Khorasan wheat
Also known as: Kamut, KAMUT, Oriental wheat, Triticum turanicum
Ancient large-grained wheat (Triticum turanicum) related to durum wheat, best known under the KAMUT® trademark; it contains gluten and gives golden pasta.
Khorasan wheat (Triticum turanicum, also classed as Triticum turgidum subsp. turanicum) is an ancient wheat related to durum wheat and named after the historical Khorasan region of Central Asia. Its kernels are long, amber-coloured and about twice the size of ordinary wheat grains.
In shops it is best known as KAMUT®. Kamut is not a separate grain but a registered trademark of Kamut International, used only for khorasan wheat of one old variety that is grown organically and meets the brand's quality standards. Most of it comes from Montana in the United States and from Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada.
For pasta, khorasan wheat is milled into semolina, like durum wheat, and mixed with water; wholegrain versions are also made. Raw khorasan wheat contains about 14.7 g of protein per 100 g (USDA FoodData Central). The pasta is golden, has a buttery, slightly sweet taste and holds its shape well when cooked.
Examples include De Cecco Paste Speciali, whose KAMUT® shapes range from spaghetti and filini to penne, fusilli and farfalle; Felicetti KAMUT in plain and wholegrain versions; and the single-grain Monograno Felicetti line.
Khorasan is a wheat and contains gluten. EU law names it explicitly among the allergens that must be highlighted on labels: "wheat (such as spelt and khorasan wheat)" (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex II). Pasta made from KAMUT® khorasan wheat is therefore unsuitable for people with coeliac disease.
Facts
| Raw material | Semolina or wholegrain flour from khorasan wheat (Triticum turanicum) |
|---|---|
| Country | USA (Montana) and Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan) for KAMUT®; origin: Central Asia |
| Main use | Dry pasta, bread, breakfast cereals |
How it connects to Pasta
Khorasan wheat ← contains ← Pasta from other flours and gluten-free pasta → kind of → 🍝 Pasta
Links
- Where it is found
- Felicetti KAMUT, De Cecco Farfalle Medie n.193 KAMUT®, De Cecco Filini n.181 KAMUT®, De Cecco Fusilli n.34 KAMUT®, De Cecco Mezze Maniche Rigate n.136 KAMUT®, De Cecco Mezze Penne Rigate n.141 KAMUT®, De Cecco Penne Rigate n.41 KAMUT®, De Cecco Spaghetti n.12 KAMUT®, De Cecco Tubetti Rigati n.64 KAMUT®, Mancini Penne Lisce Turaniche
and 23 more
Mancini Sedani 20 Righe Turanici, Mancini Spaghetti Turanici, Felicetti Spaghetti Kamut Bio, Felicetti Linguine Kamut Bio, Felicetti Penne Rigate Kamut Bio, Felicetti Chiocciole Kamut Bio, Felicetti Fusilli Kamut Bio, Felicetti Rigati Kamut Bio, Felicetti Cavatappi Kamut Bio, Felicetti Stelline Kamut Bio, Felicetti Ditalini Kamut Bio, Felicetti Spaghetti Kamut Bio Integrali, Felicetti Penne Rigate Kamut Bio Integrali, Felicetti Monograno Kamut Spaghetti, Felicetti Monograno Kamut Linguine, Felicetti Monograno Kamut Penne Rigate, Felicetti Monograno Kamut Rigatoni, Felicetti Monograno Kamut Fusilli, Felicetti Monograno Kamut Chiocciole, Felicetti Monograno Kamut Tagliatelle, De Cecco Paste Speciali (KAMUT® khorasan wheat shapes), Monograno Felicetti, Pasta from other flours and gluten-free pasta - Part of
- Pasta ingredients and composition
- Similar and different
- 🌾 Durum wheat, Spelt
Frequently asked questions
Is Kamut the same as khorasan wheat?
KAMUT® is a trademark, not a species. It may be used only for khorasan wheat of one old variety grown organically under the brand's rules; other khorasan wheat is sold simply as khorasan.
Is it true that Kamut pasta is gluten-free?
No, that is a myth. Khorasan is a wheat, and EU law lists it by name among the cereals containing gluten, so KAMUT® pasta is unsuitable for people with coeliac disease.
How does khorasan pasta differ from durum wheat pasta?
Both are made from semolina and water. Khorasan pasta is golden, a little sweeter and more buttery in taste, and KAMUT® pasta is always organic.
What to read next
- Felicetti KAMUT — Felicetti's organic dry pasta from KAMUT® brand khorasan wheat semolina, in plain and wholegrain versions.
- Mancini Penne Lisce Turaniche — Mancini Penne Lisce Turaniche: short tube-shaped dry pasta by Mancini (Mancini Grani Turanici range); ingredients: organic stone-ground semolato of Turanicum durum wheat, water.
- Pasta from other flours and gluten-free pasta — Wholegrain, spelt, buckwheat, legume, rice and corn pasta; in the EU "gluten-free" means no more than 20 mg of gluten per kilogram.
- Mancini Sedani 20 Righe Turanici — Mancini Sedani 20 Righe Turanici: short ridged tube-shaped dry pasta by Mancini (Mancini Grani Turanici range); ingredients: organic stone-ground semolato of Turanicum durum wheat, water.
- Mancini Spaghetti Turanici — Mancini Spaghetti Turanici: long dry pasta with a round cross-section by Mancini (Mancini Grani Turanici range); ingredients: organic stone-ground semolato of Turanicum durum wheat, water.
Similar
Emmer · Barley flour · 🌾 Common wheat · Red lentil flour · Quinoa · Pea flour
Sources
- Kamut International — KAMUT® brand khorasan wheat
- USDA FoodData Central — Wheat, KAMUT khorasan, uncooked
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on food information to consumers, Annex II (EUR-Lex)
- De Cecco — Fusilli n° 34 KAMUT®