Getting rid of bad habits can be tough. But sometimes it can be even more difficult to start new better habits. And if you’re just starting out with a lectin-free lifestyle – some of the foods discussed may not be familiar to you.
But rest assured, just because you’ve never tried it doesn’t mean you won’t love it.
Take sorghum, for example. Sorghum is a wonderful resistant starch that contains a cornucopia of polyphenols – and it tastes great to boot!
So, to help you fall in love with this lesser known lectin-free grain – sorghum – Dr. Gundry’s created this beautiful sorghum salad for you with radicchio. You’re going to love it. But first…
What Exactly is Sorghum?
Well, sorghum is one of just two grains that have no hull. The hull of a grain is its outer shell or coating. Sorghum contains no hull, which means it contains no lectins. But sorghum is also a source of some pretty important minerals and nutrients like:
- Protein
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Iron
- Calcium1
Furthermore, most sorghum varieties are rich in polyphenolic compounds and therefore might offer some good protection against the development of certain health issues, heart health concerns, and digestive discomforts.2
Originally, sorghum was a staple grain in India until it was replaced by rice. Bob’s Red Mill Sorghum can be found in any well-stocked supermarket.
Furthermore, sorghum can be used in a huge variety of dishes – as a breakfast cereal, a side dish, or it can be popped like popcorn. Again, find Nature Nate’s pre-popped snacking sorghum in Dr. Gundry’s online grocery store.
Today, however, let’s make a tasty sorghum salad…
Dr. Gundry’s Sorghum Salad Recipe
Cook time: 2 hours for sorghum
Prep time: 15 minutes for salad
Serves: 4
First of all, you’re going to want to make sure and carve out a good chunk of time to cook your sorghum – you’ll need an hour or so. Then you can freeze or refrigerate unused portions for later.
One of the amazing mysteries about sorghum is that it never gets mushy. And in this recipe, you’re going to mix it radicchio (or as it’s sometimes referred to… Italian red lettuce), and some Gundry-approved nuts. This recipe is really going to feed your gut bugs good.
Perilla, macadamia, or avocado oil can be substituted for the olive oil too if you like.
What You’ll Need:
For the Sorghum
- 1 cup sorghum
- 3 cups vegetable broth or water, plus more if necessary
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sea salt, preferably iodized
For the Dressing
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar or other vinegar- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons capers, rinsed
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder or seeds
- 1 clove garlic, peeled
For the Salad
- 1⁄2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- 1 head radicchio, torn or chopped into bite-size pieces
- 1⁄2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
What To Do:
To Make the Sorghum
- First, pick through the sorghum, rinse, and discard any debris.
- Next, you want to put the broth or water and oil in a medium saucepan, and bring to a boil. Stir in the sorghum and return to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 1 to 2 hours, stirring every 15 minutes and adding broth or water as needed to keep it from drying out or sticking to the pan. You can make the rest of the recipe while cooking the sorghum. (Test by stirring with a fork: sorghum should be light and fluffy.)
- When it’s done, refrigerate or freeze the cooked sorghum, and then thaw and let it come to room temperature when you want to use it.
To Make the Dressing
Using a Magic Bullet blender or a mini food processor fitted with an S-blade, combine the vinegar, olive oil, capers, coriander, and garlic and process until smooth.
To Serve
Throw the sorghum, nuts, radicchio, and parsley in a large bowl. Add the dressing and toss to combine. Serve on dinner plates.
The Takeaway
Sorghum is healthy, delicious, and a truly fun food to eat. Enjoy serving this dish to your friends and family. They’ll likely ask you to make it again and again.
Learn More About Cooking With Sorghum:
How to Boost Your Baby’s Gut Health (lectin-free baby food recipes)
Delicious Vegan Sweet Potato Pie Recipe
Sources
1.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25875451
2.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2835915/
