Before we go too much further into 2019, Ardent Mills, North America’s leading flour supplier and grain innovator, looks back at some grain-based culinary trends that emerged during 2018.
“We had an exciting year with the launch of our new business unit, The Annex by Ardent Mills (The Annex),” notes says Shrene White, general manager of The Annex. “Introducing The Annex at the year’s industry events provided great opportunities to showcase new ideas for using specialty grains and innovative formats, like crisps or puffed grains and individually quick frozen (IQF) grains.
The culinary team at Ardent Mills created on-trend menus and CPG-ready manufacturing ideas, inspiring industry leaders to consider plant-based, grain foods in new and convenient ways. Here are five ideas:
IQF Grains for Dipping
At the National Restaurant Association’s (NRA) 2018 tradeshow last May, Ardent Mills showcased on-trend menu ideas for bringing whole grains, crisped grains and individually quick frozen (IQF) grains to restaurant tables in innovative ways.
“IQF grains have a nice chewy texture, which makes them work in unexpected places,” notes Chef Jason Gronlund, technical sales manager, foodservice, The Annex. He created a Boulder County “Caviar” using ancient and heirloom grains inspired by the classic bean-based Cowboy “Caviar.” The Annex by Ardent Mills is proud to offer these unique grains, which he featured in IQF form in a verde tomato salsa “caviar” with Nature’s Color™ IQF Pure-Purple Barley, White Sonora Wheat Berries, Spelt and Sustagrain® Barley.
“IQF grains are easy to incorporate in menu development and eliminate any guess work in cooking to optimal doneness,” notes Gronlund.
Fried Snacks
Also at the NRA Show, Chef Joel Thompson, Ardent Mills corporate R&D chef, and the culinary team created a Great Grains Falafel featuring Ardent Mills Great Plains Quinoa™, Red Quinoa, Nature’s Color IQF Pure-Purple Barley, White Sonora Wheat Berries, Spelt and Sustagrain® Barley paired with the traditional flavors of coriander, toasted cumin, mustard seed, curry and lemon.
“The grains create a crisp exterior and moist center for fried snacks,” says Thompson.
Quick and Convenient Grain Bowls
At the annual Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Meeting & Food Expo Show in June, Chef Thompson and the culinary team showed manufacturing industry professionals how North American grown quinoa, IQF grains, crisps and other grain innovations can meet the demand for delicious and wholesome packaged foods. Multigrain bowls with chewy, hearty IQF White Sonora, IQF Purple Barley, IQF Sustagrain and IQF Red Quinoa can be topped with dried fruit and nuts for breakfast or fajita-style chicken, Korean BBQ or curries for lunch and dinner.
Authenticity and Regionality
For a group of foodservice editors at the annual International Foodservice Editorial Council (IFEC) in late October, Chef Gronlund created Pozole de Trigo, a traditional dish from the Sonora region of Mexico. Pozole usually features hominy corn, but in rural Sonora, wheat Pozole, or Pozole de Trigo is the local version and features regional Sonora wheat. Chef Gronlund’s Pozole de Trigo showcased Ardent Mills’ White Sonora Wheat, which was a staple wheat in the U.S. during the 1700s and 1800s, and today is enjoying a rediscovery.
Ardent Mills featured White Sonora Wheat flour tortillas in a dish of Multigrain Chilaquiles with IQF Red Quinoa and IQF Great Plains Quinoa at the IFT Show.
Fiber-packed Smoothies
Chef Gronlund also showed the IFEC crowd how Sustagrain, Ardent Mills’ proprietary and identity-preserved high-fiber barley, can transform a smoothie from a treat to a delicious, fiber-packed snack or meal replacement. Soluble and insoluble fiber, when part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, help maintain digestive health and increased satiety. This recipe combines the fiber and protein content of IQF Sustagrain, Great Plains Quinoa and Spelt with pumpkin pie puree, pumpkin pie spices, agave and Skyr, a cultured high-protein yogurt popular in Iceland.
About Ardent Mills
Ardent Mills is the premier flour-milling and ingredient company whose vision is to be the trusted partner in nurturing its customers, consumers and communities through innovative and nutritious grain-based solutions. Ardent Mills' operations and services are supported by more than 40 flour mills and bakery-mix facilities along with a specialty bakery, the Ardent Mills Innovation Center and Mobile Innovation Center, all located in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. Deeply rooted in communities throughout North America, Ardent Mills is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, and employs more than 100 certified millers, supporting thousands of local jobs and contributing billions of dollars to local economies.
To learn more about Ardent Mills, visit ardentmills.com.
The Annex by Ardent Mills is cultivating the future of specialty grains and plant-based ingredients. It represents a dedicated team committed to exploring what’s next in whole grains, pulses, mixes, custom multigrain blends and finished breads. Its broad portfolio includes ancient & heirloom grains, organic, sprouted, pulses and barley.
To learn more, visit www.ardentmills.com/the-annex or call 888-680-0013.
