einkorn are also believed to be related to these archetypes. Finds from the 6th to 5th millennium BC suggest that spelled grew in western Georgia at that time.

Spelled has been grown in Germany since around 500 BC. The spread around the world was caused by the great migration. The main growing areas in Germany today are in Baden-Württemberg. Further cultivation areas are northern Spain, Finland, Belgium, Switzerland and the climatically favorable area of ​​Central Burgenland in Austria. In Austria you can find spelled in a directory for traditional foods.The spelled grain is tightly enclosed by the husk, the shell of the grain, and protected from environmental influences. Measurements showed a lower level of radioactive contamination than wheat.

Spelled cannot be fertilized with artificial nitrogen fertilizers, as the plants cannot tolerate it. Therefore there are no residues of artificial fertilizers in the grain. The yield of spelled is lower than that of wheat. This plant grows up to 1,000 meters above sea level as it is less sensitive than wheat. Spelled can also be harvested unripe and is then called "green spelled". As soon as the so-called "milk maturity" is reached, the time is right for it. In the past, these grains were likely to have been important nourishment for workers in the fields.

Green spelled can only be stored dry. It is not suitable for grinding. Grünkorn has a slightly spicier taste than mature spelled, which has a slightly nutty taste. Small cushions are filled with the husk, which can be used as warming or cooling cushions. They are also popular as massage pillows.

Importance to health

Since more and more people suffer from food intolerance, green spelled is also one of the particularly important foods. It is easy to digest, the metabolism is stimulated, so the nutrients are particularly readily available.

Green spelled has a good effect on the nerves, possibly also with cancer. Spelled must not be used in people with celiac disease, i.e. gluten intolerance. The gluten in cereals is known as gluten. Spelled has a higher gluten content. Spelled flour contains more trace elements and vitamins than wheat. Spelled is one of the foods rich in carbohydrates and has a high protein content, but you won't gain weight by consuming spelled. To produce the mood-enhancing substance serotonin, the body needs the amino acid tryptophan contained in spelled. The physical performance can be increased just as much as the mental.

In the Hildegard medicine named after Hildegard von Bingen, spelled is an important, indispensable component. Spelled is also a particularly important food in traditional Chinese medicine - TCM. It should strengthen the middle and be well tolerated in many food intake disorders. Even allergy sufferers usually have no problems with products made from spelled flour. For this reason, spelled is used instead of wheat in most children's foods today.

Ingredients & nutritional values

Spelled provides vitamins A and B6, as well as niacin, a B vitamin. Spelled also contains important substances such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and zinc. The fiber contained in spelled is important for digestion. Both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids are found in fats. 100 grams of spelled has 338 calories. Spelled contains phytic acid, which can make it difficult to absorb minerals. If you add sourdough or yeast to dough, the phytic acid loses its effectiveness.

Intolerances & allergies

Spelled and spelled products are only known to be intolerant of people who suffer from celiac disease; for everyone else, spelled is good and sometimes better tolerated than wheat.

Shopping & kitchen tips

To buy spelled, you no longer have to buy it expensive in health food stores or organic shops. In most supermarkets, spelled is now available in a wide variety of variations. Most of the time, spelled products are a little more expensive than normal wheat products because processing is more difficult than wheat.

Spelled flour has an increased gluten content, which is why it is said to have poor baking properties. Baked goods made from wheat flour should stay juicy and fresh longer than spelled products. Baked goods made from spelled flour are mostly bread, pastries and cookies. Spelled flour pasta is very popular. In terms of taste, the products do not differ from those made from normal wheat flour. In addition to flour, scrap and flakes, spelled rice is also offered. These are spelled grains that have been specially processed. They can be used like rice and add variety to the side dish.

Preparation tips

Anyone who values ​​a wholesome and healthy diet can at least occasionally use spelled. The valuable ingredients make up for the fact that processing the flour is not that easy. Dough made from spelled flour is usually stickier than made from wheat flour. You have to let the spelled dough rest in between and then you can continue kneading. Spelled dough runs easily when baking.

It is therefore best to bake bread or cakes in a pan. If you want to cook spelled grains, they should first be soaked like legumes for up to two days. The water has to be changed again and again in between. The spelled grains are then boiled in fresh water. This will reduce the phytic acid in the grain. Adding yeast or sourdough to dough will also reduce this acidity. Spelled flakes are cooked into tasty porridges and they add value to any muesli. When mixed with yoghurt and fruit, spelled flakes make a particularly healthy snack from which the body receives many nutrients and which tastes really delicious.

Spelled pasta is now available in every supermarket, and it is easy to bring it to the table every now and then to make the food healthier. So that it is not always just pasta, rice and potatoes that are served as side dishes, spelled rice, which is processed like real rice, could be used to add variety to the side dishes. Grünkern is suitable for patties and patties, which make a perfect, healthy meal with various salads or vegetables. Green seed soup is also a way to use this less well-known, healthy food.

If you like to try sprouts, you can of course also grow spelled sprouts and then add them to salad or muesli. Spelled sprouts can even be used with vegetable dishes. Recipes can be found on relevant sites on the Internet that are mostly simple and tempting to cook at home.