Rose's New Year Shop Watch: Pearled Spelt

Pearled Spelt 

Ocado, Waitrose

What?
Sharpham Park Organic Finest Pearled Spelt 

Why?
The healthiest grain 

What goes around comes around. But this has been a long time coming around – about 4000 years. I am talking about an ancient grain called spelt. It is so old it was cultivated in the Middle East around 8000 years ago and in Britain in 2000BC. Then it fell out of fashion, and its use gave way to more modern variants of wheat. But I am suggesting we bring it back.

Spelt, a species of wheat, has a naturally nutty flavour and looks a bit like barley. Unlike common wheat it has not been subject to genetic or chemical modification, so it remains as the simple grain it was all those years ago. One of the reasons for the growing popularity is for its health properties – it has more protein even than lentils, and it is high in dietary fibre as well as vitamins and minerals. In fact, the Romans dubbed it “marching grain” for its high energy content. In addition, its unique gluten content makes it far easier to digest. And it is perfect for those who are turning more and more to a vegan, vegetable or part vegetable diet, which many are this month.

But the real reason to try it is because it is terrific in soups, stews, stuffing and salads. Make a simple salad by just adding chopped tomato and throw in some capers and olives, or make it a main course by adding good quality tuna, rocket, spring onions even a boiled egg. But my favourite way of using it – in risottos. You simply replace the rice with the rinsed pearl spelt, and make it in the same way, and then you will really taste the nuttiness. It is worth bearing in mind that it just takes a little longer than rice. Try it with prawns, or sausage, or asparagus, or peas and pancetta. Or you can serve it as a vegetable, stirred through with good olive oil – try it with lamb shanks. Or coat it with a little oil and fry it very gently until it goes a bit crispy and serve it alongside a sliced duck breast.

It is also becoming quite fashionable with chefs featuring it on their menus. Mark Hix has championed it; Locatelli has recipes in his cookbook using farro which is the Italian grain; and a famous Paris restaurant Taillevent has a signature dish of lobster spelt risotto.

I have chosen to buy pearl spelt from Sharpham Park. The company was founded by Roger Saul the owner of the fashion brand Mulberry. He launched the brand from his totally organic farm in Somerset. He has made it his mission to reintroduce spelt to us and he has become known as the “Champion of British Spelt”. The organic pearled spelt is produced by bouncing it over rotating stones to remove the outer layer of bran and “pearl” the grain. This means that during cooking it soaks up all the flavours. They also produce organic spelt (which has not been pearled); flour (remember, its original use was for bread); cereal; and pasta. And you can buy a book of recipes “Spelt” by Roger Saul, for more inspiration.

So, move over quinoa. Join in the voyage of rediscovery and know you are eating an ancient grain like your ancestors before you.

Conclusion:
What comes around goes around

Product Details:
Sharpham Park Organic Finest Pearled Spelt
500g £3.20

Contact:
ocado.com
waitrose.com

Price and availability as at 31st December 2022

View all Rose Lloyd's Shop Watch products