What is Buckwheat flour, kuttu flour, kuttu ka atta?

Buckwheat is a plant crop cultivated mainly for its grains. It is usually grown over the summer months and the crop is harvested when the plants are around two to four feet in height. The plants take around two months to mature, after which they are stacked to dry. The dried plants are threshed and the hard outer shell is removed. The grains are then dried completely so that they dont go rancid. They are then ground along with the outer bran, which is high in fibre and other nutrients. The bran turns the resulting buckwheat flour into rich brown-coloured flour, with dark flecks.

How to select buckwheat flour, kuttu flour, kuttu ka atta

• Buckwheat flour is finely powdered flour, has a brown colour with dark flecks.

• Ensure that you check the manufacturing date, expiry date and packaging before purchasing

8 Uses of buckwheat flour, kuttu flour, kuttu ka atta

1. You can use buckwheat flour to make pancakes for breakfast. Relish Apple and Buckwheat Pancakes drizzled with honey to have a power-packed start to the morning.

2. Use buckwheat flour to make an array of nutritious snacks like steamed dhoklas, chilas or parathas.

3. Buckwheat flour has a distinctive nutty flavor. You can mix it along with fresh leafy greens and dry spices to make delectable Suva buckwheat roti.

4. You can even make dry-snacks like Rajgira Buckwheat Brown Rice Flour Khakhra, Baked Buckwheat Puri that is diabetic-friendly.

5. Combine buckwheat flour with other flours to make waffle batter, dosa batter etc.

6. You can substitute plain flour with buckwheat flour to make gluten-free delights like bread and muffins. Buckwheat and Quinoa Bread is one of those healthy variants.

7. In Japan, buckwheat flour is used to make traditional buckwheat soba noodles. They can be tossed in vegetables and oriental sauces to make Veg Soba Noodles or combined with coconut sauce to make Soba Noodles Salad.

8. In Russia, buckwheat flour is used to make a type of pancake called Blinis.

How to store buckwheat flour, kuttu flour, kuttu ka atta

• Buckwheat has a high fat content, and therefore requires special handling because it can go rancid.

• Buckwheat flour should be always stored in the refrigerator. If stored properly, the flour will keep fresh for several months.

7 Health Benefits of buckwheat flour, kuttu flour, kuttu ka atta

1. Lowers Cholesterol levels: Buckwheat contains a flavonoid Rutin which is a key antioxidant for cardiovascular health.

2. Rich Antioxidant : Antioxidants are the substances that help in removing the potentially harmful substances called “free radicals” from our body. They prevent or stop cell damage in your body. They help in enhancing your body’s immunity.

3. Rich in Protein: Buckwheat is a rich plant based source of protein and excellent option for Vegetarians. Buckwheat contains 2 essential amino acids, Lysine and Arginine which is not made from the body but can only be got through food.

4. High Fiber : One cup of cooked buckwheat has 5 grams of dietary fibre. This helps you feel fuller for a longer time and hence not eat junk food. Fiber is also important for digestive health - insoluble fiber add bulk to the stools and makes waste move through the digestive tract more quickly, which is better for the gut and can help to prevent constipation.

5. Reduces Diabetics Risk: Buckwheat is a low GI seed which will slow down the release of insulin when consumed and not release to a surge in blood sugar levels. Hence its an excellent option for switching your regular Dosa to having Buckwheat Dosa. This removes the rice from the Dosa which is not good for health.

6. Gluten Free : Buckwheat works great for those who are Gluten intolerant and those wanting to lead a life of healthy eating.

7. Rich in Minerals : Rich in Manganese, Copper, Magnesium and Phosphorus. Magnesium is required for cellular metabolism while copper plays an important part in iron absorption.

Glycemic Index of Buckwheat Flour

Buckwheat Flour has a Glycemic Index of 49 which is low. Glycemic Index are for foods you eat, ranks carbohydrate-containing foods by how quickly they digest and raise your blood sugar or glucose levels. Foods rank from 0 to 50 are low GI, 51 to 69 are medium and 70 to 100 are high. Foods that are high in GI are not suitable for weight loss and diabetics. Foods like Buckwheat Flour have a low GI and hence dont spike your glucose level as they are absorbed slowly. Great for weight loss and Diabetic friendly.