Kamut flour is considered an ancient grain and as such is healthier than modern wheat. Many modern wheat varieties are bred for their yield rather than nutrition. Because of its nutritional value and the fact that it is organic, Kamut is popular among health food lovers but you may have a hard time finding it depending on where you live. Here are a few good Kamut flour substitutes to try.
Your best bet: Spelt flour
Spelt is a member of the same family as wheat, though it has different properties since it belongs to a different species. Spelt is nutritionally similar to Kamut since it is rich in B vitamins. It also contains a significant amount of minerals found in Kamut flour such as iron, magnesium, and zinc. Its protein level is almost as high as that of Kamut flour.
Like Kamut flour, spelt flour’s flavor is subtle and nutty when used in bread and other baked goods. If you plan to bake bread with this flour, the good news is that it contains a lot of gluten; however, it’s not like the gluten in wheat flour. Spelt flour’s gluten breaks down quickly, which means that you have to cut down on your mixing time.
A decent second choice: Amaranth flour
Amaranth is another ancient grain like the Khorasan wheat used to make Kamut flour and is rich in many of the same nutrients. Both Kamut flour and amaranth flour contain high levels of B vitamins including riboflavin and niacin. They are also good sources of minerals like iron and magnesium.
The main property that makes amaranth flour a good Kamut flour substitute is the fact that it is a rich source of protein. Kamut and amaranth flours give you roughly the same amounts of protein. You will have to look out for a few major differences, however. Amaranth flour is gluten-free and while that can be beneficial if you are gluten intolerant, it can be a drawback when making bread. Another important factor is the fact that amaranth can cause a somewhat grainy texture. You may get better results in some dishes if you pair amaranth with wheat flour.
In a pinch: Whole grain wheat flour
Flour made from common wheat instead of the Khorasan wheat used to make Kamut flour is a reliable alternative. There are many kinds of wheat flour, with some being closer matches for Kamut flour than others.
The most widely available types should be good substitutes, but bread flour will likely be the best due to its high protein content. For one thing, it is the easiest to find of all the alternatives, and will also be the most affordable in many cases.
While wheat flour is not quite as nutritious as Kamut flour or the other two alternatives above, it is far from being nutritionally worthless. It contains many of the same vitamins and minerals, but in lower amounts. It offers a subtle, nutty flavor similar to the flavor that you will get from Kamut flour. Also, it will work well in all of the recipes that call for Kamut flour.
Other alternatives
Barley flour is not exactly rich in gluten but it does contain some and that’s what makes it a usable Kamut flour substitute. On its own, it won’t provide enough gluten for dough to rise properly so you may need to mix it with a little wheat flour to get the desired effect. It is good in cakes and quickbreads with no need to add wheat flour to it when making those.