Wheat Germ Cereal with Dates

By the RecipeCafe Archives

Ingredients

• 0.25 cup (30 g) wheat germ
• 0.25 cup (60 ml) cold water
• 2 cups (590 ml) boiling water
• 1 teaspoon (6 g) salt
• 0.25 lb (115 g) dates, pitted and cut into pieces
• 1 Cream, for serving

Instructions

1. 1. Measure 2 1/2 cups (590 ml) of water into the top insert of a double boiler and bring to a boil over direct heat.
2. 2. In a small bowl, combine the wheat germ, salt, and 1/4 cup (60 ml) cold water, stirring until the mixture forms a loose slurry (technique: slaking — pre-mixing a dry grain with cold water prevents lumping when added to a hot liquid).
3. 3. Add the slurry to the boiling water, stirring constantly. Boil over direct heat for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens slightly and no raw-grain aroma remains.
4. 4. Transfer the insert to the bottom pan of the double boiler, which should hold about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of simmering water. Steam for 30 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the cereal is fully swollen, tender, and pulls away cleanly from the sides of the pan.
5. 5. Remove from heat and stir in the date pieces until evenly distributed. Serve immediately in warm bowls with a pour of cream.