BUCKWHEAT WRAPS

Buckwheat despite its ‘wheaty’ name is not actually a grain but a seed. It is gluten free and packed with nutrients. It is combined in this recipe with white beans making a high protein wrap and the addition of psyllium husks makes it high in fibre as well. I found this recipe in the book “Wholesome Homemade” by Kasey Duke. The wraps hold together and roll up really well and can be frozen. They can be made using other beans but the white variety gives makes them the colour of shop bought wraps.

BUCKWHEAT WRAPS

MAKES: Approx 10 wraps (diameter of about 12cm)

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 cup buckwheat
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1/2 cup cooked white beans
  • 1/2 cup soy milk
  • 1/2 cup coconut cream
  • 2 level tsps. celtic salt
  • 2 TB psyllium husks

METHOD

  1. Soak buckwheat in water overnight.
  2. Blend buckwheat with beans until very smooth.
  3. Add soy milk coconut cream and salt.
  4. Add psyllium husks and blend for several minutes.
  5. Allow to stand for 1 minute and then blend again until mixture is thick and stiff.
  6. Place a large scoop of mixture onto hot sandwich press and close lid.
  7. Press down and rub with a tea towel in a circular motion to spread mixture evenly.
  8. Cook for 30 seconds or more until wrap is lightly browned.
  9. They freeze well.
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OAT & SUNFLOWER SEED WAFFLES

On a plant based diet you do need to eat a variety of foods on a daily basis to obtain all the essential amino acids, however research has shown that you don’t need to eat these foods at the same time. Having said that, making certain combinations together is a beneficial strategy so this grain and seed combo recipe is a winner in the protein stakes! They have a chewy texture and a nutty flavour and can be served with either sweet or savoury toppings.

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CHICKPEA TOFU

This recipe is a traditional Burmese dish based on besan flour (also known as garbanzo or chickpea flour.) It is made from ground chickpeas and is pale yellow in colour. I’m quite excited about this recipe because it’s gluten free as well as fat free and very simple to make. I have only made it once and will have to do some further experimentation. For eg. Next time I am planning to add a bunch of fresh herbs and see how that affects the final flavour.

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Carrot Bread is a variation of Pumpkin and Rosemary Bread.    The addition of carrots makes this bread versatile and able to be served with either sweet or savoury toppings. As an interesting fact, did you know that while raw carrots are very nutritious, cooked carrots contain more beta-carotene. Cooking releases the carotenoids contained in the cell walls of the vegetable. (The same is true of tomatoes!) PS. This bread freezes well and can be toasted.

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VEGETABLE SAMOSAS

Potatoes often get a bad wrap largely because of the way they are prepared (fried and salted or mashed with butter and served with gravy etc) but the humble potato contains decent amounts of many nutrients. For example many people may not know that a medium sized potato with its skin on contains nearly half your daily quota of Vitamin C. This recipe features potatoes combined with several other vegetables and wrapped in a wholemeal pastry to make a nutritious main or side dish. You can also make an alternative version using sweet potatoes as the base vegetable.

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PUMPKIN AND ROSEMARY BREAD

I regularly eat this rustic, seedy type of bread. I say “type” of bread because if  you’re used to the fluffy, commercial style of bread, this bread wont seem like bread at all! But rest assured it’s very tasty and definitely nutrient dense, studded with grains and seeds making it high in fibre and protein. It’s dairy free and I have used quinoa flakes and besan flour to make it gluten free as well. The addition of fresh rosemary is more than a flavour booster. Rosemary is well known for stimulating the immune system, increasing circulation and aiding digestion. It is very easy to grow and flourishes in most conditions so with little effort you can have your own fresh supply of this valuable herb.This recipe has been adapted from the life-changing loaf of bread recipe first created on the website My New Roots.

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This recipe has been adapted from The Revive Cookbook 4  See Revive Café  The original recipe uses fresh coriander which tastes great but does not grow well in the Australian summer so I have substituted mint as I have plenty growing at present and the flavour works well with the sweet potatoes. By the way,  sweet potatoes are extremely high in Vitamin A and have loads of fibre and potassium and the addition of chickpea flour gives a boost of protein to these vegetable balls.

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SPELT OAT CRACKERS

 

The two main ingredients in these crackers, wholemeal spelt flour and wholemeal rolled oats, contain soluble fibre which is more easily digested in the body as well as other essential vitamins and minerals. These crackers make a healthy alternative to the processed crackers and crispbreads in the supermarket.  They are very versatile in that they can be served with sweet or savoury toppings and their size can be tailor-made to suit your needs!

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