Teff Porridge

There is an amazing variety of vegetables, fruits and grains in this world and every day I'm discovering new ones; this recipe for Teff Porridge is the result of one of those discoveries.

If you're like me you grew up eating rice, wheat-based pasta, barley and oats. If you really wanted to expand, you maybe tried brown or wild rice but that was about it. When I stopped eating meat, I started discovering all kinds of new grains: couscous, quinoa, buckwheat, spelt, millet, wheat berries and more. My somewhat recent discovery of teff continues to expand my options for healthy, delicious, meat-free meals.

Teff is the world's smallest grain, and looks a bit like dark brown grains of sand. It's simple to cook and has a good amount of protein and iron in each serving. You can use teff for all kinds of meals. It's a staple in Ethiopian cuisine, used to make everything from bread to beer.

This is my new favorite breakfast, and I'll cook up a big batch on Sundays to eat throughout the week. It heats up well, and is very satisfying. The dates give it quite a sweet taste though, so if you're more of a savory breakfast lover check out the recipe notes for some ideas to modify the recipe.

• 1 C Teff

• 1 Tbsp butter

• 1/4 tsp ground cloves

• 3 C water

• 3/4 C pitted dates halved crosswise

• 1/4 tsp sea salt

• 3 Tbsp honey

• 1/4 C walnuts

1. Heat a heavy, 2 quart saucepan over medium heat; add teff and toast, stirring frequently, until the grains begin to pop (approximately 3-6 minutes).

2. Add the water, butter and close and stir well.

3. Bring to a gentle boil, cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Sitr in the dates, salt and honey.

5. Cover and continue cooking until teff is tender and the porridge is your desired consistency, about 5-10 minutes.

6. Remove from heat and let sit 5 minutes before eating.

• As I mentioned, this dish is pretty sweet due to the dates. If you'd prefer it less sweet, you can omit the dates and use another dried fruit. I'd recommend raisins or apples - they'll go well with the cloves.

• You can try another type of nut, like pecans, almonds and even macadamias for a different flavor.

• Try topping your porridge with some Greek yogurt, soy milk, butter, additional honey, or a sprinkle of cinnamon.