All tagged buckwheat

Green buckwheat courgette salad

Buckwheat is a gluten free seed and is very useful in a gluten-free diet as it gives a grain-like texture. It’s slightly nutty in taste and cooks in les time than quinoa or rice. For the health benefits see tip below. This salad is also a good way to top up your calcium levels. You’ll find calcium in the buckwheat, tahini, sunflower seeds and feta cheese.

buckwheat and mushroom risotto

During the winter months we need warming comfort food and a risotto is perfect. This is lighter than a traditional risotto and uses buckwheat groats rather than a risotto rice. Buckwheat is a seed that is related to rhubarb and is naturally gluten free. See the tip below for the health benefits of buckwheat. This risotto is made with mushrooms. In the photo I have used chestnut, but use any kind you can find - a packet of mixed wild mushrooms if you can find would be perfect.

gluten free buckwheat tabbouleh

I love the lebanese salad tabbouleh and it works brilliantly with buckwheat rather than bulgar wheat. Buckwheat is a gluten free grain despite the name so this salad is a fabulous gluten free alternative to tabbouleh. This might seem a lot of parsley - but tabbouleh is traditionally a parsley salad with a small amount of bulgar wheat. Parsley is packed with vitamin C and antioxidants and so very good for us.

is gluten free healthier?

The gluten free aisle in the supermarket is huge, and is growing larger every month. In 2016 the global gluten free market was worth $14.95 billion and is expected to grow at an annual rate of just over 9% every year. This rise in the gluten free market has also seen a rise in people claiming they are eating gluten free without being diagnosed as coeliac or intolerant to gluten. So is eating gluten free healthier for you?

Matcha green tea waffle

As there is no end to the creativity you can indulge in with waffle making, I embarked on a slightly more grown up tasting waffle. Matcha powder is not just for frothy lattes! It packs a really original flavour punch I very much enjoy adding to healthy baking. This recipe is refined sugar free and naturally gluten free thanks to using buckwheat flour. I enjoyed those waffles warm straight from the iron with frozen blueberries, toasted coconut, roasted hazelnuts and a drizzle of honey!

lemon & poppy seed waffle

Since getting my waffle maker at Christmas, we have had lots of fun with it. The kids keep coming up with some of their favourite flavours and I experiment with lots of different flours or starch in order to offer good nutritional value as well as fun. As always, no refined sugars, gluten free and easily dairy free if you chose so. This winning lemon & poppy seed combo worked beautifully, especially when served warmed with greek yoghurt, fresh blueberries and a drizzle of honey!

French cherry & almond clafoutis

Reworking childhood recipes with a healthier twist is one of my favourite kitchen challenge. I strongly believe in enjoying old fashioned foods. French classics such as clafoutis are delicious, seasonal and the opposite of fussy. Try this no refined sugar, gluten and dairy free version and share with the family this summer!