Currently in Florida teaching with my great yogi friend friend Randi Smith, from www.iamhappyhealthyandfit.com, I was inspired to make her this simple, delicious, raw, vegan pudding this morning that revolves around energizing and nutritious buckwheat groats. Buckwheat groats are available throughout the year and can be served as an alternative to rice or made into porridge, raw cereal, or pudding.
Buckwheat, which is commonly found in raw food diet recipes, has a slightly deceptive name that can easily cause confusion. Buckwheat is not wheat, nor is it related to wheat. Buckwheat is derived from the seeds of a flowering plant. It is not a grain nor a cereal and is gluten-free making it a suitable substitute for grains for people who are sensitive to wheat or other grains that contain protein glutens. Ditch your oats for buckwheat groats!
Diets that contain buckwheat have been linked to lowered risk of developing high cholesterol, high blood pressure and with the symptoms of Type II diabetes. Buckwheat can also prevent gallstones and breast cancer. Buckwheat’s beneficial effects are due in part to its rich supply of flavonoids, particularly rutin, known to strengthen capillary walls. Flavonoids are phytonutrients that protect against disease by extending the action of vitamin C and acting as antioxidants.
Buckwheat can be found at any health food store, bulk food store, Wholefoods, and even common supermarkets. Generally toasted
buckwheat is referred to as kasha. (you’ve heard of Kasha cereal, no??) Kasha is used to make traditional dishes in several different cultures. If you are looking for raw buckwheat groats, you’ll want to avoid kasha. You can always tell by the color and the aroma. Kasha is a much darker reddish-brown color and has a strong nutty, toasted scent to it. Raw buckwheat groats are light brown or green and don’t have much of an aroma at all, and are also higher in nutrition.
Gracious Living Creamy Coconut Berry Buckwheat Pudding (Raw, Vegan)
1 cup soaked raw buckwheat groats
Handful of blueberries and raspberries (or berry of choice)
1/4 cup goji berries
1 tsp chia seeds
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (or vegan milk of your choice)
2 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut
Natural sweetener of choice (soaked dates, stevia, maple syrup, wild honey)
Soak raw buckwheat groats overnight in water to soften. Drain & rinse groats in the morning. Put in bowl and add all ingredients except berries. If you have time, let sit for 15 minutes to soften goji berries and to thicken pudding with chia seeds (they will turn into a gel when sitting in liquid, if you don’t have time that’s ok, still tastes delish!) After 15 min, add berries and whirl it around a food processor or blender. Yum Yum Yum! Chill leftovers in fridge.
Enjoy this energy sustaining, high fibre, nutrient dense, anti-oxidant and phytonutrient rich pudding that tastes divine.
You are what you eat. You are what you think. ~Gracious Living Lifestyle XO
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