If you’ve heard of einkorn, it’s likely because you’re familiar with its flour form. Einkorn is typically used for baking purposes in everything from bread to muffins to cake to waffles—yes, waffles. If that’s where your knowledge of the ancient grain ends, I don’t blame you. But there’s a wide world to be discovered when you start mixing einkorn into your meals. Used as a grain, einkorn can be layered with fresh greens and fruits, creating a perfectly nutty, satisfying einkorn salad that doubles as the perfect spring side.
Chef and entrepreneur, Camilla Marcus knows these truths of einkorn well. It’s why she used it as the base for this irresistible spring salad at the lunch she hosted in her backyard in LA. See, grain salads boast endless possibilities. They’re perfect for large gatherings or a simple weeknight salad. Einkorn berries pair well with a variety of different rich cheeses, like chèvre or feta, and are a great textural addition to veggies like spinach and kale.
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What is einkorn?
Einkorn is a wheat grain whose use dates back thousands of years. (Fun fact: it’s often considered “man’s first wheat.”) Einkorn also doesn’t contain the D chromosome, which has been discovered to cause wheat intolerance in many people. Its low gluten content has led to the popularity of einkorn flour, which is used both for flavor and to limit allergy symptoms for people with wheat or gluten allergies.
How do you use einkorn?
Einkorn can be milled into flour and used as a substitute for all-purpose flour. This einkorn salad uses einkorn berries straight from the husk as a texture-filled topping for salad. It’s a great, low-gluten substitute for rice in risotto or used to round out a plant-based meal with a little protein. Einkorn is versatile and totally delish—it might just become one of your pantry staples.
Einkorn Berries Versus Flour
Whether you choose the flour or berry form of this diverse grain, there are plenty of options that’ll make you fall in love with einkorn. As mentioned above, einkorn berries can be used as a healthier alternative to rice in risotto, cooked the same way, or as a topping for a salad like in this recipe. In its flour form, options include anything from a flour substitute used in a delicious dessert crisp to a loaf of sourdough bread that you can use throughout the week.
Tips for Cooking Einkorn
Cooking einkorn berries is simple and only requires two ingredients. Bring water to a boil and simmer berries on low for 30-35 minutes, depending on the amount being prepared. Typically, you can add two cups of water to every cup of wheat berries. Once it’s cooked, simply fluff it with a fork and season.
Scroll on for the recipe, and if you make this einkorn salad, be sure to leave a rating and comment below!
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Einkorn Salad with Charred Squash
Description
This irresistible, nutty, and rich grain is about to be your new go-to. It’s the perfect way to turn squash and seasonal veggies into a satisfying salad.
Ingredients
- 2 cups einkorn
- 1 whole kabocha squash
- 8 radishes
- 1/4 cup pickled mustard seeds
- 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
- 1 cup fresh herbs (parsley, chives, dill, mint, cilantro basil—whatever you’ve got)
Instructions
- Cook einkorn and season.
- Cook whole kabocha squash by nestling it into the hot coals of a grill, or roasting in the oven, until it’s soft and tender throughout. Cut it down the middle, then remove the seeds. Let cool.
- Add einkorn to a serving bowl. Slice radishes and add to the bowl. Add mustard seeds, pine nuts, and herbs. Season with salt and pepper, then toss together.
- Use your hands to tear the kabocha squash into bite-size pieces. Add to bowl, then gently toss. Taste to adjust seasoning and serve.
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