Additional information
Packsize | 10 lb |
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Corn is the only grain whose origin can be traced to the Americas. When Christopher Columbus landed in modern day Cuba some of his crew went inland and came across maize. Corn was then brought back to Europe. In Italy Corn is most often served as Polenta. This dish comes from the Lombardy and Veneto regions of Italy. Polenta can carry many different flavors and is a filling, nutritious dish. Fine Polenta has a slightly less coarse grind than traditional Polenta and has a shorter cooking time. Basic Preparations: Bring 4 cups water or stock to boil, VERY slowly whisk in 1 cup polenta. Simmer and stir frequently for 5-10 minutes, until very thick. Season to taste and serve, or place in greased bread pan, chill 2 hours, slice and prepare as desired.
Packsize | 10 lb |
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White Polenta is coarsely ground White Cornmeal, used in Italian cooking. Season with herbs, spices sauted mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes or garlic to make a delicious side dish or entree. Polenta can be sliced, baked or fried. Serve Polenta hot and topped with maple syrup for breakfast.
Imported Italian Polenta. In the Lombardia region, the Moretti family has been attentively growing corn and making choice polenta since 1922. Carefully selected varieties of corn are air-dried in open barns until hardened. The kernels are carefully stone ground and vacuum-packed to retain the cornmeal’s natural freshness and flavor.
Polenta can be made from white or yellow cornmeal (the most common) and the taste is fairly similar. However, the texture can vary from coarse or finely-ground and the preference is purely personal. A finely-ground white polenta would usually be served with fish, while a coarse yellow polenta would complement a dish of hearty game or meat.
It is a short grain variety with a pearled color. Its size is equivalent to that of the short grain rice, sometimes even smaller, yet Bomba rice more than doubles its size when cooked. Its main characteristic is its great capacity to absorb flavors and aromas and that when cooked it is always “al dente,” loose and whole.
Einkorn, literally meaning “single grain” in German, was first cultivated five to ten thousand years ago. Einkorn is an ancient grain that is not yet commonly known in the western world, but used often in the Mediterranean region and in the mountainous areas of Europe. This grain is slightly finicky, completely delicious, good for you, has a slight yellowish tinge, and smells (and even looks) a little like corn flour. Unlike modern wheat which has a long history of hybridization, einkorn is a “diploid”, containing only two chromosomes unlike the modern cousin, which contains six, making it a “hexaploid”. Einkorn is packed with nutrition. It is a rich source of the beta carotene lutein, a powerful antioxidant. Einkorn has the highest amounts of lutein of any other variety of wheat. Einkorn is also a rich source of tocotrienols and tocopherols, powerful antioxidants and forms of Vitamin E. Compared to modern wheat varieties, einkorn has higher levels of protein, crude fat, phosphorous, and potassium.
Farro has seen a surge in popularity thanks to its excellent taste and adaptability. Now in couscous form, the nutty flavor and delightful chewy texture enhances a range of dishes from meat ragu to seafood stew, or even eaten simply drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. Because it is easily digested and low in gluten, farro can often be eaten by people who are normally gluten-intolerant.