Groat (grain) facts for kids
Barley groats
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| Type | Whole grain |
|---|---|
| Main ingredients | any grains such as oats, wheat, barley, millet or rye etc. |
| Variations | Bulgur |
Groats are the inner parts of different cereal grains. Think of them as the whole, natural kernels of plants like oats, wheat, rye, and barley. They are called "hulled" because their tough outer shell, called the husk, has been removed.
Groats are considered whole grains. This means they still have all the healthy parts of the grain. These parts include the cereal germ, which is like the seed's embryo. They also have the bran, which is full of fiber. The main part is the endosperm, which is usually what flour is made from.
You can also get groats from "pseudocereals." These are plants like buckwheat that are not true grains but are used in similar ways.
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Cooking with Groats
Groats are very healthy to eat. They can be a bit hard to chew, so people often soak them first. This makes them softer and easier to cook. Groats are often used in soups and porridges.
Kasha: A Popular Groat Dish
Groats from many cereals are used to make kasha. This is a type of porridge that is a main meal in Eastern Europe. In North America, "kasha" usually means roasted buckwheat groats.
Dalia: Wheat Groats in India
In North India, wheat groats are called dalia. People often cook dalia with milk to make a sweet porridge. It can also be made with vegetables and spices for a savory dish.
Bulgur: A Middle Eastern Staple
Bulgur is made from parboiled and cut durum wheat groats. It is a key ingredient in many Middle Eastern foods. Famous dishes include mansaf and tabbouleh.
Groats in Sausages and Puddings
Groats are also used in some sausages. An example is black pudding. A special dish from the Black Country in England is groaty pudding. This pudding is made with soaked groats, leeks, onions, and beef. It is baked for many hours. Groaty pudding is a traditional meal for Guy Fawkes Night.
Other Groat Products
- Sliced oat groats are known as steel-cut oats. They are also called pinhead oats or Irish oatmeal.
- Coarse barley flour is made by grinding barley groats.
How Groats Are Made
Making groats starts with cleaning the grain. The grains are then sorted by size. Next, they are peeled if needed, and their husks are removed.
Sometimes, the groats are cut into smaller pieces. This is done with a "groat cutter." This machine can make fine, medium, or coarse groats. After cutting, any small pieces of shell are removed. The cut groats are then sorted by size using sieves.
Different Kinds of Groats
There are many types of groats, depending on the grain they come from:
- Oat groats: These are a good source of avenanthramide.
- Millet groats
- Wheat groats: This includes durum wheat groats, like bulgur.
- Buckwheat groats: Even though buckwheat is a pseudocereal, it is often used like a grain.
