Buckwheat Brownies

Gluten-free Brownies

I had a cup of buckwheat flour and was wondering if I should bake a chocolate cake. But that didn’t excite me too much. I wanted to bake something a little different. Then I hit upon the brownie idea. I was thrilled when I found a recipe online. I tweaked it a bit to make it healthy. I got a dark chocolate brownie. And here it is!

pic: Sanjana Kodical

Ingredients   

Buckwheat flour – 1 cup

Cocoa powder (English cocoa) – ¼ cup (you can add more)

Butter or oil – 3 tbsp

Coconut Sugar – 1 cup (you can use jaggery powder)

Eggs – 3

Vanilla essence – 1 tsp

Walnut pieces - ½ cup

Method

Sift flour and cocoa powder together

Add sugar 
Beat eggs

Add to the dry mixture

Add essence, melted butter or oil to the batter

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius

Pour the batter into a brownie tin

Bake for 15 to 20 mins till done

Health Benefits of Buckwheat

Gluten-free

High protein content

Rich source of soluble and insoluble dietary fiber

Lowers risk of developing high cholesterol

Lowers risk of developing high blood pressure

This is partly because of its rich supply of flavonoids, particularly rutin

Good source of magnesium which relaxes blood vessels and improves blood flow

Good for diabetics. Lowers blood sugar levels

High in insoluble fiber, helps prevent gallstones

Good source of copper required for production of red blood cells

Protects against heart disease

                     Health Benefits of Walnut
Has a large amount of vitamins B6

Has alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) a precursor to Omega-3

Helps prevent heart disease

Lowers cholesterol

Promotes brain health

Contain s Biotin (vitamin B7) that helps strengthen hair, reduce hair fall and improve hair growth

Good for weight management

Lowers risk of type 2 diabetes

Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate

Has high levels of flavonoids, antioxidants also found (but in lower amounts) in tea, red wine, and apples

Antioxidants protect cells and tissues from damage by free radicals

Contains significant amounts of magnesium important for energy production, strong bones, relaxed muscles and effective nerve transmission

Also has copper which helps the body produce neurotransmitters

Promotes cardiovascular health

Raises levels of HDL, the good cholesterol

Enhances mood and promotes cognitive function

The best way to add dark chocolate to your diet is as a replacement for other sweets

When you are shopping for a dark chocolate bar, go for at least 70 per cent cocoa. Higher the percentage, the more antioxidant content. If you really want to prioritize the antioxidant content, buy cocoa powder. It has the highest concentration of flavonoids of any dark chocolate product