Popped Sorghum
If you follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, I’ll bet you’re more likely than most carnivores to have either had or least heard of sorghum. It’s somewhat of a “fringe” grain….not very mainstream but popular in certain circles.
According to the Whole Grains Council, the benefits of adding sorghum to your diet are many. Some of the benefits they list are:
- May inhibit cancer tumor growth
- May protect against diabetes and insulin resistance
- Safe for people with Celiac
- May help manage cholesterol
- High in antioxidants compared to other grains
- May help treat melanoma
Impressive, right? I’m an advocate of eating a wide variety of whole, healthy foods and if you’re not already eating it, this is a great addition to your diet. One of the best ways to enjoy sorghum is to simply pop it, just like popcorn. Crazy, right? Popcorn has a ton of benefits on its own, the biggest being polyphenols, which are a fantastic antioxidant. But today, we’re talking about sorghum…particularly popped sorghum. And if you’re looking for how to pop sorghum, well…here you go.
How to Pop Sorghum
- 1/4 cup sorghum
- brown paper bag or heavy pan with a tight-fitting lid
Microwave method:
- place sorghum into a small brown paper bag and fold the top down a couple of times. Place in microwave, fold side down, and cook on high for 3-4 minutes, until there are at least 10 seconds between pops. Remove bag from microwave and let cool before opening.
Stovetop method:
- Heat a heavy pan with a tight-fitting lid over medium heat. Add sorghum, replace lid and shake often, until there are at least 10 seconds between pops.
Popped sorghum tastes very much like popcorn. For an additional nutritional punch, toss with a bit of olive or coconut oil and nutritional yeast flakes.
Shake up your food repertoire and give popped sorghum a try. Never be afraid to play with your food!