Teff Grain Bread
March 13th, 2009 by chuck
I was out shopping at the Organic Grocers awhile back and came across a bag of Teff Grains. I was wondering if anyone has ever heard of these beautiful looking tiny grains before? I think it was the color that first caught my eye. These small grains had a mixture of beige, browns and a copper color throughout the bag. They’re about the same size as cornmeal, but not as hard and gritty. My head started coming up with a recipe that would be perfect to use these grains in.
When I looked at the nutritional value I was surprised to see that the fiber was around 13g or 52%, the protein was 11g and the iron was 45% per 100 grams. So, it’s very nutritious and tasty at the same time. I bought the bag and couldn’t wait to get home and try a new recipe. When I opened the bag, and reached in to taste them. I found that they had a bit of a nutty flavor and were fairly soft in texture. Not hard like other grains such as cracked wheat. So, you don’t need to soak them over night to soften them before using it in a recipe. I decided to coat the loaves in the Teff grains for not only a visual look, but also flavor. This bread looks and tastes wonderful.
Teff grains come mainly from Ethiopia and India. It’s now starting to be grown here in North America and I’m sure we’ll see it more and more. The grains are so small that they consist mainly of bran and germ. This makes Teff grains very nutritious in fiber, protein, Iron and Calcium. They also contain no gluten! The bread itself, is made with stone ground whole wheat, bread flour, rye and bran flakes. The bread is also sweetened with a little corn syrup to give it a sweet flavor. It makes a perfect morning bread if you like having toast and butter for breakfast. I really hope you will search the net and your local health food stores for this grain … it’s well worth it.
For a step by step class for this great bread recipe Teff Grain Bread click here
Wow! Those slices look perfectly toasted (and delectable). Do you know if Whole Foods sells Teff Grains?
Interesting… I’ve never used teff, but I can sure say that this loaf would delight me! Wonderful!
Cheers,
Rosa
Oh, this is to perfect! I’ve had a bag of this stuff for the longest time and couldn’t think of a single thing to do with it. Definitely making this bread, asap!
Not only teff grain comes from Ethiopia but injera bread wouldn’t be authentic without teff.
I just love your idea to coat your loaves with it: beautiful and delicious.
I think – if I ever find teff in Paris – that I’ll try your recipe but I’ld use honey instead of corn syrup
Thanks for the recipe!
Gosh…I’ve never heard of Teff grains either. But I think I will be on the hunt now. Looks delicious. Thanks for stopping by my blog. Your comments were appreciated.
Love the colour! Looks really healthy and delicious! I tried your crackle bread recipe over the weekend. My topping didn’t crak =( but they taste really good! Will post it in my blog soon =) Thanks for the recipe!
I haven’t used teff, but it looks fantastic. The bread sounds great; wish I had a piece right now.
I haven’t used teff either, but I’m always up for trying new grains. This looks delicious.
I’ve never heard of Teff Grains but hey I enjoy using new products. Your bread is a great colour and it looks fantastic. Gosh I wish I had a slice right now with a smearing of butter – YUM!
oh wow, this loaf is beautiful. you’re right, the color is stunning. I used to see teff grains all the time at this Indian market in Philadelphia but I never knew what to do with them.
Thanks to your, I now know what Teff Grains are. Never heard about them before. It sounds like an interesting recipe to try. Your bread looks amazing, as usual.
That last shot is making me want to bake this bread ASAP!
Chuck, I’ve been admiring your recipes for several months now. I first learned about you in the Iowa Farmer Today. However, my real point is, would you like an official taste tester? I would love to fill that role just in case you’re looking! I’m sure your wife and sister have a hard time being objective and I’m just the person who could fill that role!
What a gorgeous bread! you have awesome collection of bread recipes.
That loaf of bread look fantastic! I’m a big fan of grain breads.
Great photos as well with the whole site, not just this post. Something to aspire to.
I didn’t know what a teff grain was until I came to your site. I’ll be back often. That is a lovely bread.
Bread looks fab…wonderful pics
That looks superb Chuck! I really like your idea of using it on the outside-it makes it so visually arresting!
I am happy to know that I will be able to do something other than injera ( Ethiopian crepe)with teff grains. Do you think quinoa would work here? I have a couple of pounds of red quinoa sitting in my pantry.
Wow!!! this bread is calling me,….!!! This looks so lovely & yummie
!!!
That bread looks SO amazing. Will you come to my house and show me to how to become a bread master, too? LOL
I’ve never heard of Teff grains before. Your bread looks so good. I wish I could bake bread not have to eat Dempsters all the time..haha. Banana bread is best out of the oven.. too bad I never cut into something while its still hot b/c I’m afraid of losing all the moisture and having the cake turn dry.
This looks absolutely wonderful. I’ve always associated teff with injera, so it’s great to know that there are other ways to use it. In fact, yours is the second post this week that I’ve stumbled across that has featured teff…I’m going out to buy some right away. Your bread looks lovely, and I can’t wait to try it!
This bread looks fabulous and your comments/recipe have finally given me the guts to try teff. But I’m wondering why you would use corn syrup, rather than molasses, honey or agave? With all the negative info about corn syrup out there, it seems it wouldn’t be the best complement to the other health benefits of this bread. Not hatin, just askin’! Thanks for this post!
Shazza, you could use honey, molasses or agave if you want. I find Teff has a very subtle flavor and I think molasses would be to strong and over powering. A nice lite honey, perhaps clover honey would be good.
That bread looks beautiful, and I love your description of the grain… I’m always looking for healthier bread recipes.
I knew nothing about Teff grains–thank you! And thanks for stopping by again (btw, those really are HUGE muffin tins, so not sure about the six!)
i definitely haven’t even heard of teff grain, but i know that i like how you used it! note to self: be on the lookout!
Hey Chuck,
My first time here and i must say that I absolutely love your blog. Love baking and love breads. Your pages have wonderful stuff and the snaps are a killer:)
Will be back.
cheers!
Smitha
saffronapron.blogspot.com
Hi chuck, I love teff, but never really used them for making bread other then the enjera. I never seen the grain before, I always buy the flour. I am very tempted to try this recipe.
Happy week ends,
elra
I love teff cooked as a pilaf, but I’ve never baked with it before…this bread looks wonderful! Thanks for visiting my blog!
Simply gorgeous ur bread with teff. I am wondering if Indian grocerie is selling under different name. I really love the outer crust
Oooooh, I’ve walked by an Ethiopian grocery store (in Burlington, of all places) and will drop by tomorrow to see if they have teff! The crust looks wonderful!
Sounds so good! Note to self: I MUST pick up Teff Grains!
it is insane; way beyond gorgeous from inside out! I’ll take a look at one asian store in here as it carries quite many indian food items.
Chuck,
I’m so glad you popped by my blog so that I would know where to find yours! The bread looks amazing!!
I have some teff flour that I like to toss into the mix when I’m baking for a little boost of nutrition, but I’ve never purchased the grains themselves. I’d love to find some! I’m such a fan of all grains.
Bread and jam– a man after my own heart!
i’m so intrigued by this
i think i picked up some teff at one point, i’ll have to go digging in my cupboards b/c this sounds fantastic!
Teff grain is new to me. I’ve seen it at a local organic grocery in my neighborhood but I’ve never used it. It looks like it makes a gorgeous bread. I love finding out about new ingredients. Thanks for sharing this!!
What a beautiful loaf of bread! This looks amazing!
WOW- I Love Love your blog. The background is great and your creations look incredible. I cannot wait to look around some more
Your place must smell like heaven. There’s nothing I love more than the smell of fresh baked bread. Will be giving this recipe a try as soon as I get my hands on some teff.
Wow! Your bread looks great and I love the idea of the teff grain. I’d love to taste it.
Paz
Never heard of teff grains before cheers for the intro. I probably have these in my bread but just never noticed them. Gorgeous pics by the way!
I just saw some Teff for the first time at Whole Foods last week, never saw or heard of it before that. I took a look at Bob’s Red Mill site and they have some recipes using teff. I was also impressed with the high nutritional value. I will try this bread, looks delicious.
The loaf just looks perfect!! Ive never heard of them before, but with so much fiber and proteins, I really wouldn’t mind giving it a try! This is going into my shopping list.
Pretty looking bread!
I have never tried or heard of teff grains before and I doubt they are available widely in London, which is a shame because they look delicious! Your toast picture has my mouth watering
Neva eva heard of teff grains, but this must be one of the most wholesome breads out there. Love a hearty bread.
I always like to learn about a new food. Great informative post.
This is just about the sexiest bread I have ever seen in my life. I’m so happy to have learned about Teff Grain bread–now to taste it!
That bread is beautiful! I like that you rolled the dough in the grains before baking. I’m sure it has a lovely texture!
I ran across teff grain recently and thought, “I have no idea how to use this stuff,” and walked away meaning to do a quick Google search when I returned home.
Needless to say, I forgot to look it up, so finding this post was doubly useful—not only for delicious looking bread, but now I know a terrific use of teff grain!
How beautiful is that bread??!! I’ve never heard of that grain before – I’ll have to look for it!
My family and I just watched a television show on differen breads and teff was mentioned. They showed a pancake like bread used to scoop what looked like various veggies and sauces off a huge platter. Everyone ate with their hands only off of the same platter.
Tried to subscribe to your blog. It works dif then I saw on other blogs… will try again. Hope it works this time
Beautiful bread. We have been eating 12 grains bread for breakfast, it’s time to try a new type of bread. Thank you for visiting my blog.
teff? thank Godyou said you have just discovered it because I was about to think how short I am on terms of knowing grains. Mercy.
So, never heard of it, and since today I’m hoping I can stumble up on it and try it on THIS particular recipe.
It’s a gorgeous loaf, I specially love the picture of the bread toast with the marmalade (or jam??)
Couldn’t you have made a GLUTEN-FREE recipe of bread ????
[...] took the other day, while making a trip to the local African market (yeah, in Burlington) for some teff grains that Chuck wrote about. Unfortunately, they didn’t carry any teff grains and said they had [...]
Ethiopians use Teff flour never use Teff as grain.Injera or kitta is made out of teff flour.
Because teff has no gluten some european countries are making teff bread for gluten intolerant people.
Most organic food stores carry teff . The Ethiopian stores carry teff flour.
I concurr with Doug! I was all excited until I found how little teff was actually used and the overwelming presence of the dreaded wheat…
Did someone try a GF teff bread?
The best place to get teff is Whole foods. I wouldn’t buy Teff from ethiopian store if you need to be Gluten free. The reason is, when the teff is being grinded, they (we) don’t use a 100% GF free facility. The teff could be grinded right after wheat resulting in cross contamination.
If Gluten is not an issue then…go to any large city and look for ethiopian resturants or stores and you will could get Teff at 50% cheaper than whole foods.
FYI…the minumum weight the stores sell is 10lb i belive.