Published: Mar 28, 2016 by Becky Striepe · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon and ShareASale associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
What is kamut? Here's what you need to know about this ancient grain, plus how to cook kamut and a collection of delicious kamut recipes.
Prep Time Prep: 20 minutes mins
Cook Time Cook: 40 minutes mins
Total Time Total: 1 hour hr
What is kamut, and how do you cook it? That is the question I asked myself in the aisle at the DeKalb Farmers Market, as I stared at the container of grains that looked slightly plumper than brown rice.
I vaguely remembered reading something somewhere about kamut being awesome but had no idea where or why. Of course, I decided the answer was to just buy the stuff and figure it out in the kitchen. I'm so glad I did!
You can pretty much think of kamut as the heartiest brown rice you've ever had, and it's got a chewier texture and nuttier flavor.
Kamut is an ancient variety of wheat. It's got more protein than regular wheat and more vitamins and minerals, too! A ¾ cup (cooked) serving of cooked kamut contains:
It also contains plenty of trace minerals, like selenium, zinc, and magnesium. Pair your kamut with some iron-rich dark, leafy greens, and that magnesium will help your body absorb the iron. Boom.
Kamut is related to wheat, but some people find the gluten in kamut more easy to digest than in conventional wheat products. If you have a wheat intolerance, definitely talk to your doctor or a nutritionist about kamut. I do not recommend kamut to anyone with celiac disease. The gluten in kamut is easier to digest, but it's still gluten.
Kamut is not always the easiest grain to find at the regular grocery store.
If your store has a bulk section, that's a good bet. Also check in the aisle where they sell packaged, dry grains, like rice and barley.
I've found kamut in the bulk section at Whole Foods before, but they don't always have it. Here in Atlanta, they usually stock it at the Dekalb Farmers Market.
If you can't find it in stores, you can order kamut online. I like this one, from Bob's Red Mill.
If you don't want to order online and can't find kamut at your grocery store of choice, you can substitute other grains in its place. Good substitutes for kamut are:
These may have slightly different cooking times, but the water ratio is the same, and they'll lend a similar taste and texture that works in most kamut recipes.
You can use any of the kamut cooking methods below to make this easy kamut pilaf. The recipe for this vegan bowl of goodness is below, as well.
Bob's Red Mill suggests soaking kamut overnight to reduce cooking time, but it's not required. If you do soak, drain before following the directions below.
I like a rice cooker or pressure cooker for cooking kamut, because you don't have to pay attention while things cook. That leaves you free to prep the rest of your meal or just have a quiet minute. Hurrah!
Here's how to cook kamut in your rice cooker:
Like cooking quinoa, the pressure cooker shaves down your kamut cooking time. Unlike in the rice cooker, though, you definitely need to soak your kamut before cooking it in your pressure cooker.
Kamut pilaf makes a great, veggie-ful side dish. You can use any of the methods listed on this page for how to cook kamut to make it, so choose your own adventure!
