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Teff: Introduction to a little known grain.

Teff is a reliable, low risk ancient grain. It is grown mainly as a cereal crop and can adapt to both drought and water logged conditions. Teff is the smallest grain in the world, it takes 150 teff grains to weigh as much as one wheat grain.

Teff is grown primarily as a cereal crop in Ethiopia. The grain is ground into flour, fermented and made into enjera a sour-dough type flat bread, eaten as porridge or used as an ingredient of home-brewed alcoholic drinks. Teff is also grown for livestock forage. In Ethiopia teff straw from threshed grains are considered to be an excellent forage, superior to straws from other cereal species. Teff straw is also utilized to reinforce mud or plasters used in the construction of buildings.

Teff may be substituted for seeds, nuts or other small grains when baking, as a thickener for soups, stews, gravies and puddings, to make grain burgers, and in stir-fries and casseroles. Nutritionally teff consists mainly of bran and germ, and contains no gluten - a source of many food allergies. Teff is rich in calcium, phosphorous, iron, copper, aluminum, barium and thiamin, and is a good source of protein, amino acids (especially lysine), carbohydrates and fibre. Teff is virtually unknown in North America and the cultivation that does exist is done by private entrepreneurs.

Recipes:  Pancakes,  Hush Puppies,  Cookies,  Bran Muffins,  Pudding,  Peanut Butter Muffins,  and  Burger

Teff Pancakes

1 cup cooked Teff
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1 cup of multigrain pancake mix (or other mix of choice, just nothing cheap or highly processed)
1 cup water or enough to make pancake batter
1 egg (optional)
1 tbsp. Oil (optional)

Mix all ingredients. Cook on a hot, oiled griddle. Serve with your favorite syrup.

Teff Hush Puppies

1/2 cup Yellow Cornmeal
1/2 cup Unbleached White Flour
2 tbsp. uncooked Teff
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. low sodium baking powder
pinch pepper
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup water
1 tbsp. Olive Oil
1 tbsp. honey

Combine all ingredients. Drop by the teaspoonful and deep fry in hot oil.

Teff-Carob Cookies

3/4 cup Rice Flour
1/4 cup Barley Flour
1-1/2 tbsp. carob powder
1/4 cup uncooked Teff
1/4 cup molasses or maple syrup
1/2 cup water or milk
1/4 tsp. almond extract

Mix dry ingredients. Mix liquids. Combine mixtures. Drop small spoonfuls onto oiled baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes.

Teff Oat Bran Muffins

1/2 cup Arrowhead Teff
1/4 cup boiling water
2 cup Arrowhead Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
1/2 cup Arrowhead Oat Bran
1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt (optional)
1/2 cup honey
2 tbsp. Arrowhead Sesame Oil
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tbsp. grated orange rind

Preheat oven to 375°F. Oil muffin tin. In a mixing bowl, pour boiling water over Teff. Stir to moisten all Teff. Set aside. In another mixing bowl mix flour, Oat Bran, baking soda, and salt. When the Teff mixture is cool, stir in honey, oil, buttermilk, egg, and grated orange rind. Add to dry ingredients. Mix with a few quick strokes, spoon into prepared muffin tin and immediately place into preheated oven. Bake for 20 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from tin. Makes 12 muffins.

Teff Pudding

1 cup cooked and cooled Teff (cooked like cereal omitting raisins)
1 cup tofu
2 to 4 tbsp. maple syrup, honey, or other syrup
1 tsp. vanilla

In a blender combine tofu, sweetener, and vanilla. Blend until smooth and light. Pour cooked Teff and tofu mixture in a bowl. Mix thoroughly, cover, and chill
Variation: Add slices bananas. Serve over Teff-Carob Cookies.

Teff-Peanut Butter Muffins

1/3 to 1/2 cup uncooked Teff
2 cups Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
1 tbsp. low-sodium baking powder
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/4 cup Peanut Butter, Crunchy or Creamy
2 tbsp. Unrefined Safflower Oil
1-1/2 cups water
4 tbsp. molasses, honey, or maple syrup

Stir Teff, flour, baking powder, and salt together. Cut in Peanut Butter and oil with fork or pastry blender until the mixture is like crumbs. Add the water and molases; stir just until well mixed, but do not beat. Fill oiled muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake 12-15 minutes at 350°F or until done.

Teff Burger
Makes 6 burgers

1 cup Teff
3 cup water
1 tsp. thyme
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. salt (optional)
3 scallions, chopped
2 tbsp. Arrowhead Sesame Oil
6 slices Jarlsberg Cheese
6 slices tomato
6 lettuce leaves
6 hamburger buns

Place Teff, water, thyme, garlic, and salt in a pan and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir once or twice toward the end of cooking. Spread cooked Teff in a shallow pan to cool. When cooled, add scallions and form patties. Heat a skillet, add oil, and fry until nicely browned. Turn, top with cheese and cook until the bottom is browned and the cheese is melted. Assemble burgers on buns with lettuce and tomato.

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