Posted on November, 16, 2021 at 08:26 am
There are a lot of grains out there that have existed since time immemorial. But do you know which among them is the oldest? Farro Monococcum, also called Einkorn, Small Farro and Little Spelt is the oldest grain that exists today. Cooked farro looks and tastes like barley, but has a slightly more chewy texture and caramel notes. There are different types of Farro available now, however, Farro Monococcum is said to be the oldest. Read on to know its history, its benefits and the recipes made using this grain.
Farro was first domesticated 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent, has been found in Egyptian tombs, and is even believed to have sustained the Roman legions.
It is said that Farro was quite famous among the Romans from 44BC to the collapse of the Roman Empire in 476. Since Farro was quite affordable, the poor population of the Roman Empire used ground farro to make various dishes.
Farro is mentioned with the Hebrew name of ‘Arisab’. Even today, Farro is used to make the national dishes of Lebanon, Lybia and Middle East countries. Just the difference is that it is now known by different names like Taboule, Kibbe and Salf.
Fiber, magnesium, and vitamins A, B, C, and E are all abundant in Farro. It thrives in arid, high-altitude environments and is nearly never cultivated with chemical pesticides or fertilisers. Farro is frequently consumed by gluten-intolerant people because of its ease of digestion and low gluten content.
Just one cup of whole grain Farro can provide a whopping 20% of the daily recommended fiber intake. A fiber-rich diet can prevent blood sugar spikes and might even help in reducing bad cholesterol.
Just ½ cup of Farro contains 12 grams of protein, which is a good news for all the vegetarians out there.
Source: The India Times