Try a Teff Parfait for Breakfast

 

A simple parfait with layers of yogurt, cooked whole grain and fruit is a great place to try a new whole grain. Have you tried Teff? Teff is a tiny grain, similar to quinoa, smaller so it cooks in a short amount of time. What intrigued me about Teff is its dark brown color and sweet malty taste.  Teff pairs well with cocoa.

Teff has twice the iron of other grains and three times the calcium. It is part of a class of C4 grains with reduced environmental impact. Teff is more nitrogen efficient and more water efficient. A handful of the tiny seeds can produce a whole field of grain.

Here’s how I made this festive parfait:

Teff Parfait 

Teff sauce

( 2 servings)

2 Tablespoon Teff grain

4 Tablespoon water

On stovetop, bring Teff and water to a boil. Lower heat and simmer 10 minutes.

Add cocoa, figs, honey and cloves. Simmer 5 minutes.

1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa

2 Tablespoon diced figs

1 teaspoon honey

2 cloves

Remove cloves.

Refrigerate overnight.

Fresh cranberries in juice

(1 1/2 cups)

I make a bigger batch of this to serve on ice cream, alone, and in smoothies

10 ounce fresh cranberries

3 ounce water 

3 ounce orange juice

6 tablespoon sugar

On stovetop, bring berries, water, juice and sugar to a boil. Lower heat and simmer 15 minutes.

To assemble parfait

2 tablespoon Greek yogurt, plain, nonfat

2 tablespoon Teff sauce

1 tablespoon cranberries in juice

2 tablespoon Greek yogurt, plain, nonfat

1 tablespoon Teff sauce

1 tablespoon cranberries 

 

To assemble these the night before class, I strained the yogurt.