5 Creative Culinary Uses for Sorghum

Posted on Apr 03, 2018

Whether you are an executive chef at a Michelin Star restaurant, a master home cook or a beginner, new ingredients can bring a lot of excitement to the kitchen. Sorghum is an ingredient that is making its debut on restaurant menus across the nation, and for good reason. One of the best things about sorghum is its versatility. Sorghum can be used in simple or more complex recipes in many different forms, including whole grain, pearled grain, flour, syrup and popped. Below are some our favorite creative culinary uses for sorghum. 

1. Sorghum as a Sweetener

Sorghum syrup is one of the most well-known forms of sorghum, as it has been used in southern cooking dating back to World War II. With a rich, dark color and consistency similar to molasses but with a milder taste, sorghum syrup can be used in barbecue sauces and in tasty beverages like this Twisted Sorghum Cider. It is also perfect for creating a sweet glaze over savory dishes such as these Sorghum-Glazed Baby Carrots from Chef Ed Lee or sweet dishes like this Apple Gingerbread Skillet Cake. Sorghum syrup also makes a great addition to a salad dressing.

2. Sorghum as a Textural Element

Both popped sorghum and whole grain sorghum make for an excellent textural element in various dishes. Popped sorghum can be used as a crunchy topping on salads, soups and even dessert! For an out-of-the-box snack, add popped sorghum to a granola or popcorn ball.  In addition to popped sorghum, whole grain sorghum provides a nice bit of texture in dishes such as these Simple Sorghum Deviled Eggs and Stuffed Sorghum Peppers.

3. Sorghum as a Starch Substitute

Sorghum can be used just like rice, quinoa and even pasta in some of your favorite recipes. Whole grain sorghum makes a great addition to risottos, pilafs and tabbouleh. You can even use whole grain sorghum in place of typical pasta noodles for a truly unique dining experience like in this Sorghum Lasagna Bowl and Sorghetti.

4. Sorghum as a Plant-Based Protein

Whole grain sorghum can be used as a tasty base in many different plant-based recipes. Use sorghum with global flavors like this Stir-Fried Thai Sorghum Bowl or in traditional American favorites such as these Southwest  Sorghum Sliders. Sorghum can even be used in an easy, on-the-go wrap like this Sorghum Wrap from Hugo's Restaurant.  

5. Sorghum Flour in Baking

Sorghum is a naturally gluten-free ingredient perfect for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities. Whole grain sorghum can be milled into a flour, similar to traditional flour, with a slightly sweet, nutty flavor and can be used to make a number of gluten-free baked goods. Use sorghum flour in breads, cookies, cakes and waffles.

Interested in adding sorghum to your ingredient list? Find sorghum at your local grocery store or online from places like Amazon. Find more culinary inspiration on SimplySorghum.com. Use the recipe tab to search for a specific recipe by dish type (appetizer, entree, dessert), sorghum variety (syrup, flour, whole grain, popped) or even category (slow cooker, kid-friendly, holidays).