A wholesome gluten-free seed packed high in both protein and fiber, buckwheat is the latest addition to the list of ingredients becoming increasingly popular among nutritional food lovers across the globe. Try soaking and sprouting buckwheat to get the most nutrition out of this power-packed seed.

Popularly referred to as a pseudo cereal, these triangular shaped seeds are related to Sorrel, Rhubarb and fall into the category of Amaranth, Quinoa. Buckwheat seeds also referred as ‘groats’ have antioxidants like rutin, tannins, catechin in abundance and if you swear by gluten-free eating, this is a must-have on your monthly grocery list.

And don’t get misled by the name. Though called Buckwheat, it doesn’t have any wheat or gluten. Legend has it that around 1000 years ago, Greek monks while spreading Christianity brought these grains to Russia and it was an instant hit among the Russians for its high nutritional values. Russians call it Grechka and since then they used it extensively in porridges, pancakes, bread loaves and other baked items.

Alenastavrova, a Russian writer in her blog healthyhappyhelping.com suggests trying both roasted and unroasted Buckwheat in various types of recipes. “The roasted ones are brown in colour while the unroasted are in green. You can sprout the green ones and the brown Buckwheat can be cooked in hot water in 1:2 ratio. Cooked Buckwheat goes well with boiled veggies and greens, sautéed mushrooms, add it to any gravy or just add milk to make it into a porridge.”

How to soak and sprout Buckwheat:

Soak Buckwheat in water for up to six hours.

Drain out the water, leaving a little dampness in the grain. If needed, sprinkle some water on top of it.

It will take 2-3 days for it to sprout. When the sprouts reach 2-inch in size rinse well in water and store in a jar.

They remain fresh for a week. However, ensure washing sprouted Buckwheat daily to prevent mold and bacteria.

Health Benefits:

Sprouted or cooked, Buckwheat offers several health benefits. Cardiologists believe in its ability in maintaining healthy blood pressure, lowering cholesterol. It provides highly digestible protein with a great amount of high fiber.

Numerous studies have proved that consuming Buckwheat for 60 days has reduced insulin resistance and improved blood sugar control in diabetics.

Get your Buckwheat today for its numerous health and nutritional benefits!