For those of you who really, really, really miss eating oatmeal every morning, I have a new recipe for you: Overnight Buckwheat Groats Cereal.
What are buckwheat groats?
Buckwheat groats are the hulled seeds of buckwheat. They’re not a grain and they’re gluten free. This makes them more related to quinoa than to cereal grains like wheat and oats. Because they’re not a grain, they don’t readily spark inflammation in the body AND they’re chock full of nutrients your immune system needs to function properly. In my book, this makes them the perfect breakfast solution for anyone working on reversing their autoimmune disease, cancer, or weight gain.
Are there more health benefits to eating buckwheat groats?
As a matter of fact, yes. They are high in the antioxidants rutin and quercetin, which are protective against autoimmune illnesses, cancer, heart disease and free-radical damage. Rutin has also been shown to help combat inflammatory conditions like arthritis. Buckwheat groats are rich in prebiotics, which mean they help seed your intestinal tract for healthy (or probiotic) microbes to thrive in. Buckwheat groats are a fantastic source of soluble fiber, which is important in lowering cholesterol and reducing elevated blood pressure. Fiber, a balance between soluble and insoluble, also helps to reduce your risk of cancers. They are considered low glycemic index and high in protein and therefore provide satiety after you eat them (helping you control your appetite). In addition to all of that goodness, they contain all of the essential amino acids you need for protein building and are a great source of iron, zinc, magnesium, and B vitamins.
SO after all of that fanfare, here’s my favorite way to eat buckwheat groats. I soak them overnight, rinse them thoroughly in a fine mesh strainer, and THEN prep them as I make dinner or lunch to soak as overnight cereal. In other words, if you are organized and patient, it takes a few minutes two days in a row to make this recipe. It requires no cooking. It’s easy, it’s super healthy, and it’s tasty. Happy Spring Detoxing!
Easy Overnight Buckwheat Groat Porridge
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup raw organic buckwheat groats (pre-soaked and rinsed)
- 4 cups macadamia, coconut, sesame, or almond milk
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons hemp seeds
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1 Tablespoon pumpkin pie spice or ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ cup Choc Zero maple syrup
- Fresh organic fruit as desired
- 1 dollop of seed or nut butter of your choice as desired
DIRECTIONS
Soak the buckwheat groats for 6 to 12 hours ahead of time. This helps their digestibility and activates the nutrients. I put them in a quart sized canning jar with a lid and let them soak on the kitchen counter all day or overnight.
When they are done soaking, rinse them thoroughly in a mesh strainer until the water runs clear and they no longer feel slimy.
Return them to the quart sized jars and add your nut or seed milk, hemp seeds, chia seeds, coconut shreds, monk fruit maple syrup, vanilla and spices. Stir and cover with the lid and allow to sit in the fridge overnight.
In the morning stir your porridge and pour into serving bowls. Top with berries and a dollop of nut or seed butter. Enjoy!