Buckwheat Groats! The "New Oatmeal"
Happy 2nd day of October!! I am really enjoying these chilly mornings we have been having in Twin Falls the last few days, it especially has me craving a warm and hardy breakfast! I love me some oatmeal however; I quickly get tired of it. Insert Buckwheat Groats; have you ever heard of them? If not they are a super food of a seed. Although, I often feel like the word super food is so over used, like “Epic”. So with that, let’s go ahead and call them that, Buckwheat Groats are an Epic Super food. Although, the name says buckwheat, there is absolutely NO Wheat in them, they completely gluten free and packed full of nutrients! Because Buckwheat Groats are a great source of; Manganese, magnesium, copper and zinc which are all great for your immune system they are a great choice to be eating this time of year as cold season is approaching!
Ingredients:
1 Cup Buckwheat Groats
1 3/4- 2 Cups Water
Peeled and chopped apple (Optional)
Sea Salt
2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter (also could use coconut oil or ghee)
Milk of choice; Dairy, coconut, almond, hemp do as you please
Optional Toppings; Shredded coconut, pumpkin seeds, maple syrup, cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
I purchased un-toasted buckwheat groats at the co-op, toasting them prior to cooking them enhances the flavor which I really like. I would highly recommend toasting them prior to cooking or soaking them*. To toast; place in skillet on stove and toast on low for 5 or so minutes until you can start to slightly smell the seeds aroma. Watch carefully as they will burn quickly!
Rinse groats thoroughly and drain. Time to cook! Place in sauce pan with water (I started with 1 3/4 cups) and butter and sprinkle with salt, I choose to also add a peeled and chopped up apple. Bring to rolling simmer, reduce heat to low and cover with lid and cook for 20-25 minutes. I checked in on them around 20 minutes and choose to add 1/4 cup of water, recovered and cooked for approx. 5 more minutes.
I topped mine with; an additional tablespoon of butter, coconut milk, a drizzle of maple syrup, a scoop of pumpkin seeds and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice. So good and so was so filling! Great left over as well!
Enjoy while sipping your coffee/tea while embracing what you are grateful for that morning.
With love xox,
Amanda
*Soaking the groats! Soaking overnight can help break down Phytic Acid (which is found in nuts, legumes and buckwheat groats- I will share more about this in blog to follow) which makes them easier to digest. If you choose to soak them. Place toasted and cooled groats in a bowl, sprinkle with salt and cover with water. Soak overnight or up to 7 hours. Rinse, drain and cook as directed above. Please note; soaking can significantly reduce the cooking time.
