3 Unique Grains to Liven Up Your Dinner Table

You’ve likely heard that whole grains are good for you, but there’s a whole lot more to whole grains than brown rice. Farro, sorghum, bulgar, quinoa: More and more supermarkets are stocking up on ancient grains, a group of super foods that increasingly is becoming mainstream. General Mills even released an ancient-grain-powered Cheerios variety in late 2014!

Why all the hype? Whole grains (grains with all three parts of the kernel) contain vastly more protein, fiber, and nutrients than refined grains. Some choose to eat old-world grains because they have been cultivated and harvested for thousands of years—unlike modern varieties of wheat—and many of these grains are gluten-free. Others just love the flavor variety the wide world of grains brings to the table.

Here are three great grains (and 9 great recipes) to get put your family on the path to whole-grain health!

1. Farro

Wonderfully nutty and a little chewy, farro was a dietary staple in ancient Rome and is still highly popular with Italian chefs today.

• Cheesy Baked Farro: Parmesan, fontina, and Gruyere make this dish absolutely de-lish. 
• Warm Farro Cereal with Coconut, Almonds, and Cherries: Coconut milk turns farro into a wonderful breakfast option.
• Black Bean, Corn, and Farro Vegetarian Burger: It isn’t easy to find a meatless burger that delivers real heartiness. But this recipe does the job!

2. Sorghum

This hearty grain originated in ancient Africa and spread to India and China via the Silk Road. Sorghum can be eaten like popcorn, or incorporated into pilafs and salads.

• Sorghum Bowl with Black Beans, Amaranth, and Avocado: This healthful bowl is perfect for warm summer nights.
• Sorghum Salad: Need to take a salad to a neighborhood picnic? This fits the bill. (Perfect for a work lunch, too!)
• Popped Sorghum:  Smaller and lighter than popcorn, popped sorghum is, well, adorable. It can take a little practice to get the heat right, but will delight the kids!

3. Quinoa

Perhaps the best known ancient grain, quinoa isn’t a grain at all, but a gluten-free seed domesticated thousands of years ago in South America. A traditional staple food source from the pre-Columbian Andes, quinoa has a high protein content making it popular with present-day eaters as well.

• Minty Meatballs with Quinoa and Herbs: The perfect party food.
• Quinoa Chocolate Cake: The first line of this flourless cake recipe is, “This cake has blown my mind.”  It blew ours, too. Try it for a special occasion.
• Coconut, Almond, and Quinoa Pancakes: No refined flour here. These are wonderful.