Einkorn Flour - Essence, Benefits, Application

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Einkorn is a type of cereal that dates back to ancient times. Due to its more difficult processing and not so easy cultivation, however einkorn has long been one of the most common cereals.

The oldest remnants of einkorn date back 18,000 years. It served as a staple food for many ancient peoples, including the Thracians, Egyptians and Romans. His remains have been found in Thracian tombs and even in the Egyptian pyramids.

Advantages of einkorn

The reason einkorn is not as easy to process as wheat lies in the fact that its grains are wrapped in hard flakes that must be removed before grinding into flour. Also, unlike modern wheat, einkorn it is not susceptible to chemical treatment and it cannot force it to grow faster or in larger quantities. On the other hand, it does not absorb harmful elements from the soil (such as heavy metals), so even if it is grown in contaminated soil, it will not affect it or make it harmful.

Unlike most modern crops, which are artificially created or mutated over time, einkorn grows only in its original form. This makes it an extremely strong and durable plant that needs only good conditions to give a good harvest. Usually from one decare between 100 and 300 kg of einkorn are extracted.

Other types of wheat, for example, have been treated with a number of chemicals since sowing, which are thought to protect them from the many diseases to which they are susceptible.

Interestingly, the nutrients contained in einkorn vary in composition depending on where it is grown, as its DNA structure changes according to local climatic conditions, precipitation, average annual temperature and many other indicators. So it's better when we choose einkorn from the store, let's stop at our production.

Composition of einkorn

For those who monitor their calories and intake of other nutrients, we have broken down its composition into the components it contains and their amount.

About 100 g of einkorn in any form contains a total of 338 calories, which are divided into 2.43 g of fat (only 22 calories come from fat), 70.19 g of carbohydrates, 10.7 g of fiber, 6.82 g of sugars, 14.57 g of protein and 11 ml of water..

Einkorn does not contain no cholesterol.

Minerals and trace elements

Many people today suffer from a deficiency or low intake of minerals and trace elements. Most of our food is poor in nutrients, and bad and unhealthy food makes things worse. Fortunately einkorn can be useful to us in this regard, as it is extremely rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, phosphorus, zinc, manganese, iron and many other trace elements.

High levels of iron and copper are key to creating new red blood cells. So if Einkorn is a regular part of your diet, then the levels of copper and iron will increase, and with them the blood flow, which will lead to enhanced immunity and additional oxygenation of organs and tissues.

It's proved that einkorn contains in fact, a greater number of trace elements than all other types of wheat, as well as protein and useful fats.

Gluten content

Einkorn has an extremely low gluten content, which means that even people with celiac disease can consume it without worrying about intoxication or other negative effects.

Antioxidants

Einkorn is also an excellent antioxidant and helps prevent and treat various anemias. One of the antioxidants contained in it is vitamin E and the trace element selenium, which are associated with both fertility and the disposal of free radicals that lead to cancer, forming in the body under the influence of both internal and external factors..

Vitamins in einkorn

It contains almost twice as much vitamin E, B (mainly vitamin B1 (thiamine) and vitamin B3 (niacin)) and A than other types of wheat. Thiamine plays a major role in the breakdown of glucose and is involved in the synthesis of DNA and RNA. Niacin plays a key role in the production of sex hormones in the adrenal glands. Vitamin A is an antioxidant that is essential for the immune system. The amount of vitamin A largely determines the condition of vision, bones, skin and hair.

Benefits of einkorn

Einkorn consumption there are other benefits that play a significant role in our daily lives. It improves digestion and the functioning of the spleen and pancreas, improves blood counts and strengthens the immune system, keeps tissues in good condition and helps regulate metabolism to build healthy bones. Einkorn flour products also help lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels. The latter is due to the dietary fiber contained in einkorn, which interacts with the body's processes to absorb cholesterol and help absorb it from food.

Here's more benefits of einkorn:

- easily digestible food product, ensuring good absorption of nutrients;

- he has a low risk of allergies;

- helps increase immunity, prevention of modern diseases (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer) through high levels of antioxidants - lutein and beta-carotene (gives yellow color of einkorn flour), B6, zinc, vitamin A;

- helps reduce inflammation through high levels of magnesium and B6;

- helps to make bones healthier by taking manganese - 100 g of einkorn contain about 200% of adequate manganese intake!

- healthy muscles, nerves and tissues through high levels of protein, thiamine, phosphorus;

- helps to lose weight - by eating nutrient-rich flour or grains, you will consume smaller amounts of other foods;

- contains more beta carotene - einkorn, along with its other virtues, contains 3 to 4 times more beta-carotene than our wheat today. This is good because beta-carotene is an antioxidant. It protects the body from free radicals, which damage our cells and cause some serious diseases such as cancer and heart disease. So converting carotenoids like beta-carotene into the current part of our diet is a good way to prevent cancer;

- contains Vitamin A - healthy skin and membranes, strong immunity, good vision and eye health. These are the reasons why we need vitamin A. It is essential for our overall health. And einkorn contains twice as much vitamin A as today's wheat. As a side effect, it is preferable to get vitamin A from our food because our body knows what to do with it. Consuming too many vitamin A supplements can be toxic;

- a source of lutein - like beta-carotene, lutein is a carotenoid that gives it some of the same benefits. This is especially good for our eyes. It helps our retinas absorb blue light and protects it from those nasty free radicals that cause cancer. And einkorn contains 3 to 4 times more lutein than modern wheat crops.

- contains riboflavin - this is the big word for vitamin B2. Vitamin B2 is essential for many of the processes in our cells. It also has preventive properties against cancer, helps with migraines, cures anemia and helps produce energy. This is a key vitamin and is present much more in einkorn than in the grains we are used to - 4 to 5 times more.

Einkorn application

Like other types of wheat, once einkorn is ground into flour, its application is huge. Any dish that you prepare with plain wheat or other flour can be prepare with einkorn flour - so not only will the taste remain almost the same, but the dish will be much more useful for the whole family. This includes: einkorn bread or confectionery as a substitute for half the wheat flour content in your recipes or as a thickening sauce in various pots.

If you decide to try einkorn in the form of beans, the easiest way is to cook it as if you were cooking risotto - cook in a large saucepan and add your favorite ingredients - be it vegetables, mushrooms, seafood or other. You can also use it as a substitute for rice or pasta in a salad or with curry or vegetables.

Because einkorn has different properties than other grains, it behaves a little differently in recipes. Here are some cooking tips and tricks to help you get involved einkorn flour in your daily cooking or baking.

1. For starters, try using it in a 50:50 ratio. If your recipe requires one cup of flour, use half a cup of normal wheat flour and half a cup of einkorn flour. The more use einkorn flour, the easier it will be for you to feel the proportions you need to use to get what you want;

2. Since einkorn flour does not absorb as much liquid as other flours, try to reduce the amount of liquid you add so that your dough does not become too sticky. The other option is to add extra flour;

3. Be careful not to over-knead the dough. If your dough is not kneaded enough, it will be crumbly, and accordingly, if your dough is kneaded, the protein fibers will break down. It is believed that kneading einkorn dough is best to take approximately four minutes.

4. Uncooked einkorn can be stored for approximately six months when kept in a cool, dry place. It can last up to a year in the refrigerator.

And to be of maximum use to you, we recommend that you prepare something tasty, such as einkorn snacks. Your breakfast will be more complete and useful if you replace plain flour and make pancakes with einkorn.