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Considered to have changed very little over recent millennia, ancient grains such as amaranth and farro are healthy, easily digestible and many of them are also gluten free, making them a nice alternative to pasta or couscous for people who can’t tolerate gluten.

grains in a white bowl


These grains can be served as a side dish or added to soups and salads to turn them into a hearty meal. Serve warm or cold, simply dressed with oil and seasonings or toss with veggies and herbs. The possibilities are exciting, as are the new flavours and textures you will discover. They’re a great addition to your kitchen and good for the environment, as most ancient grains use less water and are less intensively grown than mass produced wheat and maize.

In contrast to refined white flour and white rice, ancient grains tend to be whole or relatively unprocessed, and therefore a great source of fiber. They are also relatively high in protein and low in calories.

Gluten free
white rice and grains in a bowl

The most commonly consumed grains, such as wheat and all of its derivatives, contain gluten. However, there are plenty of nutritious gluten-free gains available too. Sorghum, amaranth, teff and millet are all naturally gluten free grains. 

Amarath

This grain was first cultivated by the Aztecs and Incas in Mexico. It can be boiled in water like rice or popped like corn (add to salads for a satisfying crunch). It has a mild, slightly nutty flavour and gelatinous texture when boiled, which makes it suitable for soups and risottos.

Sorghum

This is widely eaten in Africa and parts of Asia. It’s eco-friendly as it needs about a third of the water to grow that corn does, and it’s cheap, versatile and filling. It can be ground and used as a flour in bread and pancakes, popped like popcorn, made into porridge or used as a rice substitute.

Amarath grain on a wooden spoon
Teff anf Millet grains in a bowl

Teff

Teff is the primary ingredient in the delicious Ethiopian sourdough flatbread injera. It is a fine grain about the size of a poppy seed, and mild in flavour. You can add it to pastries and breads for an interesting nutty texture, or scatter it over salads.

Millet

Highly nutritious, a good source of fiber and vitamin B1 and rich in minerals), millet is very versatile, most often milled into flour and used in bread or pancakes.

Gluten heading
soup with grains in a bowl

Barley

Barley, closely related to wheat, is a chewy nutty grain around the size of a sunflower seed and delicious in a multi-layered salad.

Farro

This ancient grains is fairly interchangeable in recipes and makes a good substitute for rice. A type of wheat, it’s not gluten free but works wonderfully in on-trend ‘buddha bowls’.

Find out more about ancient grains here.

wholegrain rice