Flaxseed is one of the best sources of Omega-3 fatty acids, a high-fiber low-GI wonder that’s great for health. The benefits of flaxseed become a lot more accessible when consumed as flaxseed powder.
When you eat whole flaxseed, not all of its nutrients get absorbed – much passes through the digestive tract undigested. On roasting and grinding, flaxseed releases its nutrients making it easier for the body to absorb them. Plus, roasting enhances the flavor of flaxseed and grinding increases the ways in which flaxseed can get included in food.
Here’s how to make flaxseed powder.
You Need:
[for 3/4 cup flaxseed powder]
- Flaxseed – 1/2 cup
- Equipment – a (preferably cast iron) flat skillet or tava, spice grinder
How To Make Flaxseed Powder:
Heat a flat skillet or tava on how heat. Make sure there’s no moisture on it, then place the flaxseed on the tava. Roast the flaxseed on low heat, stirring gently every few seconds.
Keep a lid handy to cover the tava in between, as flaxseed tends to pop and fly around when hot.
After about 3 minutes, the whole batch of flaxseed will be doing a merry group popping and there will be a warm roasted aroma in the air. That’s the time to take the skillet off the heat. Keep covered till the popping has subsided, then uncover and let cool to room temperature.
Transfer roasted flaxseed to a spice grinder.
Pulse for a few seconds to grind to powder. When you open the lid after grinding roasted flaxseed, the aroma is so beautiful that the effort of doing it yourself feels totally worth it!
There’s another solid reason for grinding flaxseed to powder yourself rather than buying it from the store. While whole flaxseed stays good for months, ground flaxseed spoils quickly. It makes more sense to buy whole flaxseed from the store, then roast and grind in small batches whenever you need it.
Store flaxseed powder in a dry airtight container. Consume within 3-4 days. Refrigerate flaxseed powder to help it stay good longer.
Ground Flaxseed Recipes:
Ground flaxseed blends in beautifully with recipes that call for flour or other nut/dal/seed powders.
A few simple ideas to include it in Indian meals.
1. Make peanut flaxseed chutney.
2. Mix flaxseed powder into hot boiled rice along with ghee and salt.
3. Add ot to flour for chapati or paratha: 1 teaspoon per cup of atta.
4. Include flaxseed powder in stuffed eggplant masala or stuffed okra masala.
5. Add it to sattu in sattu paratha.
6. Add a teaspoon of ground flaxseed along with peanut powder in sabudana khichdi.
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