CEREALS
CEREALS
CEREALS
Starch is the most important plant products to man. It is an essential component of food providing a large proportion of the daily
calorie intake. Cereals are food made from the processed grains that are often eaten as the first meal of the day either hot or cold.
Grain Anatomy
Belonging to the complex carbohydrates food group, cereals are rich sources of nutrients found on its three major parts
namely:
Bran is the outer layer of the grain which is a good source of fiber, omega- 3 fatty acids, vitamins and dietary minerals.
Endosperm is the main or the large part of the grain which consist mainly of starch.
Germ is the smallest structure at the rare part of the kernel. Rich in vitamin E, folate, thiamine, phosphorous and
magnesium. This germ is the storehouse of nutrients for the seed while germinating.
Production of Flour
The endosperm of the wheat grain contains all the material used by the baker. It consists of numerous large cells in
which starch grains are tightly packed. The cells contain an insoluble protein called gluten. When flour is mixed with water it
is converted into sticky when moistened. The relative proportion of starch and gluten varies in different wheat and those with
a low percentage of gluten are not suitable for bread making (soft flour). For this, reason, wheat is blended.
In milling, the whole grain is broken up, the parts separated, sifted, blended and ground into flour. Some of the outer
coating of bran is removed as is also the wheat germ which contains oil and is likely to become rancid and spoils the flour.
For this reason whole meal flour should not be stored for more than 14 days.
Kinds of Flour
1. White Flour. Contains 70- 72% of the whole grain (the endosperm only). Examples are, all-purpose flour and enriched
flour (a white flour with nutrients added on it).
2. Wholemeal flour. Contains 100% of whole grain. This is commonly used for wholemeal bread and rolls.
3. Wheat meal flour. Contains 90% of the whole grain.
4. Self- rising flour. White flour with the addition of cream of tartar and bicarbonate of soda.
5. Semolina. Granulated hard flour prepared from the central part of the wheat grain.
6. Durum flour. Yields glutinous flour used especially in pasta. Durum flour is a by-product of semolina.
7. Soft flour. Used for cakes, biscuits, all pastry except puff and flaky, thickening soups and sauces, batters and coating
various food.
8. Strong flour. Used for bread, puff and flaky pastry and Italian pastas.
Oats are one of the hardest cereals. They are either rolled into flakes or ground into three grades of oatmeal: coarse, medium
and fine. Oats are used in rolled oats- porridge, oatmeal- porridge, thickening soups, coating food, cakes and biscuits.
Barley is made of pearl barley when the grains are husked, steamed, rounded and polished. Pearl barley is also ground into
fine flour. These products are used for making barley water for thickening soups and certain stews. When roasted, barley is
changed into malt and as such is used extensively in the brewing and distilling of vinegar.
Maize is also known as corn, sweet corn or corn- on- the cob and besides being served as a vegetable, it is processed into
cornflakes and corn flour.
Corn flour is the crushed endosperm of the grain which has the fat and protein washed out so that it is practically pure
starch. This is used for making custard and blancmange powder, because it thickens easily with liquid and sets when cold into
a smooth paste that cannot be made from other starches. Corn flour is also used for thickening soups, sauces, custards.
Rice cereal grass is widely cultivated in warm climate for its seeds and by products. Rice depends on the variety, the length
of storage, grain size, shape and color, cleanliness or if it is free from dirt or foreign substances. There are two types of rice
grain:
1. Long grain- a narrow-pointed grain, best for savoury dishes and plain boiled rice because of its firm structure which
helps to keep the rice grains separate.
2. Short grain- a short, rounded grain, best suited for milk puddings and sweet dishes because of its soft texture.
Kinds of Rice
1. Brown rice is any rice that has the outer covering removed but retains its bran and as a result is more nutritious.
2. Wild rice is the seed of an aquatic plant related to the rice family.
3. Ground rice is used for milk puddings
4. Rice paper is a thin edible paper produced from rice and is used in making macaroons and nougat.
Tapioca is obtained from the roots of tropical plant called cassava. It is used for garnishing soups, milk puddings, and other
native delicacies.
Sago is produced from the pith of the sago palm. It is used for garnishing, soups, and other native desserts.
Garnishing
Follow are some garnishing tips you can follow:
Garnishes should always be edible
Fresh herbs are fantastic and very easy way to add instant visual interest, color, fragrance and flavor.
Use fresh seasonal fruit sauces in a squirted bottle with a zigzag across the bottom to dress up desserts.
The components of a cereal dish can be a garnish itself
Use only relevant or complementary ingredients or flavors.