Have you ever watched a toddler try to eat whole grains? Or better put, cleaned 90% of those grains from the floor? This is, essentially, how I came to this component. I typically toss my son's grains with a bit of sauce to make them stick together but I wanted a mixture that was the perfect amount clump, with or without sauce. This multigrain pilaf has quickly become a favorite in our house. It uses three quick cooking gluten-free grains and the end result is a wonder pilaf perfect for grain bowls, salads, and curries. Teff has creamy properties but when used in smaller proportions, helps other grains stick together.
A note about sourcing these grains: If you've followed the news in the past years, you know that grains like quinoa and teff are important sources of nutrition for the countries that grow these grains. As these grains become more popular, the price is going up and causing these staple grains to become unaffordable for those who rely on them. Because of this, I like to try and source grains grown in the United States. I like this teff or this brown teff, this quinoa , and this millet.
Sorghum: If you're unsure of the teff in this recipe, I have another variation that uses sorghum. It takes longer to cook but the sorghum adds a lovely, chewy texture to the overall multigrain pilaf.
Aromatics: If you know what you will use this pilaf for, you can toss a few herbs into the pot while the grains cook. I like the heartier herbs like rosemary, thyme, and bay leaf.
Sweet: This multigrain mix also works well in a sweet capacity, topped with a few berries. I like to add cinnamon and/or maple syrup into the cooking grains. You could also add a few splashes of milk and make this into a wonderful breakfast porridge.
Grain Bowl Base: Probably my most-used application, this pilaf works as the perfect base for many grain bowls. Load it up with roasted/grilled vegetables, legumes, and a sauce- the combinations are endless!
Eggs: I love adding grains to scrambled eggs and omelettes. This multigrain mix is also wonderful topped with a fried egg.
Grain Cakes: Use this mixture as a base for grain cakes. My favorite is to swap the rice in these cauliflower cakes.
Curries: Use this pilaf in place of the rice as a bed for creamy curries.
Porridge: If you have a batch of this pilaf already made, reheat the grains in a bit of milk for an easy breakfast porridge.
Stir Fry: Use as a bed for any type or stir-fry or use the fried rice method, like in this recipe.
This pilaf sounds very nice. I have never done a grain bowl before but I like the idea a lot. This is also a nice way to use up small amounts of the grains. BTW, when I went to print the recipe, the print button was non-functional. Thought you'd want to know.