Have you ever tried buckwheat before? If not then you should add it to your list. I just love its added flavor and it is so much cheaper than the more popular quinoa.

Don't be fooled by its name as buckwheat is not related to wheat at all and is gluten-free. It belongs to the same group of pseudo-cereals like quinoa and amaranth. Pseudo-cereals are seeds that are consumed in the same way as grains, but they don’t grow on grasses.

Nutritional value of buckwheat

---

Just as quinoa, the primary macronutrient of buckwheat is complex carbs. Next to carbs, it also contains a good amount of protein for people on a plant-based diet. It is especially high in the amino acids lysine and arginine.

However, for the vegetarians or vegans under us, eating buckwheat only will not meet your daily need as certain compounds (tannins and protease inhibitors) are interfering with digestion of these proteins. So make sure to add enough other protein-rich foods such as avocado, chickpeas, nuts, etc to your diet.

Apart from carbs and protein, buckwheat is also a good source of fiber; vitamin B2, 5 and 6; iron; magnesium; phosphorus; copper; and manganese.

Compared to other pseudo-grains, buckwheat is richer in many beneficial antioxidants such as rutin, quercetin, vitexin, and D-chiro inositol. Even though buckwheat’s main compound is carbs, it scores low to medium on the glycemic index (GI) and shouldn’t cause spikes in blood sugar levels.

Stockphoto Cooked & Roasted Buckwheat

BUCKWHEAT SALAD WITH RED BEET AND AVOCADO

---

INGREDIENTS

---

For the salad

---

1/2 cup uncooked hulled buckwheat
2 cups spinach, shredded
3/4 cup raw red beet, grated or julienned
3/4 cup carrots, grated or julienned
1/2 cup Daikon radish, julienned or sliced

For the dressing

---

1/2 avocado
1 lime, juice only (about 1 tbsp, you can use lemon too)
1 tbsp water
1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
Black pepper and sea salt to taste
Chili paste or deseeded chili pepper (optional for the spicy version)

DIRECTIONS

---

1. Cook buckwheat according to the instructions on the package. This will take about 15 minutes. Allow to cool.
2. Combine all avocado sauce ingredients in a small food processor. Blend until smooth.
3. Add salad ingredients to a bowl and mix well.
4. Divide over bowl or plates and top with avocado sauce.

Bon Appétit

---

---

ALL CONTENT IS MINE AND ORIGINAL!
PICTURE(s) TAKEN WITH FUJI X-M1

---

LET'S CONNECT!

Website - Facebook - Google+ - Twitter - Pinterest - YouTube

---

FYI: For green smoothie tips, tricks, and recipes, download my FREE green smoothie eBook HERE!