Additional information
Packsize | 25 LB |
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Barley was one of the first crops cultivated by man, and has been used as a food since Biblical times. Today, barley is still considered an excellent source of soluble fiber. With a higher beta-glucan content than oats, barley can be effective in lowering serum cholesterol levels. Barley also contains fiber, protein, carbohydrates and B vitamins. It’s low in fat and has no cholesterol. Although pearled barley is commonly used in soups, barley can be milled into various fractions, producing different cuts, pearls, flours, grits and flakes.
Packsize | 25 LB |
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Because of its neutral flavor, it’s easy to blend barley’s nutrition and texture into a variety of foods. May be baked in casseroles, used as stuffing, or pureed for cereal or pudding with maple syrup, cinnamon and dates. Available in 25 LB master sacks or 5 LB partial bags.
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.
Black Barley is also known as Purple Hull-less Barley. Originally from Ethiopia, this variety has not been raised until recently because of the low yield. This is actually the only grain that can go from field to table without being processed, because the gloom or bran layer stays attached to the kernel, and is edible.
Suggested Use:
The shape of this hearty grain resembles a coffee bean and cooks to a glossy purplish-mahagony color. It is wonderful in soups and stuffings or alone as a beautiful alternative to rice (Because of a somewhat chewy texture, it is best mixed with other grains.)
Basic Prep:
Rinse well, add 1 cup of barley to 3 cups of boiling water. Simmer covered 35-40 minutes until liquid is absorbed. For a fluffier grain, soak Barley in water for 5 hours then simmer covered for 15 minutes. One cup dry yields 3-1/2 to 4 cups cooked.
Chana Dal (Pisum Sativum) are small peas which are peeled and cut in half. This type of Legume dates from 6000 BCE and have been found buried with Egyptian mummies. They were brought to India by the Greeks and are now an important staple food in South Asia.
Suggested Use:
When cooked they lose their shape and are excellent for thickening soups and stews. Typically used with curry, they can be seasoned with many different herbs.
Basic Prep:
Rinse 1 cup of dry peas in several changes of cold water, until water runs clear. Cover with unsalted water, bring to boil over medium-high heat, cook for 25-30 minutes until peas are tender but still firm. One cup dry yields 2 cups cooked.
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.
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.