This post is brought to you by Coles
Not too long ago, my mum raved about a clay pot rice that a family friend had cooked for her. The unexpected part was the clay pot “rice” was made by farro. I was quite intrigued by the idea of incorporating grains into Chinese cooking and it has been at the back of my mind ever since.
When Coles gave me brown teff grain to sample, I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity for me to feature this upcoming grain in one of my favourite Chinese recipes because of its versatile use and flavourless on its own.
The Guardian has dubbed teff to be the next big super grain. It is the Hollywood’s new favourite food, calling Victoria Beckham and Gwyneth Paltrow as fans.
My friends, please meet these little ancient grains called teff. And teff, please meet Fuss Free Cooking readers. 🙂
{Coles Brand Brown Teff Grain 500g: $10.99, available nationally}
Ethiopia is one of the world’s poorest countries, well-known for its precarious food security situation. But it is also the native home of teff, a highly nutritious ancient grain increasingly finding its way into health‐food shops and supermarkets in Europe and America and now thanks to Coles, Australia.
The size of Teff is similar to poppy seeds. I find it has the texture of quinoa and it performs like semolina and polenta where it thickens like porridge. Teff grains are high in calcium, iron, protein, and boast an impressive set of amino acids and naturally gluten-free.
Because of these characteristics, it would make a simple, delicious, hearty and nutritious hot and sour soup for my beloved and I to enjoy as a meal!
{Scroll down to learn more about the GIVEAWAY }
Ingredients
- 1 tsp cooking oil
- 3 tsps grated ginger
- 1 tsp dried chilli flakes (adjust to taste)
- 200g swiss brown mushrooms, sliced
- 2 tomatoes, diced
- 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
- 1/2 cup Coles brown teff grain
- 4 cups low sodium stock (chicken or vegetable)
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- 2 Tbsps water
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 Tbsps white vinegar
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 3 Tbsps soy sauce (adjust to taste)
- Spring Onion
- Fresh Chili
- Silken Tofu
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat up a teaspoon of cooking oil and then add ginger and chilli flakes. Saute over low heat until they become aromatic.
- Add mushrooms and saute for a minute. Then add tomatoes and frozen vegetables and teff grain. Pour the broth into the mushroom mixture and let it simmer with a lid on over high heat until it starts to boil. Turn the flame over to low and simmer for another 20 minutes after the broth reaches its boiling point. In the meantime, mix the cornstarch with cold water.
- Remove the lid. Over high heat and the soup is bubbling vigorously, add the cornstarch mixture and stir to combine with the soup. The soup will thicken as it boils. Keep it boiling until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Gradually pour the beaten eggs into the soup in a circular motion (rather streaming the egg in one spot). Allow the eggs to be fully cooked before you start stirring the soup. This is to ensure the eggs do not cloud the soup and they should appear ribbon-like.
- Stir in the white vinegar, sesame oil and soy sauce. Serve immediately.
How to win a $100 Coles voucher?
All you have to do to enter is to tell me in the comment box below:
What would you create with your Coles Brand Brown Teff?
Entry is open to all Australian residents aged 18 years and over. You are welcomed to enter multiple entries and the entry is open from 8th April 2015 to 15 April 2015. Please read here for detailed Terms and Condition of the giveaway.
Happy cooking and good luck! x Emily
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I would simply finely grind some of the Brown Teff in my food processor and add to breadcrumbs to use as the crunchy coating on my crumbed chicken (The chicken would first be dusted with flour then dipped into whisked egg). After shallow frying the chicken in rice bran oil, I would serve it with a colourful salad. Suzie 🙂
Sounds delicious, Suzie! Thank you for entering the giveaway. 🙂
x Emily
I would lightly brown the teff in a skillet to give it more texture. Then I would add it to pancake batter to give them a nice crunch. I would top the pancakes off with roasted banana and maple syrup.
I’ve just found a recipe for chocolate chip banana bread using teff to create a nutty flavour which I’d love to try. Any new ingredients to work into my bakes is always exciting!
Teff sounds fantastic. I love the wide variety of foods constantly becoming available through Coles.
I am getting into the idea of savoury muffins for lunches as I am about to start a new job on the road. I would make a variation on polenta muffins using Teff and incorporating zucchini, roast capsicum and goats cheese.
Always trying new foods & ingredients
I would use it to make a yummy Vegetable Quiche. And your recipe looks amazingly delicious.
Until I became familiar with it, the taste and texture I’m really unsure at this stage. But would initially try it in some biscuits, butter based fruit and nut ones I think.
I make a delicious semolina & polenta cake, with almonds that’s covered in lemon syrup when it comes out of the oven. Be nice to try and make it with teff instead or in addition to the semolina and polenta, will make for a yummy change from the predictable!
Teff Grain and Ricotta Pancakes with apricot and almonds! Breakfast heaven!
I would LOVE to use this with my Banana Muffins! I think it’d give it a great finishing flavour!
I would stick some teff in my soup to add bulk and substance to it. Hopefully I won’t feel hungry after my teff-filled soup!
I love that recipe…. yum. I want to try the Chorizo, Kale and Teff Soup. With this voucher I could do a bit more experimenting. Thank you.
I’d pack even more nutrition into them by using teff in the place of flour to bind MEATBALLS. Is there any dish that’s not improved with great meatballs in them?!
MeatBalls i would create, well anything that is quick and easy at the moment as we have a 1 week old little one in the house so at the moment we are just starting to learn to get into a routine so tea at the moment is at any time when the little one settles. so reheating the meatballs etc is an easy meal for us
I’d add teff to my carrot cake and bread mix for a healthy addition. Sounds great! Thanks for the information on it.
This is the first time I’ve hear of this product! I’d start by putting it in cakes and muffins.
My mouth is salivating!! Would like to try Banana, walnut waffles 🙂
I’d mix cooked teff with herbs, seeds, beans and loads of vegetables to make veggie burgers. What a wonderful nutrious flexible product!
Oh, great recipe, would like to incorporated it with my muffins. yum!
Delicious teff peanut butter cookies. Family favourites and I will be trying your great recipe 🙂
I’d never heard of this grain before reading this post! I’d try incorporating it into a Moroccan Lamb and Couscous recipe – I’d mix the teff grain into the couscous.
omg I so want to try chocolate banana bread!!!
I would use it to lay my Moroccan meatballs with spicy tomato sauce on, I think it would complement perfectly
Moroccan Apricot chicken is a family delight
Instead of couscous this new grain would be just right
I would incorporate teff into burnt butter oatmeal cookies with raisins and chocolate chips. I think the teff would give it a lovely nutty flavour and texture. I’ve never used teff before, but I can’t wait to try it.
I would love to try this in a lovely home cooked banana bread recipe, yum
Definitely trying Teff in my slow cooker casseroles, I love adding a touch of hidden healthy grains that the kids don’t know about, but they always scoff the lot, so I’m hoping Teff will excite me with it’s taste and help thicken the casserole.
Banana, coconut, teff biscuits…Yum!
I would love to make a healthy nutritious smoke salmon avocado brown teff sushi…yummm
How about a Chocolate-hazelnut Teff gelato filled with chunks of ooey goey Teff brownie bits
I’m going to add a teaspoon of teff into my next bowl of Bircher muesli that I prepare the evening before and have for breakfast the next morning. I’m hoping that the grain will soften a little whilst soaking overnight with the other ingredients (oats, yoghurt, berries and a little milk) and give the Bircher Muesli a slightly nutty flavour.
Suzie 🙂
I’ve got a side dish recipe for “spanish rice” that I’ve made with pearl barley and quinoa before, and it looks like this grain might work well there too!
~K
To keep it simple and fuss free, I am going to make a Teff crusted Korean Fried chicken on a bed of Teff grain incorporated apple djon mustard salad..yummmm….
Tabouli with Teff instead of burghal. Still those fresh tastes of parsely and tomatoes but with a twist!
Teff will allow me to experiment in making breads for my gluten free family. I’m most interested in crackers and flatbread, and in combination with other gluten free grains I will try a few different loaf recipes. I’m very excited Coles is releasing this product, I’ve been wanting to try Teff for years.
id whip up a meal finally that meets the criteria of good mum healthy meal that they will love and not even realise it was actually good for them. Dinner time without the groaning. Mothers delight
Now that I have just read you pancake recipe that’s what I would try!
It just so happens to be storming in Brisbane today so this soup would be a perfect dinner. Thanks!
Delicious…!!!!Oh thank you so much!! I love it too.
Yes!!! Thank you so much! I tried this last night and it was delish! My husband really enjoyed it and that’s quite rare. Thanks again!