July 3, 2010 - 9:37pm
Kamut (Khorasan) vs Spelt Flour
Hello,
I have used wholemeal spelt for both bread and pasta and also white spelt for bread.
I have used Kamut / Khorasan / Egyptian Gold once for pasta, but am not very familiar with the properties of this flour, apart from that it is very similar to spelt.
I would like to know how Kamut compares to spelt particularly for breadmaking. (Health & nutrition, protein, ease of digestion, breadmaking, taste etc...) ??
and anything else that may be of particular interest regarding these flours?
Thanks Heaps!
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I haven't worked with spelt but grind my own kamut for a 100% whole wheat bread. I find my kamut flour, by itself, has plenty of gluten but it is the very stretchy variety. Emily Buehler talks about this in her book "Bread Science". I cannot get it to hold a freeform (such as a boule) very well, as it tends to want to flatten out.I thought it was something I was doing wrong and posted about the stretchiness on this forum in the last year. You might want to see if the replies are helpful.Use the search. Rises beautifully in a pan but it is VERY easily overproofed. It can go from under- to overproofed very quickly.
I mix kamut flour with other flour to counteract the looseness of the dough.I usually use 25% of the other flour- either hard red spring or hard white flour- to provide a more shape-holding ability in the dough. So, 1 cup red wheat and 3 cups kamut flour per loaf ratio (about).
It does have a somewhat nutty taste and beautiful golden color. It is about as absorbent of liquids as any whole wheat flour and benefits from a good soak/autolyse. It grinds beautifully.
I like to take advantage of the kamut's extensibility by using it in pizza dough,flatbreads or focaccia. Delicious.