Multi grain bread is a special kind of bread baked with more than one kind of grain. The multi grain bread is often erroneously described as a whole grain bread as well although every bread that consists of multiple grains may not be prepared from whole grains. Oats, barley, flaxseeds, cracked wheat and millets are the usual ingredients recommended by a multi grain bread recipe.
The breads usually consist of five or more different types of grains with a few of them containing as many as twelve types of grains. They are usually considered to be more nutritious than the traditional white loaves. The multi grain bread is generally shaped like an ordinary loaf or may be rounded. Rustic bread and peasant bread are varieties of the multi grain breads which are available at bakeries. They can also be prepared at home.
The taste of a multi grain bread varies from the bland taste of the white loaf. The rye bread also has a bitter aftertaste if prepared according to the traditional multi grain bread recipe.
They make excellent sandwiches on account of their firm texture which does not get soggy even after remaining packed for long hours. Sandwich rolls made according to the multi grain bread recipe are also available commercially now.
History Of Multi Grain Bread Recipe
The bread can be traced back to the ancient times when Egyptians perfected the art of making the bread with dough prepared by mixing water and unleavened grains. The original breads were usually prepared from a single grain which was grounded into a coarse powder.
The exact date of origin of the multi grain bread has not been documented but indications point to the fact that breads baked from a variety of grains were popular in most countries around the globe. Advertisements of commercially available multi grain bread were published as early as 1954 in American newspapers.
Ingredients And Popular Multi Grain Bread Recipe
Multi grain bread is prepared by mixing together a variety of grains often whole wheat, oats, white and rye flour. Other ingredients like honey, gluten and milk solids and buck wheat along with flax seeds or sesame seeds are often added to the dough as well. Nuts, pieces of dried fruits, spices and seeds can also be added to enhance the taste of multi grain bread. They can also be distinguished into light and heavy breads as well.
• Light Variety- Similar in texture to the white bread, it consists of broken grains, oats as well as different types of wheat.
• Heavy Variety- Contains more of grains and is densely baked occupying a small volume.
Nutritional Value Of Multi Grain Bread
The nutritional value of multi grain bread differs according to the kind of grains used. However, most of them are low calorie food with a single serving consisting of 65-69 calories. It has a number of health benefits and is low in saturated fat with adequate amounts of dietary fiber, selenium and manganese being present in it.
Multi Grain Bread: Trivia
The multi grain bread is also known as Kibbled bread as it contains small pieces of broken grains known as kibbles.